Remco Evenepoel Triumphs Over Mattias Skjelmose in 2026 Amstel Gold Race
Remco Evenepoel emerged victorious over Mattias Skjelmose at the 2026 Amstel Gold Race. The Belgian won a two-up sprint in Valkenberg to take the classic.
Race summary
The 257 km race began with an early nine-rider breakaway. Evenepoel arrived as the clear favourite and his Red Bull team-mates controlled the peloton.
At halfway the break’s lead had fallen sharply. Nico Denz, a team-mate of Evenepoel, pushed the pace and reduced the gap.
Breakaway
- Huub Artz (Lotto Intermarche)
- Filip Maciejuk (Movistar)
- Marco Frigo (NSN Cycling)
- Warren Barguil (Picnic PostNL)
- Xabier Mikel Azparren (Pinarello Q3.65)
- Joseba Lopez (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
- Siebe Deweirdt (Flanders-Baloise)
- Valentin Retailleau (TotalEnergies)
- Abram Stockman (Unibet Rose Rockets)
Key moves and selection
On the first ascent of the Cauberg the break was cut by about two-thirds. Marco Frigo, Huub Artz and Xabier Azparren stayed away longest.
Azparren was dropped with 65 km remaining. Frigo stayed clear for another 15 km before the bunch reeled him in.
With 42 km to go Roman Grégoire attacked on the Kruisberg. Evenepoel followed, joined by Matteo Jorgenson, Kevin Vauquelin and defending champion Mattias Skjelmose.
Vauquelin slipped on a wet left-hand bend and brought Jorgenson down. Evenepoel, Grégoire and Skjelmose continued as a trio.
Frigo held on until the Keutenberg but could not match Evenepoel’s tempo. On the penultimate ascent of the Cauberg Evenepoel dropped Grégoire.
Final kilometres and sprint
Skjelmose and Evenepoel worked together to build roughly a one-minute cushion. A chase containing Benoît Cosnefroy and Marco Frigo trailed behind.
Rather than force a late solo move, Evenepoel trusted his sprint. He led Skjelmose into the Flamme Rouge and launched his effort at 300 metres.
Evenepoel’s acceleration proved decisive. Skjelmose could not match the burst and settled for second. Cosnefroy won the sprint from the chase to take third.
Aftermath
The duo finished almost two minutes ahead of the main chasing group. The result confirmed Evenepoel’s strength as the Ardennes week opener approached.
At the 2026 Amstel Gold Race, Remco Evenepoel demonstrated both tactical sense and finishing speed to triumph over Mattias Skjelmose.
