Danny van Poppel Wins 105th Round Around Cologne in Bora – hansgrohe Jersey

Bora – hansgrohe celebrates title defense

By Matthew Seng

21.05.2023  | (rsn) – Bora – hansgrohe succeeded in defending the title at the 105th round in Cologne (1.1) – but not through local hero and last year’s winner Nils Politt, but through last year’s runner-up Danny van Poppel. The 29-year-old Dutchman won the 201.1-kilometer Rhenish classic in the sprint of a breakaway group of 14 by a hair’s breadth ahead of the Belgian Milan Menten (Lotto – Dstny) and was able to celebrate in a Bora – hansgrohe jersey for the first time.

“I’m still not quite sure if I won, but of course I’m super happy,” said van Poppel with a laugh, commenting on his first win since October 2021, when he won Binche-Chimay-Binche. “I actually started too early but when I looked back after the last corner I saw that I had a bit of an advantage and I thought if I don’t go now it might be close. I was in top gear, my legs were cramping and I was afraid it wouldn’t be enough, but it worked out.”

Third place went to Menten’s compatriot and teammate Jasper De Buyst, followed by Dutchman Mike Teunissen (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty) and Belgian Robbe Ghys (Alpecin – Deceuninck). Politt, who had attracted his teammate van Poppel to the sprint in Cologne’s Rheinauhafen, this time finished eighth. One position ahead of the German champion was Pierre Pascal Keup from Chemnitz from the continental team Lotto – Kern Haus, who was the best German driver.

This is how it went around Cologne:

After all attacks had been thwarted over the first 50 kilometers, Bora – hansgrohe split the field by increasing the pace. The German world team was fully represented in the leading group of around 50 that was formed in this way. It also dominated events afterwards. In summery conditions with sunshine and temperatures above the 20 degree mark, the big field was initially about a minute behind.

Politt’s helpers Ben Zwiehoff and Florian Lipowitz, however, tried to further extend the lead of the first group, in which Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco – AlUla) was there with one helper, until the first crossing of the cobblestone climb to Bensberg Castle at kilometer 118. In the mountain classification, the gap between the two groups was around two minutes.

The profile of the 105th around Cologne | Photo: Organizer

67 kilometers before the finish, Bora professional Maximilian Schachmann set off with a determined start in a short climb. Ewen Costiou (Arkéa – Samsic) set out in vain to pursue the two-time German champion, who was able to gain a lead of almost a minute. In the chasing group, the Tudor team and then the four-rider Intermarché team took responsibility, with Bora – hansgrohe repeatedly slowing down the pace.

Van Poppel starts early and is almost caught

After an attack by Lucas Eriksson (Tudor), the gap was quickly reduced. At the last climb of the day at Schloss Bensberg, 23 kilometers from the finish, Schachmann was caught again before a new group formed shortly afterwards. There were four Lotto Dstny drivers – including Menten, De Buyst and Michael Schwarzmann – the Bora trio Politt, van Poppel and Schachmann as well as Teunissen and Konti driver Pierre-Pascal Keup (Lotto – Kern Haus). On the other hand, the two sprinters Groenewegen and Meeus were among the drivers who were left behind and could no longer catch up with the 14-strong first group.

In the final, the Belgian second division player controlled the events, neutralized an attack by Politt in the last eleven kilometers and led the leading group to the Severinsbrücke, where Schachmann briefly increased the pace again before Politt started with van Poppel in tow just before the last corner. The duo tore a small gap on the home straight before van Poppel started his sprint early and with his last strength held the still strong Menten at a distance.

Results powered by FirstCycling.com