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The Classic Brugge-De Panne is the heir to the old 3 days of The Panne (Driedaagse van De Panne in Dutch), a stage race that was formerly held for 3 days around the Belgian coastal town of The Panne. However, in recent years, the race changed its format to become a one-day race, and as such the race has become part of both the men's and women's WorldTour.

The route

On the doorstep of the cobbled classics season, this race forms a small exception, as the route is absolutely flat and with no cobbled sectors, so on paper we have an ideal route for sprinters. However, in Belgium, nothing is so simple, as passages through the dreaded plain of De Moeren, exposed to the winds of the North Sea, often break the peloton into a thousand pieces, as we saw last week in the Bredene Koksijde Classic.

Men's race: the favorites

In the start list of Wednesday's men's race, sprinters like Jasper Philipsen (1200), Tim Merlier (800), Dylan Groenewegen (800), Arnaud Démare (800), Phil Bauhaus (600), Jordi Meeus (600), Juan Sebastian Molano (600), Pascal Ackermann (600), Arvid De Klein (400), Sam Welsford (400), Luca Mozzato (600), Simone Consonni (400), or Gerben Thijssen (400) stand out, although it is practically impossible to see a mass sprint where all of them have a chance. In a finale where a reduced group arrives, Jasper Stuyven (400), Nils Politt (200), Mikkel Bjerg (400), Stefan Bisseger (400), Luka Mezgec (200), Nils Eekhoff (200), or Anthony Turgis (200) are some riders to keep in mind.

Women's race: the favorites

In the women's race, held on Thursday, we can spect the same scenario. Among the sprinters, the big names are Lorena Wiebes (1200), Elisa Balsamo (1000), Charlotte Kool (800), Chiara Consonni (800), Tamara Dronova (600), Rachele Barbieri (400), and Clara Copponi (800), although they will have to contend with great rouleurs like Marlen Reusser (1000), Emma Norsgaard (800), Chloe Dygert (600), Alison Jackson (800), and Megan Jastrab (400).

Photo: © Classic Brugge-De Panne