Multiple crashes in 5 kilometers - Juan Sebastián Molano wins apocalyptic finale to Classic Brugge-De Panne
CyclingWednesday, 26 March 2025 at 17:01
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.
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- lol, he knows how not to get into trouble with his teammates.
KerisVroom22-05-2025 - They use English as their common language but it doesn't mean they speak it well. I hope this kid gets a chance to go for it, he too could win.awp22-05-2025
- I don't mind seeing Froome in the peloton, but he's a multimillionaire, he shouldn't take money that could give a few young guys, maybe more, a spot on a pro team. If he wants to ride it should be for no salary or much less. I say this without really knowing what he is making now but I assume it's decent amount.awp22-05-2025
- Don't forget the roster is weak compared to the Tadej and Jonas show, Carapaz has won the Giro before back in 2019. He was the only guy who could match Tadej and Jonas in the mountains in the 2021 Tour. He could take this race.awp22-05-2025
- That does seem to be an ever more common motivation for sudden performance ;-)Mistermaumau22-05-2025
- He actually said it with gloves onMistermaumau22-05-2025
- I hope so. Or was it just to show that he is still worth another good contract?Cyclingsbestfan22-05-2025
- Given the amount of money this guy earns, thinks it's collectively beneficial with respects...
leedorney22-05-2025 - what a pity... he could have easily won the stage. He stopped his attack.
maria2024202422-05-2025 - Poor decision to let Primoz come back. Should have tried to put time into him.
Front24222-05-2025
The finale of this race was an absolute mess, and the last crash that took out 1/2 of the field was caused when a double width road very suddenly funneled into a single lane, and riders had nowhere to go. I find it amazing how some of these courses get approved in the first place. So much for the UCI's campaign for improved rider safety, because if they actually cared, the organizers wouldn't have been allowed to run the finale on this parcours.