Remco Evenepoel Wins Amstel Gold Race, Sets Sights on Pogacar Showdown in Liège
Remco Evenepoel has secured his first victory in the Amstel Gold Race, triumphing in a dramatic sprint finish on the rolling hills of Limburg to announce his arrival as the favorite for the upcoming Liège-Bastogne-Liège classic. The Belgian world time trial champion and double Olympic gold medalist outpaced Denmark’s Mattias Skjelmose and France’s Benoît Cosnefroy on Sunday after a grueling 257.2-kilometer route from Maastricht to Valkenburg, Netherlands.
The win marks a significant milestone in Evenepoel’s Ardennes campaign, coming just days before the sport’s most anticipated one-day showdown: his rematch with Tadej Pogacar in Liège. With Pogacar absent from the Amstel Gold Race due to a selective spring schedule, Evenepoel seized the moment to assert his dominance on terrain that has historically suited his explosive punch and tactical acumen.
“So a lot to me,” Evenepoel said in his post-race interview, still wearing the yellow and black jersey of Soudal Quick-Step. “I love this race with its constant, steep climbs. My sprint was better than last year. I’m really proud and happy. What we have is the best win I’ve had this season. The race stands just below the Monuments.”
The race lived up to its reputation as one of cycling’s most unpredictable spring classics, featuring 33 categorized climbs over the undulating Limburg landscape. For much of the day, Italian rider Marco Frigo of Israel-Premier Tech rode solo at the front after breaking clear of an early escape group. Frigo held a lead of over two minutes with 50 kilometers remaining before being reeled in by the peloton in the final 36 kilometers.
As the favorites began to position themselves on the steep Cauberg climb — the traditional launching pad for attacks in the final kilometers — Evenepoel remained patient, conserving energy behind Pogacar’s usual rivals. When the decisive move came with less than 5 kilometers to go, it was Evenepoel who launched first from a select group of six, only to be matched instantly by Skjelmose, the defending champion.
What followed was a breathtaking duel down the final straight into Valkenburg. Last year, Skjelmose had edged Evenepoel by a bike length in a photo finish after outsprinting both the Belgian and Tadej Pogacar, who had finished second. This time, Evenepoel shifted gears earlier, opening a gap that Skjelmose could not close. Cosnefroy came through late to claim third, ahead of Stefan Küng and Tiesj Benoot.
German riders, despite the presence of Soudal Quick-Step’s German licensing structure, played no significant role in the outcome. Max Walscheid and Jannik Steimle finished outside the top 20, reflecting the continued absence of German sprinters or puncheurs capable of challenging for victory in the Ardennes classics.
The victory adds Evenepoel’s name to a prestigious list of recent Amstel Gold Race winners that includes Pogacar (2021, 2024), Wout van Aert (2023) and Julian Alaphilippe (2019, 2021). It also improves his record in the race to 1-2, having previously finished second in 2023 and third in 2022.
More importantly, the win serves as a powerful psychological boost ahead of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, cycling’s oldest Monument and the final leg of the Ardennes triple. In the last five editions of La Doyenne, Evenepoel and Pogacar have combined to win every race: Pogacar triumphant in 2021, 2024, and 2025; Evenepoel victorious in 2022 and 2023. Their head-to-head record in the race stands at 3-2 in favor of the Slovenian.
Pogacar, who skipped the Amstel Gold Race to focus on preparation for Liège, is expected to make his season debut in the Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday — a race Evenepoel is also likely to contest. The Belgian has won the Mur de Huy finale twice (2021, 2022) and will look to utilize the midweek race as a final tune-up before Sunday’s showdown.
The Ardennes week has already delivered drama, with crashes affecting several top contenders. American Matteo Jorgenson, the reigning Paris-Nice champion, crashed early in the Amstel Gold Race and abandoned with a suspected clavicle injury. French rider Kevin Vauquelin, a top-ten finisher at the 2024 Tour de France, also went down in the final kilometers but remounted to finish outside the top 15.
With both Evenepoel and Pogacar arriving in Liège in peak form, the stage is set for what could be another instant classic in their growing rivalry. For Evenepoel, the Amstel Gold Race victory was not just a trophy — it was a statement.
“I knew I had to be smart today,” he added. “Wait for the right moment. And when it came, I didn’t hesitate.”
What’s Next for Evenepoel and Pogacar
The next confirmed checkpoint in this rivalry is Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday, April 27, 2025, with a scheduled start time of 10:00 CEST (08:00 UTC) in Liège, Belgium. Fans can follow live updates through the official UCI website and race broadcaster platforms.
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