Blasi’s stunning long-range attack surprises favourites at Amstel Gold Race Ladies

Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) spectacularly denied the favourites the chance to fight for victory as the 23-year-old rider soloed to victory at the Amstel Gold Race Ladies. 

The 23-year-old Spanish rider went clear with Nienke Vinke (SD Worx-Protime) on the run-in to the penultimate ascent of the Cauberg with 25km remaining. 

Blasi distanced Vinke on the Cauberg a couple of kilometres later and soloed 22km to take the biggest victory of her career in Valkenburg. 

The long-range attack of Blasi saw the Spanish rider build an advantage of over a minute on the last lap, and this denied the pre-race favourites the opportunity to fight for the win in the finale. 

In the end, it was Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//Sram zondacrypto) who managed to finish best of the rest in 2nd place, outsprinting Demi Vollering (FDJ United Suez), who took 3rd, 27 seconds behind Blasi.

For Blasi, it marks the fifth victory of her professional career, and her first WorldTour one-day success. Meanwhile, for UAE Team ADQ, it's a milestone 10th victory of 2026, and a second WorldTour one-day win after Karlijn Swinkels' (UAE Team ADQ) success at the Trofeo Alfredo Binda.

A five-rider breakaway formed featuring Heidi Franz (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), Kiara Lylyk (Mayenne-Monbana-My Pie), Annelies Nijssen (Lotto-Intermarché), Nicole Steigena (AG Insurance-Soudal), and Scarlett Souren (VolkerWessels).

Lidl-Trek and SD Worx Protime were two of the most active teams as the race entered the final circuit, which was to be tackled five times, with riders from each team trying to break clear. 

Anna van der Breggen pushed the pace on the third lap and briefly formed a selective group including Demi Vollering (FDJ United Suez), Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//Sram zondacrypto), Sarah Van Dam (Visma | Lease a Bike), and Noemi Rüegg (EF Education Oatly). But just like the many previous attacks, the group was unable to stay clear.

More attacks followed on the fourth lap, with the most significant coming on the run-in to the penultimate Cauberg ascent with 23km remaining, Nienke Vinke (SD Worx-Protime) attacked along with Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ), and the duo quickly opened a healthy advantage over the chasing pack.

It was the UAE rider, Blasi, who went clear of Vinke on the Cauberg, while there was a more controlled pace in the chasing group behind compared to the previous ascent. 

Through the bell lap, Blasi held 20 seconds over Vinke while the chasing pack passed the line 45 seconds behind the Spanish rider.

Much of the impetus in the chasing pack fell onto the shoulders of Elise Chabbey and Juliette Berthet (FDJ United-Suez), with their team leader Vollering well-positioned in the group, and the Swiss rider contributed significantly.

Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike), who was distanced earlier in the race, managed to return to the chasing pack, which was less than 30 riders in size, with 14km to go.

Blasi’s advantage stretched beyond the minute mark with 10km remaining, and Lidl-Trek had to join the chase, but the gap remained over a minute with 5km to go, and Vinke still remained between the sole leader and the chase group.

A heart-in-mouth moment for Blasi came inside the final 5km, when she almost went the wrong direction at a roundabout, but the Spanish rider managed to correct her mistake quickly and still held a minute at the foot of the Cauberg with 2.6km remaining.

It was now or never for the chasers, and Chabbey set a blistering pace before Niewiadoma attacked. The Polish champion’s move saw Vinke caught, and Niewiadoma began to pull clear alongside the European champion Vollering, who countered over the top.

Despite the powerful attacks, Blasi was still riding a strong race out front and held 40 seconds at the top of the climb, with just 1km remaining. 

Blasi would hold on with more than enough time to plan a celebration for the biggest victory of her career, while Vollering and Niewiadoma had to settle for the minor podium places.