16/04/2023

Tadej Pogacar obliterates field to take utterly dominant Amstel Gold Race win

Tadej Pogacar continued to prove why he is viewed by many as the greatest rider of his generation by completely and utterly destroying the field to claim a sensational victory at the Amstel Gold Race, completing his set of Ardennes Classic wins.

As always, a race of endurance. In the hilly area around Valkenburg, it's a race that doesn't feature a single long ascent, but dozens of small climbs. Wit just over 80kms to go an elite group that included the likes of Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) escaped off the front of a peloton that was in panic mode.

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With the lead group quickly growing out the time gap to 30 seconds, Jumbo-Visma were riding hard at the front of the chasing group to try and pull the leaders back. As the peloton continued to try and up the pace a crash thwarted them with a number of riders going down including recent Brabantse Pijl winner Dorian Godon.

With 39kms to go Tadej Pogacar was forced into a bike change that must have raised his blood pressure levels ever so slightly although you wouldn't have known watching him as the Slovenian raced back into the front group with consummate ease.

Just a few kilometres after being out the back, Pogacar was pushing the race on at the front with only Tom Pidcock and Ben Healy managing to hold the wheel as they rode over the Eyserbosweg. The leading trio now with a lead of over a minute from the main peloton fronted by Jumbo-Visma and Bahrain Victorious.

With 28.5km to go Pogacar went again dropping Healy first with Pidcock being ridden off the Slovenian's back wheel shortly after. As the Englishman and the Irishman regrouped together, Pogacar continued to drive on without so much of a backwards glance.

From there the time gaps only grew. Pogacar being allowed something of a ceremonial lap of honour. Ben Healy however wasn't giving up just yet and attacked Tom Pidcock, dropping the INEOS rider and beginning his chase of Pogacar.

Sadly for the Irishman, Pogacar was out of reach. The UAE Team Emirates star claiming a comfortable win and adding yet another title to his illustrious palmares. Healy came home to a very impressive second and Pidcock in third.