Skjelmose beats Pogačar in a photo finish to win Amstel Gold race. Bredewold first in women's race
VALKENBURG, Netherlands (AP) — Danish rider Mattias Skjelmose beat cycling superstar Tadej Pogačar by less than half a wheel's length to win the Amstel Gold Race in a thrilling finish in the Netherlands on Sunday.
In a three-way sprint to the line, double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel appeared to have won but Pogačar nudged ahead of him with a couple of meters to go, only for Skjelmose to surge down the left and pip him at the line.
It was by far the biggest win of the 24-year-old's career and he was in tears afterward when the photo finish showed him winning the Ardennes classic.
It was a rare defeat for the three-time Tour de France champion and multiple classics winner Pogačar, who was second at the prestigious Paris-Roubaix classic last weekend.
Pogačar, who won Amstel in 2023, launched one of his trademark attacks with about 40 kilometers (25 miles) to go in the 255.9-kilometer (158.7-mile) race. But he kept looking over his shoulder, and his lead was shredded to 15 seconds by Evenepoel and Skjelmose entering the last 20 kilometers.
They caught up with 8 kilometers left. Approaching the line, Evenepoel was in front with Pogačar on his wheel and Skjelmose tucked in behind the Slovenian.
Evenepoel moved first with a strong attack, but may have gone too early. Still, it was another excellent ride from the 25-year-old Belgian, whose career was in danger following a heavy crash last year. He only returned to racing on Friday and won the Brabantse Pijl race at home in Belgium.
Evenepoel is one of cycling's biggest stars along with Pogačar and Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, who won Roubaix for the third straight time last Sunday.
Evenepoel, who swept golds in the road race and the time trial at last year's Paris Olympics, sustained multiple fractures, a dislocated collarbone and lung contusions in December when he crashed into a vehicle while training in Belgium.
Defending champion Tom Pidcock, a two-time Olympic mountain bike champion, finished in ninth spot on Sunday.
The route started in Maastricht and featured 34 climbs, including three ascents of the iconic Cauberg, before ending in Valkenburg.
Bredewold leads Dutch trio
Dutch rider Mischa Bredewold won a hard-fought women's race earlier Sunday ahead of countrywomen Ellen van Dijk and Puck Pieterse.
They had all been part of a 23-rider breakaway that formed following the second trek up Cauberg.
Bredewold finished the 157.3-kilometer course in just over four hours, with Van Dijk and Pieterse seven seconds behind.
___
AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
22 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Zach Edey has left ankle surgery that could sideline him for the start of next season
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Zach Edey could miss the start of the 2025-26 season after the Memphis Grizzlies rookie center had surgery Tuesday on his left ankle. Edey needed the procedure to repair and restabilize his ankle after spraining it again during offseason training last week. The Grizzlies said the 7-foot-3 Canadian would be evaluated again in four months, which is less than two weeks before the 2025-26 season opens Oct. 21. The two-time national player of the year at Purdue missed 12 games early in the season because of a sprained left ankle. He went on to play in 66 games, making 55 starts, and averaged 9.2 points and a rookie-leading 8.3 rebounds. He was voted to the All-Rookie first team. ___ AP NBA:
Fox Sports
24 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Zach Edey has left ankle surgery that could sideline him for the start of next season
Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Zach Edey could miss the start of the 2025-26 season after the Memphis Grizzlies rookie center had surgery Tuesday on his left ankle. Edey needed the procedure to repair and restabilize his ankle after spraining it again during offseason training last week. The Grizzlies said the 7-foot-3 Canadian would be evaluated again in four months, which is less than two weeks before the 2025-26 season opens Oct. 21. The two-time national player of the year at Purdue missed 12 games early in the season because of a sprained left ankle. He went on to play in 66 games, making 55 starts, and averaged 9.2 points and a rookie-leading 8.3 rebounds. He was voted to the All-Rookie first team. ___ AP NBA: recommended in this topic
San Francisco Chronicle
29 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
From baseball cards to big leagues: Jac Caglianone makes his home debut for the Royals vs Yankees
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jac Caglianone spent his first day off in his new home city searching for someplace to live. And buying baseball cards. Just what you might expect from a 22-year-old prospect — one of the best in the game — who was still playing college ball about this time last year, and who just made his big league debut for the Royals last week. Caglianone played three games in St. Louis and three against the White Sox in Chicago before finally making it back to Kansas City on Sunday night. Two days later, Caglianone was set for his home debut in the opener of a three-game series against the New York Yankees. 'My grandpa is from New York. He grew up a big Yankees fan,' said Caglianone, who grew up in Florida and played collegiately for the Gators. 'He won't be here tonight or anything, but yeah, I'm sure he'll have it on TV.' Caglianone had plenty of support in the stands at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday night, just like he had at Busch Stadium last week, when they saw his big league career get off to a slow start. The power-hitting first baseman and outfielder went 0 for 5 in his debut against the Cardinals, though he did record his first hit the following night in St. Louis. His big breakout came Sunday in Chicago, when Caglianone went 4 for 4 in helping Kansas City to a 7-5 win over the White Sox, and that has fueled Cags-mania in a rejuvenated baseball city still relishing the Royals' trip to the postseason last year. 'We saw this on the road. Everybody's excited to see Jac play,' Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. 'I mean, we are too. You know, it's very unprecedented to have a guy here as quickly after his draft class, to be up here and helping produce. But at the end of the day, we brought him up because we think he can be a contributor to a winning baseball team.' So much so that the Royals are willing to endure some growing pains for Caglianone in the field. He primarily played first base in college, but the Royals are content with Vinnie Pasquantino at first base and catcher Salvador Perez making the occasional spot start there. So, they have shifted Caglianone to the outfield — where they have struggled with production all season — so that they can get his prodigious power in their meek-hitting lineup. Not surprisingly, Caglianone spent extra time fielding balls in right field before batting practice Tuesday night. He missed at least one that appeared to get lost in the sun, but otherwise Caglianone looked like he had been fielding the position for years. 'We thought he looked really good in the few attempts that he had so far. I think right now you watch him go after the ball, he's playing a little cautious, which is better than being overly aggressive,' Kansas City general manager J.J. Picollo said. 'But there's a confidence about him that good players have, and with him, it's a blend of confidence and ability, which is good to see.' The Royals could use that jolt of confidence, having lost four of their last five series. And they could use a jolt at the plate where, despite hitting better of late, they still began Tuesday night last in the majors in homers and fourth-worst in runs scored. Caglianone seems unperturbed by the massive expectations that surround him, though. He nonchalantly answered a wide range of questions before his home debut, ranging from the excessive celebrations seen lately in the college game — 'Do whatever you want. Have fun with it,' he said — to what nickname he would prefer Royals fans adopt for him. 'I mean, I'm simple. I like Cags,' he said. As for that trip to the card shop, Caglianone said he fared well. He was hunting for his new teammates and found a Cole Ragans card from the All-Star game, a Michael Massey rookie and, of course, cards of Perez and Bobby Witt Jr. 'Did not,' he said, smiling. 'No.' ___
