Dylan Groenewegen blames riders themselves for Brugge-De Panne mayhem: "Nobody really gives each other space"

The final kilometers of Classic Brugge-De Panne were marked by many crashes with some of the biggest pre-race favourites involved. Dylan Groenewegen saw the likes of Tim Merlier or Olav Kooij hit the tarmac while he himself got held back in one of the crashes and never got to compete for the victory today.

The Dutch champion told Eurosport that he didn't notice much of the crashes themselves. "But you do notice that it's hectic with so many sprinters in the peloton," he said shortly after the finish.

The hectic situation resulted in a series of crashes. Among others, favourites Tim Merlier and Olav Kooij, but also contenders like Milan Fretin and Gerben Thijssen came into contact with the asphalt. Therefore the final of Classic Brugge-De Panne turned into a battle for survival rather than the anticipated sprint of the fastest men on the planet.

How could it go so wrong according to Groenewegen? "Nobody really gives each other space. It's a bit nervous all day because there's a bit of wind, but not enough. And at the end everyone knows where they have to sit in the finale. That applies for every sprinter." And then the roads can suddenly become very crowded.

The Team Jayco AlUla sprinter does not want to point the finger at the organization. "Now it was just before that narrowing, but in UAE (Tour, ed.) on a five-lane road we also fall. So yes, I think it is also partly up to the riders themselves," Groenewegen judges.

The 31-year-old sprinter did not crash himself, but could was still held back by the number of crashes and finished only 9th, far off the winner. "My derailleur was hit. There is nothing left of it, so my gear kept jumping from left to right. Molano won because he suddenly had space, but it was crazy," Groenewegen concluded.