Cyclingflash
Pascal Ackermann lashes out at Madis Mihkels: "Gone crazy"

Pascal Ackermann lashes out at Madis Mihkels: "Gone crazy"

Pascal Ackermann only managed seventh place in the bunch sprint last Sunday in Sofia, but according to the German, it was not due to his legs. The Jayco AlUla rider said he was almost knocked over by a fellow sprinter, as he explained afterwards to Eurosport. "It was complete madness."

In the third stage of the Giro d'Italia, very little happened, but in the final kilometers there was once again a huge scramble for the right positions ahead of the sprint. Ackermann experienced it all up close and was unhappy with the behavior of some colleagues after the finish.

"It was complete madness. You don’t experience much all day, but in the finale, it really turns into a battle. You constantly have to take a gamble and I decided to fully focus on Paul Magnier’s wheel."

"That proved to be the right choice, but then the Estonian just crashed straight into me. They have all just gone crazy," growled the experienced German. "I’m glad I’m still intact." By 'the Estonian,' Ackermann means Madis Mihkels, the fast man from EF Education-EasyPost, who ultimately crossed the line in fourth place.

The footage shows that the sprint was hectic, but the specific incident between Ackermann and Mihkels is not clearly visible. However, we do see Mihkels veer to the right about two hundred meters from the finish line, forcing Ackermann to briefly hold back his legs.