Classic Brugge-De Panne 2022

Merlier beats Groenewegen in Classic Brugge-De Panne photo finish

Classic Brugge-De Panne - How it unfolded

The Classic Brugge-De Panne delivered for the sprinters in 2022, coming down to a breathtakingly close competition on the line, with Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Fenix) claiming victory at the end of the 207.9km race across the flat roads of Belgium.

Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) launched the sprint with 250 metres left to run but it proved too early a start for the 20-year-old, with Merlier emerging alongside the barriers and BikeExchange-Jayco’s Dylan Groenewegen in the middle of the road and quickly charging past.

Merlier and Groenewegen then matched each other to the line, with the Belgian ultimately taking a victory that could be measured in millimetres. The photo finish was absolutely essential to deliver clarity.

Nacer Bouhanni (Arkéa-Samsic) darted out from behind Groenewegen to take third, just a wheel back from the leading duo. Then it was Maximilian Walscheid (Cofidis) and Kooij held on for fifth place.

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What happened in 2021?

Sam Bennett claimed the first one-day WorldTour victory of his career in the Classic Brugge-De Panne in 2021.

The Irishman who was then racing for Deceuninck-QuickStep topped Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix) who hit out first, with Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) settling for third. 

Bennett's win was Deceuninck-QuickStep's second Classic of the season after Davide Ballerini won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.