De Panne (dpa) – A fall shortly before the finish cost professional cyclist Pascal Ackermann another top place within five days at the 46th edition of the Belgian one-day race Bruges-De Panne.
The 28-year-old from the Palatinate fell 1.5 kilometers from the finish, well positioned, and lost hopes of his second win of the season. After his fall, Ackermann grabbed his elbow while lying on the ground. On Friday, also in Belgium, he celebrated his first victory in the jersey of his new team UAE Emirates at the Bredene Koksijde Classic.
Victory in the mass sprint in De Panne after 207.9 kilometers after the photo finish was decided by the Belgian Tim Merlier ahead of the Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen and Nacer Bouhanni from France. Max Walscheid sprinted as the best German in fourth place. “It was very hectic and chaotic in the finale. It’s good that I got around the last corner well,” said Merlier.