In 2025, the Amstel Gold Race finished with a shocking win for Mattias Skjelmose over the world's number one rider, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and the double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel. But this year, the pendulum swung the other way. With the world champion sitting this one out, Evenepoel proved to be the dominant rider this year, powering the winning move and then defeating Skjelmose in a two-man sprint.
Skjelmose likely knew his fate was sealed when he latched onto an attack with 42km to go that included Evenepoel, the race's overwhelming favourite. Whereas last year, Evenepoel was at the start of a delayed season after being doored and suffering numerous injuries, his 2026 campaign went far more smoothly. The Dane was philosophical about finishing second.
