Dorian Godon led INEOS Grenadiers home at the Amstel Gold Race after a crash halted the momentum of Kevin Vauquelin.
Both riders arrived in Valkenburg as part of the chasing peloton, with Godon sprinting to 13th place. Vauquelin was able to bounce back and finish the race despite sliding out in slick conditions with 41 kilometres to go.
The team worked well to position Vauquelin prior to the Kruisberg, with the Grenadier able to react well to follow the accelerations and ride his way into a key selection.
Yet that momentum was quickly halted as Kevin slid out on a tightening left-hander. Despite quickly remounting, he would be unable to regain contact with the leaders.
As the group whittled down, in the finale it was Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe) who claimed victory in a two-up sprint against Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek).
Earlier strong work from Jack Haig and Axel Laurance ensured that Vauquelin was delivered into a perfect position ahead of the key climbs. Godon also saw his charge blunted by a pair of punctures but would return to the peloton on the run-in.
