The Ardennes Classics kick off this Sunday at the Amstel Gold Race, with both the men’s and women’s pelotons taking on the first in the epic trio of races from Maastricht to Valkenburg in Dutch Limburg
Defending champions Mattias Skjelmose and Mischa Bredewold are both back for another tilt at the respective 257km and 157km courses, with plenty of punchy climbs such as the Bemelerberg and Cauberg set to separate the best from the rest.
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Last year’s men’s race was among the very best of the season, with a thrilling chase ending in a three-up sprint where Skjelmose beat Evenepoel and Tadej Pogačar, who isn’t racing in the Netherlands this year.
Elite Men
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
There is no question that Mattias Skjelmose wasn’t the rider expected to ride to victory last year, with Thibau Nys starting as Lidl-Trek’s chosen leader, and even when the Dane was hanging onto Remco Evenepoel’s wheel as he chased down Tadej Pogačar, his first priority was not getting dropped, with third looking like his best possible outcome in the face of two of cycling’s superstars. Though this year, having emerged victorious from that memorable three-man sprint 12 months ago, there is no better proof of his capabilities than lining up with the number one on his back.
Now having extended with Lidl-Trek through to 2028, Skjelmose has earned a position as…
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