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cycling: Around Cologne: Bennett wins the mass sprint, Kittel fifth

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Bennett Vuelta

Cycling: Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe) won the traditional German one-day race around Cologne. The Irishman left Mihkel Räim (Israel Cycling Academy) and Szymon Sajnok (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) behind in the mass sprint of the cathedral city. Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin) - initially registered in third place - only finished fifth.

Bora-hansgrohe and Katusha-Alpecin force a bunch sprint

After a breakaway with Gregor Mühlberger (Bora-hansgrohe) was successful at Rund um Köln last season, there was a mass sprint this year. The seven fugitives, including the German Florian Stork (Development Team Sunweb), as well as the two Swiss Lukas Rüegg (Vorarlberg Santic) and Joab Schneiter (Swiss national team), should be caught again well before the finish line. The German team Bora-hansgrohe was mainly responsible for this, which had a fast man with them in Sam Bennett and therefore wanted to force a mass sprint. The Katusha-Alpecin team from Switzerland also took part in the speed work for Marcel Kittel.

Around Cologne Bennett

Bennett shows his strong Giro form

189,1 kilometers had to be completed before the 6,2-kilometer circuit was driven on three times. Although several teams were involved in the pace work, there were repeated attacks. The peloton also split more than once during the day. The inner-city course in particular was suitable for various preliminary decisions before the mass sprint. Nevertheless, the teams concerned managed to keep everything together. So nothing stood in the way of the expected mass sprint. As already proved at the Giro d'Italia Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe) as extremely fast. The Irishman referred Michael Raim (Israel Cycling Academy) and Szymon Sajnok (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) on their places. Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin) was only fifth. In addition to him, other German professionals were able to place themselves in the top 10. Aaron Grosser (Sauerland NRW p/b SKS GERMANY) finished sixth, Jannik Steimle (Vorarlberg Santic) eighth and Alexander Krieger (Leopard Pro Cycling) ninth. The Swiss Fabian Lienhard drove for the Swiss national team in seventh place.

Tags:Marcel KittelNewsAround CologneSam Bennett

About Michael Behringer

Cycling with all its tactics, stage analyses, placements and forecasts are Michael Behringer's great passion. In 1996 he tracked his first Tour de France. Since then he has observed almost every race. His passion for cycling has been with him for over two decades. There is no end in sight.