The Tour de France champion beat the world champion in a sprint finish
A group of five had gone clear on the final climb of the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) led out in the finishing straight when Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck–Quick-Step) went past him with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) on the world champ’s wheel. Then the Slovenian exploded from behind and claimed his first-ever Monument victory. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) completed the podium while Valverde had to settle for fourth. Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation), who made the move on the last climb, finished fifth.
“I’m without words, I really love this race and to win here like this against those names is incredible,” Pogačar said. “I knew Alaphilippe was going longer and I stayed behind him, I was just lucky in the end, it’s just unbelievable.”
Now it’s finally time for Pogačar to take a few days off before training for the big one. His plans?
“Rest, take some time with the family, and then start to prepare for the Tour de France,” he said.
Best seat in the house
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) April 21, 2021
Wow
Funny. Right, UCI?
When you’re laughing we your own joke 😁 @Amstelgoldrace #joke pic.twitter.com/QxvPFHuQse
— Vliegen Loic (@LoicVliegen) April 20, 2021
Too true
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) April 18, 2021
