Classic Brugge-De Panne 2024

March 20, 2024 An uncharacteristically bright and calm day in Belgium saw three riders take up the break, Luca De Meester of Bingoal WB, Victor Vercouillie of Flanders-Baloise, and Thomas Gachingnard of TotalEnergies. They stood little chance at making it to the finish in front due to the nice weather and the list of top tier sprinters in the field. In the last 45KM, the peloton fought themselves for every corner on the circuit to keep position at the front. Gachignard was the last of the break caught at 10KM on the last trip through De Moeren. The last 2KM was a mad scramble for the lead out riders to get organized and find their sprinters. A crash into the last corner at 500M took out riders from about twenty wheels back. Danny van Poppel of Bora-Hansgrohe was second through that corner and first to start his sprint, it was a long one but he had no option when the Lidl-Trek rider in front peeled off. Behind Van Poppel on the left side, Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck almost put himself into the barriers as he and Tim Merlier of Soudal Quickstep went for the same gap. Their speed slowed but when they got themselves straight, Philipsen immediately got his sprint back. His acceleration was faster than Merlier and he was able to overtake a tiring van Poppel. Merlier took second and seemed frustrated by Philipsen's move but the jury did not think it was out of line. Danny van Poppel was able to hang on for third.