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cycling: Bredene Koksijde Classic: Ackermann & Märkl bring in German victories

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Ackermann Pascal Koksijde Niklas Märkl

Cycling: Pascal Ackermann (Bora – hansgrohe) won the Bredene Koksijde Classic. In the mass sprint, the German champion left Norway's Kristoffer Halvorsen (Sky) and Colombian Alvaro Hodeg (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) behind. In the U23 class, the German Niklas Märkl (Sunweb Development Team) won the Youngster Coast Challenge.

Bredene Koksijde Classic

Pascal Ackermann with the perfect timing

The timing was right today. After Pascal Ackermann (Bora - hansgrohe) was often too early in the wind recently, he didn't give the competition a chance today. Kristoffer Halvorsen (Sky) and Alvaro Hodeg (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) - the winners of 2017 and 2018 - only the places remained behind. Three kilometers before the finish there was a fall Hugo Hofstetter (Cofidis) and Jens Debusschere (Lotto – Soudal). The Belgian one-day race was previously known as the Handzame Classic. This time it was 199,15 kilometers from Bredene to Koksijde but under the name Bredene Koksijde Classic. Six escapees were able to determine the course of the race over a longer period of time, but the sextet was finally caught within the three final laps. With four slipways and nine cobblestone passages, a mass sprint was expected even before the start, as there were no major obstacles to be completed in the last 65 kilometers.

Youngster Coast Challenge: Niklas Märkl ensures German victory

The professionals of the U23 class were already on the course before the professionals under the name Youngster Coast Challenge. In the sprint of a large group could Nicholas Markl (Sunweb Development Team) ensure German success. The only 20-year-old won ahead of the Belgian Jarne Van de Paar and the Dane Alexander Salvy. A few days ago, he proved that Niklas Märkl is in excellent form with his victory in the Prologue of the Istrian Spring Trophy.

Tags:Bredene Koksijde ClassicHandzame ClassicNewsNicholas MarklPascal AckermannYoungster Coast Challenge

More than 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.