At the Münsterland Giro 2024, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) proves once again that he is currently one of the best sprinters in the cycling world. After the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team went on the offensive in their sprint and sprinter Jordi Meeus attacked from the rear wheel of his rider Danny van Poppel, Jasper Philipsen attacked from Meeus' rear wheel. With explosive kicks, Philipsen gave Meeus no chance and was by far the fastest sprinter in the final. The Belgian won by two bike lengths ahead of Meeus, with third place going to Milan Fretin (Cofidis).
Philipsen wins - Geschke says goodbye
After a strong race, the day's winner Jasper Philipsen was delighted at the finish: "I'm really pleased that my form is still so good and that I was able to win the race today. I'm happy with how this season has gone for me."
Meanwhile, it was the last race of the career of German professional cyclist Simon Geschke (Cofidis). The 38-year-old rode in the peloton with his team-mates for a long time, but then dropped out of the bunch sprint shortly before the finish. Geschke finished 85th and was celebrated by the fans at the finish. In his last race, he was at least able to help his team-mate Milan Fretin finish on the podium.
Münsterland Giro 2024 - Results at a glance
Sparkassen Münsterland Giro: Haltern am See - Münster
Sparkassen Münsterland Giro 2024: Sparkassen Münsterland Giro, Haltern am See - Münster
| Rnk. | Riders | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alpecin - Deceuninck | 04:22:50 |
| 2 | Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | +00:00:00 |
| 3 | Cofidis | +00:00:00 |
| 4 | Intermarché - Wanty | +00:00:00 |
| 5 | Team Jayco AlUla | +00:00:00 |
| 6 | Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | +00:00:00 |
How the Münsterland Giro 2024 went
On the 202-kilometre route from Haltern am See to Münster, it took a few attacks before a breakaway group formed. Jannik Steimle (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), Adrien Maire (TDT-Unibet Cycling Team), Tosh van der Sande (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Jarno Grixa (P&S Metalltechnik) were the first riders to break away. Three riders then caught up to the front: First Arno Claeys (Team Flanders-Baloise) and Luca Dreßler (Team Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank) rode to the front, then Sebastian Niehues (REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland) also made it into the leading group of the day with a tour de force.
Alpecin-Deceuninck works in the peloton
The peloton was satisfied with the constellation of the breakaway group and let the seven-man group go. The breakaway's lead over the peloton levelled out at around the two-minute mark. Meanwhile, the sprinter teams Intermache-Wanty and Alpecin-Deceuninck, among others, managed the pace in the peloton.
With 90 kilometres to go, the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team took command and picked up the pace. The gap between the breakaway and the peloton melted to 20 seconds, while Sebastian Niehues had problems in the leading group and dropped back. A short time later, Alpecin-Deceuninck took over the pace in the peloton again and slowed down, allowing the breakaway to pull away again.
Last year's winner Hagenes attacks
Last year's winner Per Strand Hagenes (Visma | Lease a Bike) was among those who attacked on the second crossing of the Daruper Berg 55 kilometres before the finish. For a short time, the Norwegian broke away together with other riders. However, Alpecin-Deceuninck then managed to take control again and calm the situation. Hagenes' escape attempt was therefore not crowned with success.
Dreßler becomes mountain king
Luca Dreßler was at the forefront of the breakaway group. The 22-year-old won all five mountain classifications and thus secured victory in the special classification. Meanwhile, Jarno Grixa and Arno Claeys dropped out of the leading group 48 kilometres before the finish, which at that point was down to four riders and had a lead of around one minute over the peloton.
Outliers are swallowed up
With 25 kilometres to go, Lotto-Dstny took command of the peloton and put the pedal to the metal. This led to the breakaway being swallowed up. As a result, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe also tried to increase the pace, but a short time later the pace in the peloton slowed down again. Meanwhile, the first riders withdrew from the battle for the stage win. Former European champion Fabio Jakobsen (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) was one of those who dropped back.
There was a bunch sprint in the finale at Schlossplatz in Münster. On the circuit in Münster, Israel-Premier Tech was repeatedly at the head of the peloton. In the final kilometres, however, it was Alpecin-Deceuninck and Lidl-Trek who dictated the pace. Whilst Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe opened up the bunch sprint, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) broke away from the rear wheel of the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe sprinter Jordi Meeus, distanced him and took the win.
