Skjelmose defeated Evenepoel and Pogacar on the final straight of the 255km course through the Dutch province of Limburg. Pogacar led the race ever since the Slovenian phenom slipped away from Julian Alaphilippe, but had to race Evenepoel and Skjelmose on the final 10 kilometres after a big push from the chasers and lost the race on the home straight as the Dane narrowly beat him to the line.
"I was riding into a headwind and once Remco had joined the chase I decided to wait for them," Pogacar explained.
Climb specialist Skjelmose allowed the other two to do most of the work on the final ascents and was an unexpected winner at the line, following an intense 3-kilometre cat-and-mouse waiting game that culminated in a photo finish at the line.
"The finish line was five metres too far," said Pogacar, who was second and gamely tapped Lidl-Trek's Skjelmose on the shoulder in recognition. "I really paid the price for all my efforts in the headwind over the last 15km."
A group of eight runners took the early lead and only fell apart after 60 kilometres when Alaphilippe attacked on Gulperberg, one of the 34 hills of the Amstel Gold Race. Pogacar joined the experienced Frenchman and left him behind on the very next hill, Kruisberg.
Ilan De Wilder led the chasing pack but saw Skjelmose escape and Evenepoel - one of the few runners who plans to partake in all six cobbled and road classics - follow suit. The two reached Pogacar about 10 kilometres from the finish line.
Evenepoel had done most of the donkey work in the late and unlikely chase, and was left hugely disappointed after almost six hours in the saddle. Another Belgian, Wout van Aert, was fourth 34 seconds adrift while Australian Michael Matthews rounded out the top five.
Defending champion Tom Pidcock, who won in 2024 in a similar manner, also ended with the Van Aert group.