Tadej Pogacar racked up an 11th win of the season Sunday when he dropped Tom Pidcock on a climb and soloed over 30 kilometers to win the prestigious Amstel Gold Race. He then put away a glass of beer in impressive speed.

Pogacar, a 24-year-old Slovenian of the UAE team, finished first on the Dutch classic in six hours, 1min and 2sec, ahead of Ireland's disappointed Ben Healy of EF Education-EasyPost. British rider Pidcock clung on to third place.

Alexey Lutsenko and Andreas Kron rounded out the top 5 after failing narrowly to reel in Pidcock in a desperate chase for third.

On the winner's podium, Pogacar and the others all were handed a glass of Amstel Gold beer. Pogacar downed his drink in one long slug and smiled broadly to the cheering onlookers.

Pogacar had changed bikes just ahead of the climb, where his trademark climb-kick left the others standing.

"We didn't have cars for such a long time, but we managed to get the bike just in time before the final climbs," Pogacar said.

He later explained fellow rider Mathieu van der Poel had tippped him off to the tactic.

"He told me I should go on the Keutenberg, as it is the hardest climb, and it suits me the most," Pogacar said. "He told me that three days ago. he sent me a message. I will thank him for the advice."

The lead trio went clear as part of a large attack with 90 kilometers to go on the 253.6-kilometer race over relentless hills on an overcast day run between Maastricht and Valkenburg.

The ease with which Pogacar later shot away from an in-form Pidcock on the upper reaches of the Keutenberg hill showed why the double Tour de France winner added to his Tour of Flanders triumph earlier this month.

Next weekend, Pogacar faces a mouth-watering duel with Remco Evenepoel at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege, with the Belgian defending champion tasked with taming the 2021 title winner.

Ahead of that, he also tackles La Fleche Wallone in midweek.

"It's a hard race for me," Pogacar said. "I never did a good result there, but with good shape right now, and a good team, we can also do a good result in Flèche."

Dutch rider Demi Vollering won the women's race after breaking free of the pack on the final descent, producing a third major win this season for the 26-year-old. She also won Strade Bianche and Tour of Flanders.