Multiple crashes in 5 kilometers - Juan Sebastián Molano wins apocalyptic finale to Classic Brugge-De Panne

This year's Classic Brugge-De Panne had what was perhaps the most chaotic finale possibly imaginable. Most of the main favourites crashed in the final 5 kilometers, as there were several falls that effectively cut the peloton to around 20 riders by the time of the final sprint. There, Juan Sebastián Molano took a strong win after a very early sprint.

The pan-flat race hosted many and most of the world's very best sprinters, and with the wind not blowing very hard today, a regular bunch sprint was expected and very hard to prevent. Five riders formed the day's breakaway featuring a surprising António Morgado, Hartthijs de Vries, Jorem Bloem, Michiel Lambrecht and Victor Vercouillie gave the day some much deserved action.

The group collaborated well and held on despite the very high average speed on the day, and with 15 kilometers to go De Vries launched his own move to go solo off the front. The Unibet Tietema Rockets rider resisted the surging peloton very well, and inside the final 5 kilometers crashes began to happen in the peloton involving several riders.

The Dutchman was absorbed by the peloton with just over 2 kilometers to go, seconds later there was yet another mass crash taking out within others Milan Fretin and Arnaud De Lie, cutting the peloton into around a mere 40 riders. It became a pure game of survival as inside the final kilometers there was yet another mass crash in what remained of the peloton, where at least Tim Merlier went down.

Juan Sebastián Molano, within the absolute chaos, launched his sprint with 450 meters to go, quickly getting a gap as he did not have a response. The UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider's bold tactic worked to perfection as he took advantage of the hesitation from a few other sprinters, and after a brutally long sprint the Colombian took what might be the biggest victory of his career. Jonathan Milan was second on the day, the fastest in the sprint but not able to catch Molano.