Evenepoel outsprints Skjelmose to win Amstel Gold Race

A year after Skjelmose had outwitted Olympic champion Evenepoel and world champion Tadej Pogacar to win a three-man sprint, the Belgian gained his revenge for his first major one-day victory in almost two years.

"It means a lot. I mean, I've had a pretty good last month of April with (fifth in) Catalonia, (third) in Flanders, but to take a win is always a bit different," said Evenepoel.

"I was really confident. I felt much better than I did last year in the final.

"I think it was also shown in the sprint that my sprint was much better, that I had something left," the 26-year-old added.

Evenepoel had not tasted victory in a major one-day race since claiming the Olympic crown in Paris in August 2024, finishing second to Pogacar at the world championships, European championships, and Tour of Lombardy last year, while he finished third at Amstel.

Skjelmose admitted "Remco was for sure the strongest, like last year.

"Last year I was lucky and this year he just beat me with legs."

They were part of a small group that went clear of the peloton when Frenchman Romain Gregoire launched an attack with around 40km left of the 257km race that included 33 short, steep climbs.

American Matteo Jorgenson and Frenchman Kevin Vauquelin crashed, leaving Evenepoel, Skjelmose and Gregoire out front on their own.

They caught and passed the last remnant of the day's breakaway, Italian Marco Frigo, before an attack by Evenepoel dropped Gregoire.

The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe racer and Skjelmose then collaborated to the finish, with Evenepoel launching his dash for the line first and easily holding off the Dane for his 74th professional victory.

It was a timely return to winning ways with tougher tests ahead, including next weekend when Pogacar and teenage French sensation Paul Seixas will be on the start-line for the year's fourth Monument race, Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

After beginning the season in fine form with six victories, Evenepoel had struggled in two stage races, finishing 10th at the UAE Tour and then fifth at the Tour of Catalonia.

However, he had taken an impressive third place behind Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel on his debut at the Tour of Flanders two weeks ago.

Frenchman Benoit Cosnefroy pipped compatriot Gregoire in the sprint for third place.