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
New York Post
27 minutes ago
- New York Post
Golf's best brace for pain of ‘impossible' Oakmont a US Open
OAKMONT, Pa. — If you're a fan of golf and revel in watching the best players in the world suffer like you do while playing the maddening sport, tune into the 125th U.S. Open, which begins Thursday at Oakmont. There will be pain. Advertisement Shane Lowry, who finished runner-up in the 2016 U.S. Open, the last time it was played at Oakmont, walked off the course after a nine-hole practice round Tuesday and looked knackered. 'It is exhausting,'' Lowry said. 'I'm not going to do much else today. Just a lot of rest.'' Lowry, after playing the Memorial two weeks ago, had planned a reconnaissance trip to Oakmont on his way to play the Canadian Open last week. But after having a conversation with Rory McIlroy, who'd made an earlier visit to the course and was beaten up by it, Lowry decided to skip it. Advertisement McIlroy said he shot an 81. 'It felt impossible,'' McIlroy said. 'I birdied the last two holes for 81. It felt pretty good. It didn't feel like I played that bad.'' 'After talking to Rory, I was happy I didn't come,'' Lowry said. Advertisement Gil Hanse, perhaps the most sought-after golf course designer, reworked Oakmont to prepare it for this U.S. Open. He said over breakfast Wednesday morning that he was given one edict from the club membership. 4 Jason Day plays a shot from a bunker on the 18th hole during a June 11, 2025 practice before the start of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club which begins Thursday. Getty Images 4 General view of the 18th green in front of the clubhouse during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect 'Make sure you don't leave the course any easier than it was before you're finished with your work,'' Hanse said. 'This might be the only club membership I've worked for that wanted its course more difficult than it was before I did any work on it.'' Advertisement This is Oakmont's record 10th U.S. Open. Dustin Johnson's winning score in 2016 was 4-under par. In 2007, Angel Cabrera won at 5-over. Ernie Els won at 5-under in 1994, Larry Nelson won at 4-under in 1983, Johnny Miller won at 5-under in 1973 and Jack Nicklaus won at 1-under in 1963. 4 Jon Rahm AP The course is wet from a lot of rain in recent weeks, and thunderstorms are in the forecast Friday to Sunday. Even in the wet conditions, Hanse predicted a winning score 1- or 2-under. Without more rain, he believes the winning score will be 1- or 2-over. 'You're aware of what a golf tournament here is going to be like,'' former U.S. Open winner Jon Rahm said. 'It's going to be a challenge. A lot of unfortunate things are going to happen. It's hard fairways to hit, bad lies, difficult bunkers, difficult greens. It's going to be a nice test, a difficult test. And I think one of the truest representations of what a U.S. Open is all about. 'It's just a tough course. If it doesn't rain, most likely over par will win again. It's something that none of us, I would say, are used to, but it's a challenge you need to embrace. If there's any part of your game that will be tested on a week like this, it will be your mental game, that's for sure.'' Rahm was asked if he'd like to be a member at Oakmont if he lived nearby. 4 Rory McIlroy Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Advertisement 'I would say yes just because you'd be able to say you're a member at Oakmont and play it whenever you want,'' he said. 'Would I play here every day? No. I actually met with a member at a function [Monday] and I was asking him, 'Do you play Oakmont every single day?' 'I feel like, when they set it up hard — like if they have a superintendent's revenge here — I don't know what the average score must be. I think 90 percent of the field doesn't finish. It could be absolutely impossible.'' The rough is high and juicy. The fairways are narrow. And the greens are rock hard. Other than that … The par-3 eighth hole will be pushed to some 300 yards. Advertisement Collin Morikawa, in a practice round earlier in the week, mistook it for a short par-4. 'Yeah, I completely forgot that that was the long par-3, and I honestly asked my caddie and everyone in the group, 'Do you go for this par-4 or do you lay up?' '' Morikawa said. 'I'll probably hit driver or 3-wood and hopefully hit the green. Just hit and hope, honestly. It's a hole I'll take four pars right now and walk away.'' That probably goes for all 18 of the holes at Oakmont this week.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rangers sign veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel to a minor-league contract
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Texas Rangers signed veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel to a minor-league contract Wednesday. The 37-year-old Kimbrel will report to Triple-A Round Rock this week. Kimbrel pitched one scoreless inning with the Atlanta Braves before being designated for assignment last week. He opted for free agency instead of having the club send him outright to its Triple-A Gwinnett affiliate. Advertisement The right-hander is a nine-time All-Star and won a World Series title with Boston in 2018. He has pitched parts of 16 seasons in the majors with for eight teams. He has 440 saves in 838 career appearances. Kimbrel was with Baltimore last season. ___ AP MLB: The Associated Press
Fox Sports
31 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
David Greenwood, former UCLA star and NBA champion, dies at 68 after cancer battle
Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — David Greenwood, who was one of coach John Wooden's last recruits at UCLA and went on to win an NBA championship with Detroit during a 12-year pro career, has died. He was 68. Greenwood died Sunday in Riverside, California, after battling cancer, the school said Wednesday, citing family members. After a standout career at Verbum Dei High in Los Angeles, Greenwood began his college career at UCLA just months after Wooden's surprise retirement announcement in March 1975. He averaged 14.8 points and 8.7 rebounds in 118 games as a four-year starter in Westwood. The Bruins had a record of 102-17 and won the league title in each of his four seasons. He was a two-time league player of the year who helped the Bruins to the 1976 Final Four. Greenwood earned first-team All-America honors as a junior and senior, becoming UCLA's first player to do so since Bill Walton in 1972-74. He still ranks fourth on the school's career rebounding list. He was the second overall pick in the 1979 NBA draft. The Chicago Bulls lost the coin toss to the Los Angeles Lakers, who drafted future Hall of Famer Magic Johnson at No. 1, having acquired the pick in a trade with New Orleans. Before Michael Jordan arrived in Chicago in 1984, Greenwood, Reggie Theus and Orlando Woolridge were the Bulls' core players. After six seasons, the Bulls traded Greenwood in 1985 to San Antonio in exchange for future Hall of Famer George Gervin. Greenwood also played for San Antonio, Denver and Detroit, coming off the bench to help the Pistons beat Portland to win the 1990 NBA championship. He was a member of the Pac-12 Hall of Honor and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Last year, Greenwood attended UCLA's final Pac-12 Conference game at Pauley Pavilion. Greenwood later coached at his high school alma mater, leading Verbum Dei to state titles in 1998 and 1999. He is survived by son Jemil and daughter Tiffany as well as his brother Al, sister Laverne and former wife Joyce. ___ AP college basketball: recommended
