The outcome of the 2022 Amstel Gold Race was the same as a year ago, although with different protagonists. A heads up sprint between two runners and a photo finish to decide the winner. In 2021 it was between Wout van Aert and Thomas Pidcock, with the former winning, and this time the protagonists were Benoit Cosnefroy and Michal Kwiatkowski. The Frenchman, who launched the sprint, was declared the winner in the first instance on the radio, and came to celebrate his victory after a few moments of confusion between the protagonists. A few seconds later, and after reviewing the photo finish, the Pole was declared the winner. The image made it clear, and the huge beer on the Valkenburg podium went to Ineos, a team that this time did face the final photo, not like in 2021 with Pidcock. For the Pole it is the second victory in the Dutch event after the one in 2015.
The photo finish between Kwiatkowski and Cosnefroy
Ineos
The test, which is traditionally held on the third Sunday in April, this time was held on the second for a political reason: the elections in France. This date is for Paris-Roubaix, but for this reason it was moved a week later and the beer race was brought forward. In total, 33 heights and more than 3,500 meters of unevenness. It is not a Monument, but it is one of the great classics on the calendar, the most outstanding in the Netherlands, the country of a Mathieu van der Poel who pointed to the great favorite after his spectacular week in Flanders, with two successes, but this time he He had to settle for fourth position, just outside the podium. Tiesj Benoot, also in good form in recent times, was the one who closed the beer podium.
At the start, a breakaway was formed with seven runners, with an income that reached more than four minutes and with Movistar represented by the Swiss Johan Jacobs. 45 kilometers away, already inside the circuit, they saw their adventure come to an end after being neutralized by the small group of favourites, with no Spaniards present. One of those who started, Juan Ayuso (the second youngest in the test at 19 years old), did not complete the test. With Van der Poel suffering on the different levels, it was Thomas Pidcock who showed the best sensations, and also with an advantage: he had his teammate Kwiatkowski as a second trick. It was on the last pass through the Cauberg that the race took an almost definitive course, especially on the flat section that followed.
final classification
Kwiatkowski and Cosnefroy went ahead, with a great understanding, and behind there were doubts. Only the sudden movements of Van der Poel, the most watched by the rest, served to cut the difference somewhat, but without continuity. In this way, the race was played head-to-head, with a Benoot anticipating the rest to be third. In the fight for victory, Cosnefroy launched the arrival, the Pole grabbed his wheel and both entered almost side by side. It was the French first who celebrated, although later he doubted. They waited, and the great news came through his earpiece: he had won. From joy to depression: after reviewing the photo finish, the Pole was the winner by best launching the bike. An Ineos that worked hard in the race and that completes a spectacular weekend with the stage and the general classification of Dani Martínez in Itluzia and now with this conquest of a world champion. Now yes, without elections, next Sunday will be the turn for Paris-Roubaix, almost nothing.