Amstel Gold Race 2021: Van Aert wins three-up sprint

image: Cor VosTom Pidcock, Wout van Aert and Max Schachmann strike in the last lap of the Amstel Gold Race. The race comes down to a three-up sprint. Van Aert bests Pidcock with a few millimetres. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Amstel Gold Race 2021

1. Wout van Aert (bel)
2. Tom Pidcock (gbr) s.t.
3. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) s.t.
4. Michael Matthews (aus) + 0.03
5. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
6. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
7. Kristian Sbaragli (ita) s.t.
8. Matej Mohoric (slo) s.t.
9. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) s.t.
10. Tosh Van der Sande (bel) s.t.

Race report
Ten riders jump clear shortly after the start. Theuns, Bernard, Dewulf, Grignard, Lammertink, Vliegen, Haga, Gibbons, Molly and Skaarseth carve out a gap of 5 minutes.

Van Baarle, Van der Sande, Colbrelli, Clarke, Costa and Sénéchal attack in the main group with 45 kilometres remaining. The six rejoin a number of dropped leaders on the Cauberg before Roglic closes down the gap with the other pre-race favourites in his wheel.

Schelling attacks ahead of the Bemelerberg and the 23-year old Dutchman is brought back on the Cauberg. While Roglic suffers a mechanical, Van Aert and Pidcock open up a gap before Schachmann, Kwiatkowski, Carapaz, Alaphilippe and Matthews regain contact before the finish passage. Valverde rejoins them a little later.

Kwiatkowski strikes, while Pidcock, Van Aert and Schachmann go on the counter-attack after the Pole is reeled in. The three open a gap of 20 seconds. Meanwhile, the chase group grows, but the chase does not really materialise.

Van Aert opens the sprint and while Schachmann fades away Pidcock comes around in the dying metres. The Belgian takes the win though in an extremely close photo finish.

Other interesting reads: parcours and start list 2021 Amstel Gold Race.