Ackermann was launched on the final straight to the finish by a teammate of UAE Team Emirates and looked set to win the Belgian one-day race for the third time, but Thijssen timed his sprint perfectly and trumped the German on the line.
The Belgian also recently won the Grand Prix Jean-Pierre Monseré, although a finish photo had to be taken. Based on that photo, the jury designated Thijssen as the winner and not Caleb Ewan. The Australian and his team Lotto-Dstny protested against the result, because other images would show that he had indeed crossed the finish line earlier than Thijssen.
The Belgian reacted angrily after he had booked his second victory of the season in Koksijde. ,,All the frustrations are now coming out because of all those comments on my previous win. It’s all bullshit”, says Thijssen. “This is a big middle finger to the rest. Here I am, this is my second win of the season. I have shown again that I am a very fast sprinter.”
The Bredene Koksijde Classic covered 192 kilometers. At about 50 kilometers from the finish, a major crash took place in the peloton. The Belgian Victor Campenaerts was the main victim. He had to go to the hospital for a medical examination.