Skjelmose beats Pogacar in photo finish in Netherlands

Danish rider Mattias Skjelmose has beaten cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar by less than half a wheel's length to win the Amstel Gold Race in a thrilling finish in the Netherlands.

In a three-way sprint to the line, double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel appeared to have won but Pogacar nudged ahead of him with a couple of metres to go, only for Skjelmose to surge down the left and pip him at the line.

It was by far the biggest win of the 24-year-old's career and he was in tears afterward when the photo finish showed him winning Sunday's Ardennes classic.

It was a rare defeat for the three-time Tour de France champion and multiple classics winner Pogacar, who was second at the prestigious Paris-Roubaix classic last weekend.

Pogacar, who won Amstel in 2023, launched one of his trademark attacks with about 40 kms to go in the 255.9 km race. But he kept looking over his shoulder, and Evenepoel and Skjelmose caught up with eight kilometres left.

Evenepoel moved first with a strong attack, but may have gone too early. Still, it was another excellent ride from the 25-year-old Belgian, whose career was in danger following a heavy crash last year. He only returned to racing on Friday and won the Brabantse Pijl race at home in Belgium.

Dutch rider Mischa Bredewold won a hard-fought women's race ahead of countrywomen Ellen van Dijk and Puck Pieterse.

They had all been part of a 23-rider breakaway that formed following the second trek up Cauberg.

Bredewold finished the 157.3-km course in just over four hours, with Van Dijk and Pieterse seven seconds behind.