Pogačar and SD Worx dominate Amstel Gold

Business as usual for Dutch wonder outfit and Slovenian superstar,

- Vern Pitt

Tadej Pogačar put in another performance to remind everyone just who the strongest rider in the world right now is at Amstel Gold as he soloed to victory with 29km to go. Meanwhile, in the women’s race it was another case of a predictable winner as Demi Vollering and SD Worx used their collective strength to bludgeon their opponents into submission.

In the men’s race, the winning move went clear with 90km still to go, Pogačar attacked with 76km to go, sending a group of 10 riders clear, then again at 36km that sent him, Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) off the front. His final kick with 29km left couldn’t be matched by either, and Healy, putting in the performance of his young career, left Pidcock on his own (the Brit would say later he struggled with the distance) as they closed in on the finish to the hilly Classic.

Pogačar revealed later he had had some help. “Mathieu van der Poel told me I should go on the Keutenberg. It is the hardest climb, and it suits me the most,” Pogačar said. “He told me that three days ago, he sent me a message. I will thank him for the advice.”