After two consecutive victories for the German team Bora-Hansgrohe, the Dutch team dsm-firmenich PostNL can now celebrate at Rund um Köln 2024. Casper van Uden had the fastest legs in the bunch sprint. He came out on top ahead of Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) and Louis Blouwe (Bingoal WB). The best German in the Cologne classic was Pascal Ackermann (German national team), who finished fifth.
Van Uden surprises Ackermann and Co
Casper van Uden launched his attack very early on the finishing straight at the Rheinauhafen harbour in Cologne. He surprised not only Pascal Ackermann, but also the Intermarche-Wanty team, which had led the field up to this point. Van Uden was thus able to open up a small gap to the rest of the field. Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) was also unable to mount his counter-attack in time. As a result, the Dutchman clearly won ahead of Girmay and the Belgian Louis Blouwe.
"The final was very hectic because it was windy. My team-mates placed me well and got me up to speed. I then just had to finish. Many thanks to my team-mates!" - Casper van Uden in the winner interview
Around Cologne 2024: Results - the top 10
- Casper van Uden (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) 4:21:55
- Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) +0:00
- Louis Blouwe (Bongoal WB) +0:00
- Lionel Taminiaux (Lotto-Dstny) +0:00
- Pascal Ackermann (German national team) +0:00
- Matthew Brennan (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:00
- Amaury Capiot (Arkea-B&B Hotels) +0:00
- Tord Gudmestad (Uno-X Mobility) +0:00
- Loe van Belle (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:00
- Fabio Christen (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) +0:00
How Rund um Köln 2024 went
On the 195-kilometre course with start and finish in Cologne, six riders pulled away slightly at the start of the race. The group around Mauro Brenner (Team Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank) rode ahead for a few kilometres, but were then caught again. The peloton seemed unhappy with the constellation of the breakaway riders.
Breakaway group is let go
A short time later, a new leading group of eight riders formed. They then let the peloton go. The group's lead quickly grew to a maximum of over six minutes. The leading group of the day at Rund um Köln 2024 consisted of Michal Schlegel (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Anton Lennemann (BIKE AID), Patrick Reißig (Maloja Pushbikers), Tobias Buck-Gramcko (Rad-Net Oßwald), Julian Borresch (REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland), Sebastian Niehues (REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland), Mil Morang (Team Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank) and Ole Theiler (Team Storck-Metropol Cycling). In the meantime, Lukas Baldinger (MYVELO Pro Cycling Team) was between the two groups, but was unable to make the gap to the front.
Mountain King Borresch
With 160 kilometres to go, Bora-Hansgrohe took over the pace work, so that from then on the breakaway's lead initially remained constant, but then dwindled a short time later. On the Agathaberg, Julian Borresch briefly broke away at the front of the peloton, not only taking the mountain classification there. Borresch also snatched the two subsequent mountain classifications, ultimately taking the overall mountain classification. Intermarche-Wanty set the pace in the peloton, causing it to break up into several parts. Shortly afterwards it rolled back together.
Lotto-Dstny set the pace on the first climb to Bensberg Castle, so that the peloton thinned out more and more. With 70 kilometres to go, the breakaway only had a lead of just over a minute, and 10 kilometres later the escape was over. Only Ole Theiler put up a fight for a few more kilometres, but was then swallowed up.
New leading group around Bora-Hansgrohe's Adria
On the Ferrenberg, the peloton thinned out even more because the pace was high. Three riders were then able to take the lead: Roger Adria (Bora-Hansgrohe), Anders Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) and Matthew Drennan (Visma | Lease a Bike). Behind them, several groups rolled back together to form a fairly large peloton behind the trio.
The leading group harmonised well, with a lead of around one minute 30 kilometres from the finish. After 28 kilometres, Johannessen was no longer able to keep up at the front and dropped out of the lead. The remaining leading duo fought valiantly, but the peloton caught up with Adria and Drennan with twelve kilometres to go. Intermarche-Wanty and Lotto-Dstny in particular worked hard, led the peloton to the front and together set the pace.
On the flat final kilometres, the sprint trains formed up and the peloton sorted themselves according to their teams. Thanks to an early attack on the final straight, Casper van Uden won the bunch sprint ahead of Biniam Girmay at Rund um Köln 2024. Pascal Ackermann finished in fifth place.
