Next Pogacar show: Pogacar triumphs at the Amstel Gold Race

Cycling star Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) has once again humiliated the competition and won the difficult Amstel Gold Race for the first time. After 253.6 kilometres, the two-time Tour de France champion took the victory single-handedly with a large lead over the Irishman Ben Healy (EF Education EasyPost) and the British Olympic mountain bike champion Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers).

After victory at Amstel Gold Race 2023: Pogacar aims for Ardennes triple

Two weeks after his impressive triumph at the Tour of Flanders Pogacar celebrated his eleventh win of the season at the race around Valkenburg near Maastricht. On Wednesday and Sunday, Pogacar can now compete in the Fleche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège to complete his Ardennes triple.

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"I didn't think about joining the escape group so early. I doubted that I could reach the finish line alone, but I made it," said Pogacar. The decision was made 28.5 kilometres before the finish on the Keutenberg. With gradients of up to 22 per cent, the 24-year-old virtually left his fellow breakaway riders standing with an increase in speed. "It was the toughest climb, it was my favourite," added the exceptional rider.

Pogacar's biggest rivals not at the start

German riders did not play a major role. Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe), who finished third at the Amstel Gold Race in 2021, had decided not to start and will be back on Monday at the Tour of the Alps will be at the start. Born in Berlin, he was once again set back by illness this spring.

Pogacar had an easy game this time, especially as his big rivals Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) had refrained from starting.

Amstel Gold Race 2023: Pidcock also has to let Pogacar go

Tom Pidcock, solo winner at the Strade Bianchewas still expected to stand up to Pogacar. But even the Brit had to capitulate. After the spring classics, Pogacar wants to concentrate on the Tour de France and reclaim the yellow jersey from last year's winner Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma).

Demi Vollering from the Netherlands took victory in the women's race. Liane Lippert from Friedrichshafen, who finished fourth at the World Championships, played a good role for a long time, but had to settle for 15th place in the end.

Amstel Gold Race 2023 results

• 1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 6:02:02

• 2nd Ben Healy (EF Education EasyPost) +0:38

• 3rd Thomas Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) +2:14

• 4th Andreas Kron (Lotto-Dstny) +2:14

• 5th Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan Team) +2:14

• 6th Andrea Bagioli (Soudal - Quick Step) +3:14

• 7th Maxim van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) +3:14

• 8th Mattias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo) +3:14

• 9th Alexander Kamp (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +3:14

• 10th Axel Zingle (Cofidis) +3:14

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