Paula Blasi takes Surprise Solo Win at Amstel Gold Race

“I really can’t believe it. I wasn’t actually even scheduled to ride this race, but due to some illnesses and injuries within the team, I got called up after all. And now this!” said Blasi.

From being dropped to going all-in

The turning point didn’t come from a position of control, quite the opposite.

“It will take a few weeks before it really sinks in. I had actually been dropped, but I managed to make my way back and decided to accelerate. I thought to myself: let me try to be of service to the team in a different way.”

What followed was a shift in approach. Rather than reacting to the race, Blasi forced it.

“I really struggled with my positioning all day long. I was also quite nervous about this race, seeing as it’s my first time riding the Ardennes classics. I thought: I’d better go on the attack; that way, I won’t have to constantly fight for position.”

Even the timing of the move came with uncertainty.

“When I crossed the finish line for the penultimate time, I didn’t even know how many kilometers I still had left to cover. I figured it was about five kilometers, but it turned out to be 22 kilometers. That’s when I thought: there’s still a long way to go.”

From there, it became a long solo effort over the rolling Limburg roads. It was measured, but far from comfortable.

Behind, the favourites hesitated just enough. Not a complete standstill, but not a fully committed chase either.

Holding off the favourites

The gap never looked completely safe, but it never disappeared either.

Blasi rode the final kilometres of the Amstel Gold Race on instinct as much as information, committing to the effort despite not fully knowing what remained. The chasing group, stacked with bigger names and stronger teams, couldn’t quite organise in time.

By the finish, the upset was complete.

Amstel Gold Race Ladies 2026 — Maastricht to Valkenburg (158.1km)