Danny van Poppel takes opportunity to win for the first time in BORA - hansgrohe colours at Rund um Köln: "I think we were the strongest team"

Danny van Poppel joined BORA - hangrohe last season to be a leadout man for Sam Bennett, something which he's been very successful at, but has now also taken glory for himself for the first time at the Rund um Köln.

“It was a really close sprint and right after the finish line I wasn't quite sure if it was really enough to grab the win," van Poppel said in a post-race interview. The Dutchman has become a leading figure within the peloton when it comes to leadouts, proving he still has the speed of previous years. He hasn't often had the chance to race for his own results however, but in a hilly course he managed to thrive this Sunday.

BORA was the strongest team in the field and had several options, eventually featuring a few riders in a reduced group that went up the road throughout the race. There were some fast men, including van Poppel. "I had cramps in the last few kilometers, but Nils Politt prepared the sprint perfectly, so I just had to give everything until the line."

The Dutchman beat Milan Menten and Jasper de Buyst, taking his first win since the 2021 Binche-Chimay-Binche. "I am very happy about this victory - we worked a lot for it today! I think we were the strongest team here and made the most of our opportunities," he concluded.