In a stunning upset at the Amstel Gold Race, Mattias Skjelmose clinched his first major career victory by outsprinting world champion Tadej PogaÄar and Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel. Skjelmose, initially content with a third-place finish, found himself in a position to win after an unexpected move on the Keutenberg. PogaÄar had appeared poised for a solo victory but was caught off guard by Skjelmose's attack. The young cyclist expressed disbelief at his achievement, emphasizing the significance of defeating such esteemed competitors in the cycling world.
"I think I won... Guys, I think I won," is what Mattias Skjelmose repeated to the Lidl-Trek team staff awaiting him past the finish line of the Amstel Gold Race, where he took the biggest win of his career on Sunday.
"I think it's going to take some time before I actually realise just what happened," said Skjelmose, who stunned the two pre-race favourites.
PogaÄar had looked set for a dominant solo victory when he attacked away on the Kruisberg after he and Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) had distanced themselves from the remaining favourites 47km from the finish.
Skjelmose missed the move after getting stuck in the wheels and thought he'd again just be in the fight for second, as was the case in 2023, when he finished eighth at Amstel Gold 3:14 behind a solo PogaÄar.
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