Van Poppel wins Rund um Köln

The native of Cologne from Bora-Hansgrohe prepared the Dutchman's sprint in the final in exemplary fashion in his home race. After 201.1 kilometres, Van Poppel won by a wafer-thin margin ahead of the two Belgians Milan Menten and Jasper de Buyst. Politt finished eighth in the sprint of the 14-man lead group. The best German was Pierre-Pascal Keup in seventh place.

Around Cologne 2023: Happy winner van Poppel

"I wasn't sure if I had won. My legs were cramping. It was a super tough race," said van Poppel and thanked his colleagues from the Bora-hansgrohe racing team: "It was great how my team-mates supported me. We probably had the strongest team."

The German team dominated Rund um Köln 2023 throughout. In the meantime, the two-time German champion Maximilian Schachmann started a breakaway attempt on the loop through the Bergisches Land and rode 44 kilometres at the front.

Schachmann showed an upturn in form after being repeatedly set back by health problems this year. The Berlin-born rider, who has been waiting for a victory since his championship title on 20 June 2021, is targeting a start at the Tour de France this year.

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