The official photo finish shots (below) from Amstel Gold today confirm Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) as the winner from Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers).
The two pre-race favourites got clear in the closing stages today with another hotly tipped man, Max Schachmann (Bora-hansgrohe); riding away just inside the final 15km and during a gripping finale that Pidcock animated.
In the closing stages, as the trio up front played a tactical game, there was a regrouping of sorts behind them and a small bunch was bearing down on the three leaders all the way to the line.
In the sprint for the line Van Aert led it out and it initially appeared as if Pidcock had just pipped him on the line, with neither rider sure who had won when they came to a stop after the finish.
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Even after Van Aert was informed in his earpiece minutes after the finish that he had won and the smiles appeared, he then began to look less sure as the official confirmation process dragged on.
However, the photo finish shots below show, just about, that Van Aert won the race by the smallest of margins from Pidcock with Schachmann in 3rd. Michael Matthews (BikeExchange) won the group sprint for 4th place just two seconds behind the three leaders.
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