Giro: Stage 4, Hampsten and Ackermann returns

 

A classic sprint: Pascal Ackermann (1st), Biniam Girmay (2nd), Alberto Daniese (3rd).

Nearly two years from his last victory, Pascal Ackermann raised his hands in celebration once again after winning the first-ever Classique Dunkerque in Lens, France. The German sprinter will continue racing in France, as he forms part of the IPT squad that goes on to complete in the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, which starts on Wednesday.

"It was an amazing team performance today. Yesterday I saw the startlist and I thought that I should be able to win today. Today the team rode so strongly from the front and I was like: 'if the team is riding like this, I should be the strongest rider!

I didn't win any race in the last two years. I had a lot of injuries, also in the last weeks, and some bad times. I'm super happy to finish it off."

-Pascal Ackermann

 

Controlling the bunch sprint through the narrow streets of Lecce, Italy is no mean feat. Caspar Van Uden's victory is Picnic-PostNL's first WorldTour win of the season. The 180 points earned could be crucial for the team's future as they are fighting against Cofidis and XDS Astana for the top 18 in the three-year team rankings to remain in the WorldTour.

Look back: Andy Hampsten 1988 Giro d'ltalia champion: