Watch: Maryland Cycling Classic highlights
Mattia Skjelmose wins by over two minutes in Baltimore after strong performance
Logan Jones-Wilkins
Junior Writer - North America
The Maryland Cycling Classic returned for its second edition and it was another barnstormer, with aggressive racing throughout the 200km.
While the still new race only attracted six WorldTour teams, the course was full of punchy climbs and twisting country roads around northern Maryland, the perfect setting for America’s only professional road race.
In the finale, a strong group of six forged clear of a greatly diminished peloton as the race entered the city circuits around Baltimore’s historic inner harbour. Mattias Skjelmose and Toms Skujiņš (Lidl-Trek) played a tactical blinder, with Skujiņš attacking first before the Danish champion landed the hammer blow. Skjelmose, who has had a breakout season in 2023, took the win solo with a 2:20 lead over the rest of the race.
Behind, Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) took the sprint for second, while Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech) settled for third.
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