Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe), who sprinted to his 12th win of 2019 on stage 3 of the Tour of Guangxi, seems to have conclusively established himself as a top-level sprinter in his third season as a professional.

His victories include two stages at the Giro d'Italia and four at the World Tour level, including Saturday's stage. However, the German preferred to keep a low profile despite overcoming two near misses to win a stage in Nanning.

In the first stage in Beihai, Ackermann jumped out early but was beaten across the finish line by Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates), and in the second stage in Qinzhou, Dan McRae (EF Education First), after the German got in the way in the finale, victory.

"I think the goal was to develop into one of the top sprinters in the world," Ackermann told Cycling News at the start of stage 3 in Nanning. I'm on a good path, but I don't think I'm there yet."

"It's been a great season for me so far. It doesn't matter what happens here. I've had a great year and I'm looking forward to next season."

Ackermann, a two-time runner-up, turned the tables on stage 3 and easily won from a 49-man group that took the lead on the final climb.

"My finish line was at the top of the last climb. He was the main rider of the day. He proved to be a very good climber in the last few days. When I got into a good position, I knew I could fight for the win today."

Before the stage, Ackermann was unsure if the day was right for him, given the amount of climbing and the late timing of the final climb. In the morning, he told Cycling News that his chances of further improving his results in 2019 were running out. But now he is looking forward to the final two stages, which will be sprint races.

"I'm very disappointed with the last two days, I was really fighting for the win today," he said after the awards ceremony in Nanning. I'm really grateful to everyone on the team. I hope I can keep it up for the rest of the races."

Complicating the first two stages were the race's characteristic wide three- or four-lane roads. As a result, the final push was far from technical, and the wide finish straight meant a confusing finish dash.

Ackerman said of the highways. 'I like having corners and little roads all the way to the finish. I like that there are corners and little roads all the way to the finish. When you see the sprints from the top, it's always a big mess, like yesterday, it was like a lottery to see who would win."

"You always have to find a good gap. It doesn't matter if there are 300m to go or 200m to go.

"Today was different. The main part of the race is the climb, and if you're not in front at the top, you don't have a shot at winning."

"Looking at the race from the top of the climb, there was no big mix-up from the back to the front. It was a completely different race than the last few days."

Ackermann's stage win was a fitting end to the season. Aside from the World Championships road race, which he did not finish, the 25-year-old Ackermann has finished first or second in every race he has entered and has won the GP de Fourmise and the Guichse Paille.

Since the beginning of August, he has finished on the podium in 12 of the 16 stages and races he has completed.

"I think I did really well at the end of the season. 'In those seven races, I've finished first or second in all of them. I think I'm in good shape, but I'm still looking forward to the end of the season."

What awaits him after that is not certain. A sprinter like Ackermann would be expected to stand at the start of the Tour de France and compete with the cream of the peloton. With teammate Peter Sagan dominating the green jersey, Ackermann has yet to compete in the Tour, and the recently revealed 2020 route is far from something sprinters will relish.

"It's up to the teams to decide which Grand Tours they will compete in. I can't speak about the race program right now because I don't know yet."

"Next week I will be introduced to the next season and I am waiting for the Giro d'Italia route announcement. Then I'll figure out what I'm doing."

No matter where he ends up racing in 2020, the victories are likely to continue for Ackermann. And even if his 2019 campaign wasn't that of a top-class sprinter, his status will undoubtedly be confirmed next season.