Marcel Kittel won the bunch sprint behind five escapees, to finish 6th in Rund um Köln. Tom Boonen was among the five riders and won the German one-day race.

Covering 196.7km with 11 classified climbs and 2,336m of altitude gain, the race is not guaranteed to end in a bunch sprint. Giant-Alpecin coach Aike Visbeek explains how it unfolded: “After 70km a large breakaway group of 25 riders escaped at one of the climbs, without one of us. So we joined the chase, but could not close the gap, as five riders managed to make it to the finish line in Köln.

“It really disappointing that we missed a breakaway group like that. Marcel won the bunch sprint and took 6th. He survived the day properly, which is the good news of today. ”

Tom Boonen (Etixx – Quick Step) was the fastest in the group sprint and won the 99th Rund um Köln.

"I'd would rather sprint for the win, but I'm also happy that I could win the bunch sprint," Kittel said. "I felt that the training in Sierra Nevada has been fruitful. In the beginning of the race I did not have good legs, but that was probably because of the long travel and moreover my body had to get back into the race rhythm.

“My sprinting was very good again. I am on the best way back to my old strength. And I could even work on my climbing form – yes, even sprinters have that – even though some of my teammates, especially Warren Barguil, set a very high standard.”