Amstel Gold Race 2021

Wout van Aert wins Amstel Gold Race in photo finish

• As it happened
• Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition 2021 

After the cancellation of the Amstel Gold Race in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 edition served up a thrilling photo finish finale, with Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) edging out Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers) but a margin so thin it took the jury 20 long minutes to pick the winner.

Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) was third while Michael Matthews (BikeExchange) won the bunch sprint for fourth.

The modified course, a 17km circuit around Valkenburg, and Maastricht that included the Geulhemmerberg, Bemelerberg and Cauberg made for an equally selective race.

Nicola Conci (Trek-Segafredo) sparked the winning move when he attacked over the Cauberg with 18km to go and was joined by Van Aert, Pidcock, Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers) and Schachmann.

Kwiatkowski attacked, and as Alaphilippe struggled, a chasing group came together behind him with Pidcock, Van Aert, Schachmann, Matthews and Richard Carapaz.

The Polish rider was caught on the Geulhemmerberg after a chase from Schachmann, and Pidcock countered, taking Van Aert and Schachmann along. In the sprint, Pidcock clung to Van Aert's wheel and sprang around in the final 150m and threw himself at the line but was a hair's width short.

Amstel Gold Race 2021 Teams

• AG2R Citroën Team
• Astana-Premier Tech
• Bahrain Victorious
• Bora-Hansgrohe
• Cofidis
• Deceuninck-QuickStep
• EF Education-Nippo
• Groupama-FDJ
• Ineos Grenadiers
• Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
• Israel Start-up Nation
• Jumbo-Visma
• Lotto Soudal
• Movistar Team
• Team BikeExchange
• Team DSM
• Team Qhubeka Assos
• Trek-Segafredo
• UAE Team Emirates
• Alpecin-Fenix
• Bingoal WB
• Gazprom-RusVelo
• Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise
• Team Arkea-Samsic
• Uno-X Pro Cycling Team