The Colombian Juan Sebastian Molano (Col/Uae Emirates-XRG) is the first to finish in De Panne in De Panne. After 195.6 kilometers, Molano sprinted between Bruges and De Panne to win after a very incident-rich final, in which European champion Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) and the Dutchman Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) fell. The Italian top favorite Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) escaped the many falls and crossed the line, the Est Madis Mihkels (EF Education-Easypost) finished third.
All teams brought their fastest men to the start for the sprint competition. Jasper Philipsen was by no means the only former winner in the field of participants. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), winner in 2022 and last year second, is already six victories this season and was more than Philipsen the top favorite. Yves Lampaert, winner in 2020, was also at the start. But through a host of falls, Philipsen, Gerben Thijssen, Arnaud de Lie, Alberto Dainese, Arnaud Démare, Lukas Kubis and Milan Fretin did not come to sprinting.
