Kooij unable to sprint after crash in chaotic Classic Brugge-De Panne finale

The 49th edition of the Classic Brugge-De Panne featured a strong lineup. The flat course of the Belgian spring classic traditionally offers an opportunity for the top sprinters. After the start in Bruges, five riders formed the breakaway of the day, but the peloton kept the group within reach. In that peloton, Team Visma | Lease a Bike contributed to the chase. Niklas Behrens – returning to competition after his collarbone fracture in the UAE Tour in February – did a lot of work at the head of the pack.  

With the final kilometres approaching, the final remaining breakaway rider was caught by the nervous peloton. In the last two kilometres, the race was overshadowed by several heavy crashes. Kooij was among those involved but managed to cross the finish line battered and bruised. Juan Sebastián Molano was the surprising winner after a disrupted sprint.  

“The road narrowings in the final kilometres led to some risky situations”

DS Grischa Niermann

Sports director Grischa Niermann reflected on a chaotic race. “As a team, we were in the right position, but a crash was unavoidable. The finale was simply too dangerous today. The road narrowings in the final kilometres led to some risky situations. Unfortunately, Olav also hit the ground, but the damage seems to be limited to abrasions. There are still some big goals ahead for him, so we’ll have to see how he recovers from this crash.” 

Classic Brugge-De Panne ME
One day race

Result

Result

1

Juan Sebastián Molano

UAE Team Emirates – XRG

04:07:23

2

Jonathan Milan

Lidl – Trek

+00:00:00

3

Madis Mihkels

EF Education – EasyPost

+00:00:00

33

Loe van Belle

Team Visma | Lease a Bike

+00:00:15

101

Julien Vermote

Team Visma | Lease a Bike

+00:02:07

118

Tosh Van der Sande

Team Visma | Lease a Bike

+00:02:59

123

Daniel McLay

Team Visma | Lease a Bike

+00:03:29

140

Olav Kooij

Team Visma | Lease a Bike

+00:04:44

–

Victor Campenaerts

Team Visma | Lease a Bike

DNF

–

Niklas Behrens

Team Visma | Lease a Bike

DNF

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Cycling – World Tour men

Grischa Niermann

1