After the cobbled classics, the Amstel Gold Race is traditionally on the programme. Between Maastricht and Vilt, the riders covered 250 kilometres with more than 30 hills along the way. Tosh Van der Sande was part of the breakaway. The 33-year-old Belgian from Team Visma | Lease a Bike and his three companions were caught with 75 kilometres to cover.

After a short breather in the peloton, the hills followed in quick succession. With the Keutenberg as one of the crucial hills ahead, some riders tried to anticipate. Among others, Benoot, Hirschi and Pidcock were part of the head of the race. Once on the Keutenberg, Benoot set a high pace. Only Hirschi, Pidcock and Mauri Vansevenant were able to follow the Belgian.

The peloton, with Matteo Jorgenson, was not able to come back in the finale. The four eventually decided the race in a sprint. Benoot saw his strong race rewarded with third place. "I already finished third here once in 2022, so secretly I was hoping to do better," he said afterwards. "In the last kilometres, I knew we were going to sprint for the win. According to my own feeling, I sprinted well too. I stayed next to Pidcock for a long time, but in the end he proved a size too strong."

"I hoped to try win it with a counterattack," Benoot continued. "But it's hard to surprise anyone in a breakaway of four. In hindsight, I can definitely live with this result. The feeling is good. After the Tour of Flanders, I was able to train and recover well. The injuries I sustained in the E3 Saxo Classic are also healing quickly. Despite the bad luck in the spring, I proved that there is still something in the tank. I am ready for what is yet to come."