The Amstel Gold Race startlist was already looking a bit sparse without Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar on the roster. Now it’s sparser, with four of the remaining contenders dropping out.
Tom Pidcock, Michael Matthews, Ben Healy, and Juan Ayuso have all been scratched from the startlist due to a mix of injury and illness. If you were looking for a clear favorite to navigate the chaotic Dutch roads on Sunday, you are going to have to look a lot harder.
Here’s the breakdown of who is out and exactly why they are missing the first leg of the Ardennes Classics.
Michael Matthews and a Brutal Training Crash
Matthews has a stellar track record at Amstel, including a podium and six top-ten finishes, but he is currently recovering from a horrific training crash. The Australian rider suffered an open fracture on his left arm, severed tendons in his right thumb, broke his wrist, and sustained a sinus fracture. He has undergone multiple surgeries. He is already back to riding the indoor trainer with casts on both arms, but his spring campaign is obviously over.
Tom Pidcock and a Lingering Knee Injury
Pidcock was arguably the top favorite to take the win this weekend. However, the INEOS rider is still dealing with knee issues after crashing heavily on a descent and falling into a ravine during Stage 5 of the Volta a Catalunya. While he managed to climb out and finish the stage at the time, the knee hasn’t fully healed. He is skipping Amstel to race the Tour of the Alps next week, hoping to be ready for Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Ben Healy and a Sacral Fracture
The EF Education-EasyPost breakaway specialist crashed just before the opening time trial at the Itzulia Basque Country. Healy managed to ride the entire stage race anyway, only to get an MRI afterward that revealed a non-displaced sacral fracture. EF has understandably mandated rest, robbing Sunday’s race of one of its most aggressive late-stage attackers.
Juan Ayuso and a Viral Infection
Ayuso was forced to abandon Itzulia due to what was initially called a general illness. Medical tests have since confirmed a viral infection, which completely wipes out his Ardennes campaign and removes a major wildcard from the peloton.
A Wide-Open Sunday
With Pidcock, Matthews, Healy, Ayuso, Van der Poel, and Pogačar all watching from home, Sunday’s race is a tactical vacuum.
Remco Evenepoel is the biggest name left on the board, but the twisty, narrow Dutch roads aren’t exactly his ideal playground. This leaves the door wide open for a highly unpredictable finale, giving riders like Maxim Van Gils, Benoît Cosnefroy, and Mattias Skjelmose a massive opportunity to capitalize on the missing heavyweights.