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Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) came out on top in the finishing sprint after a chaotic run-in to take victory at the Bredene Koksijde Classic. The Belgian nipped through in the dying metres to edge Pascal Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates) at the line, while Sam Welsford (Team DSM) rounded out the podium close behind.
Thijssen benefitted from stellar work from his team in closing kilometres, with Intermarché-Circus-Wanty taking control at the head of the peloton during a hectic final run to the finish in Koksijde.
Narrow roads, a roundabout, and a final bend just 300 metres out all contributed to the messy finish, with UAE Team Emirates emerging on the front in the final sprint with GP Denain winner Juan Sebastián Molano leading out Ackermann.
The German launched his burst for the line up the barriers at around 125 metres to go, but he had Thijssen on his wheel ready to hit the wind in the final 50 metres. That perfectly timed burst was enough to see the Belgian zip past Ackermann right at the line and claim his second victory of the month after the GP Monseré.
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