The peloton hesitated - Blasi didn't: Paula Blasi's solo victory at the Amstel Gold Race

The 23-year-old Spaniard from UAE Team ADQ won the 12th edition of the Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition solo - around 27 seconds ahead of Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, who beat Demi Vollering in the sprint for second place.

A race full of attacks, but without a decision

158 kilometres from Maastricht to Valkenburg, 21 climbs, the Cauberg four times. The race sounded like an early selection. There were many attacks, but none prevailed. Again and again, the favourites closed the gaps - it was often Vollering herself who followed.

The start that counted

Around 25 kilometres before the finish, Blasi followed an attack by Nienke Vinke (SD Worx-Protime) - and dropped her fellow breakaway rider three kilometres later on the penultimate Cauberg. Behind her: Hesitation. The favourites looked at each other and waited until it was too late. Vinke was caught by the chasing group shortly before the finish. Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney didn't start their counterattack until the final Cauberg - where the gap was still over a minute. They caught up, but it was no longer enough.

Letizia Paternoster finished fourth, Noemi Rüegg fifth. Defending champion Mischa Bredewold finished over a minute back in 14th place.

Who is Paula Blasi?

Just two years ago, Blasi was an unknown quantity who had only just started racing. Her sporting career began in athletics, duathlon and triathlon - after an injury in February 2024, she was only able to train on her bike. The rest happened quickly: Catalan road race and time trial champion, Spanish U23 title, fourth place overall in the Tour de l'Avenir Femmes. In May 2025, she was promoted from the UAE Development Team to the WorldTour squad and won bronze at the U23 World Championships and the U23 European Championship title at the end of the season. The Amstel Gold Race was her first start in an Ardennes classic - and also her first victory there. At the finish line, her team-mate Karlijn Swinkels triumphed with her and exclaimed "Look, it's a nice race!".

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