After Multiple Photo Finish Controversies Amstel Gold Race Organizers (Finally) Upgrade Equipment
Photo finishes can be thrill inducing for fans and race organizers. But what about competitors?
In the last two editions of the Amstel Gold Race, the winner was determined by finish-line photos. With so much on the line, quality finish-line photos will be necessary to prevent historical controversy for tarnishing the 57th edition of the Race.
In 2021, Jumbo-Visma rider Wout van Aert and Ineos Grenadiers rider Thomas Pidcock went watt for watt in the homestretch for a nail biting finish.
Van Aert led the sprint and Pidcock pulled alongside Van Aert in the final meters. Initially, Pidcock was thought to be the winner but no announcement was made. Not for eight long minutes. After viewing less than optimal finish line photos, race officials announced Van Aert as the winner.
Van Aert told VeloNews “I didn’t dare believe it. I sprinted the last few meters with my eyes closed. The jury only told me just before the podium ceremony that I had won. It was very difficult to say, that was clear from the time the jury needed to make it final. I have never experienced this before.”
Finish line chaos ensued again last year when Benoît Cosnefroy battled Michał Kwiatkowski in the home stretch.
The race jury announced Cosnefroy as the winner but reversed course within minutes after reviewing the official photo finish. Separated by the slightest of margins, Kwiatkowski was declared the official victor of the race.
Cosnefroy accepted the decision reversal, congratulated Kwiatkowski, and criticized the officials' premature announcement.
Disappointed yet composed, the Ag2r Citroën racer told Cycling Weekly, “based on the finish photo there is no discussion. But they should have waited better for that photo.”
To prevent a three-peat, Amstel Gold Race race director Leo van Vliet conceded to De Telegraaf, “all in all, it's Murphy's Law that hit our event. But now it’s over.” According to Cycling Weekly, Van Vliet says the Amstel Gold race will be working with the same company that judges the wins and losses for the Tour de France “because I don’t want any doubts.”
For the 2023 Amstel Gold Race, the company Matsport will manage race timings and finish line photography.
Van Vliet looks for the silver lining in these unfortunate scandals. “We have tightened the protocols. This is also the case with a major accident; something unlikely must first happen before everything is then better agreed,” said Van Vliet.
Here’s hoping for another thrilling sprint to the finish in this Sunday’s Amstel Gold race, which kicks off the Ardennes classics week, just minus the controversy about who actually won!
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