Cycling: Kristoff Wins De Panne Stage, Gilbert Holds Lead

KOKSIJDE, Belgium, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Mar, 2017 ) - Norway's Alexander Kristoff won a bunch sprint ahead of Belgium's Edward Theuns and German ace Marcel Kittel to claim stage two of the Three Days of De Panne after a hilly 193km ride from Zottegem on Wednesday.

Local rider Philippe Gilbert strengthened his overall lead after his solo win on stage one.

The 34-year-old Ardennes Classics specialist put in some powerful turns at the front in a final 50km marked by breaks in the peloton.

Gilbert's efforts eventually dropped Australian Luke Durbridge, who was in second place overnight. Gilbert holds a 50-second lead on Matthias Brandle in the overall standings, with Kristoff 1min 07sec behind in third ahead of the final day's racing. Thursday's stage is split into two sections with a morning run around De Panne and an afternoon time trial over 14.2km.