Amstel Gold Race 2024: British Tom Pidcock the winner at the end of a race in which Mathieu van der Poel did not exist

Amstel Gold Race 2024: British Tom Pidcock the winner at the end of a race in which Mathieu van der Poel did not exist

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The driver of Ineos Grenadiers solved the sprint group of four drivers on Sunday, ahead of the Swiss Marco Hirschi and the Belgian Tiesj Benoit.

France Télévisions – Sports editorial

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Tom Pidcock celebrates his victory in the Amstel Gold Race, April 14, 2024. (DIRK WAEM / AFP)

Victory was promised to the great Mathieu van der Poel, but the Dutchman remained warm in the peloton throughout the race. The Amstel Gold Race 2024 smiled on the daredevils, Sunday 14 April. Starting on the counter 28 km from the finish and stronger in the sprint than Marc Hirschi and Tiesj Benoit, Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) raised his hands on Berg en Terblijt. Exemption for those who finished second in the competition in 2022 and third in 2023.

Tom Pidcock wins the Amstel Gold Race for the first time in his career. The Englishman beat Marco Hirschi and Tiesj Benoit in the sprint.

Men’s race: Tom Pidcock wins the Amstel Gold Race!
Tom Pidcock wins the Amstel Gold Race for the first time in his career. The Englishman beat Marco Hirschi and Tiesj Benoit in the sprint.

There are three Frenchmen in the final top 10. Tour of the Basque Country stage winner Paul Lapeira (Décathlon-AG2R) impressed with fifth place. Two Groupama-FDJ Valentin Madouas and Quentin Pacher finished in 6th and 8th place, respectively. Behind, Mathieu van der Poel did not even participate in the peloton sprint and was satisfied with 22nd place. He will save some strength a week from Liège-Bastogne-Liège, one of only two monuments he has yet to win in his career.

Lapeira fought to the end

The layout of the race remained the same for a long time, with a small group of riders in the lead and the peloton in charge, notably Tosh Van der Sande, Enzo Leijnse, Alexander Hajek and Zeb Kyffin. After these four runners were caught 75 km from the finish, a trio appeared, composed of the French Paul Lapeira (Décathlon-AG2R), Mikkel Honoré (EF) and Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Quick-Step). The first two cities withstood the shock and were joined by a group of blockers who left 35 km from the finish line, so that they found themselves at the head of the race with three other Frenchmen: Kévin Vauquelin (Arkea Samsic), Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) and Quentin Pacher (Groupama-FDJ).

The four strongest in this group broke the hole 10 km from the line: Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), Tiesj Benoot (Visma-Lease a Bike), Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) and Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal Quick-Step). Despite several attacks and the imminent return of Paul Lapeira, they stayed together until the finish line. The Brit took control of the sprint and resisted Marco Hirschi’s comeback.

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