Sam Bennett has won easily the 2021 Brugge-De Panne, as Jasper Philipsen crossed the line second, while Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) in third.
The Irishman was kept out of trouble by his Deceuninck-Quick-Step team-mates throughout the 200km-long Belgian race, as he made it into the final kilometre right at the head of the peloton.
“It’s super important to get this win,” Bennett said. “Being in a Belgian team with Belgian sponsors, we want to perform on home soil. For myself, personally, it’s my first one-day WorldTour race – something I’ve been chasing for many years and I’m happy to get it here today.”
The women line up Thursday to race 158.8km in the Oxyclean Classic Brugge-De Panne, with the same name and same start and finishing towns.
Bennett houdt Philipsen en Ackermann af in de sprint en wint de Oxyclean Classic Brugge-De Panne pic.twitter.com/wVd9rSuagN
— Sporza ? (@sporza_koers) March 24, 2021
