Gent-Wevelgem Race Report: The 2 strongest males within the race, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) tore Gent-Wevelgem aside till they have been the one males left standing. On the end the Dane had simply the sting on the Dutch World champion to take the win. Jordi Meeus (BORA-hansgrohe) introduced within the peloton simply 16 seconds later.
Mads Pedersen gained the 2024 Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday after an thrilling duel with Mathieu van der Poel. After an attacking 253 kilometres, which was break up by the crosswinds in De Moeren after which destroyed within the hills, the Dane was the quicker man within the last dash. Van der Poel and Pedersen have been collectively after the final time over the Kemmelberg and the peloton left their chase simply too late.
The win to Mads Pedersen
Parcours
The beginning of Gent-Wevelgem has not been in Gent for a very long time, and never Deinze any extra. Since 2020, Ieper (Ypres) in West Flanders has hosted the beginning. With its historical past and the long-lasting Menenpoort, Ieper is the best beginning place for Gent-Wevelgem ‘In Flanders Fields’, because the race is now formally known as, a reference to the conflict poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, written by the Canadian John McCrae. The race passes via various necessary areas of the First World Conflict. The primary 100 kilometres are nearly flat, however the wind typically performs its half, so it will be important that the riders keep attentive. After the primary 100 kilometres and the passage via De Moeren, the place the wind at all times causes an upset, then the race is on.
Gent-Wevelgem 2024 map
De Moeren is the place the race can actually open up for the primary time. If not, then it will likely be ‘full gasoline’ to the primary actual climbs. The Heuvelland has the climbs of the Scherpenberg and the Baneberg. Then, 85 kilometres from the end, it’s the Monteberg–Kemmelberg, up the Kemmel cobbles by way of the longer, however much less steep jap aspect of Belvedère.
Gent-Wevelgem 2024 profile
After these climbs, the race leaves West Flanders for a loop via Hainaut for 3 tough roads: Hill 63, Christmas Truce and The Catacombs. The peloton then returns to West Flanders for the finale. First for the second time the Monteberg and Kemmelberg. The Kemmel is then ridden for the third time by way of the Scherpenberg and the Baneberg. This time by way of the steeper west aspect of Ossuaire, the place the race might be determined. After the highest of the Kemmel, there are 34 kilometres to the end in Wevelgem. The highway nonetheless climbs a bit of, particularly the half simply after Iepre, however there aren’t any actual climbs. The end, because it has been for a few years, is on the Vanackerestraat in Wevelgem.
Prime favorite – World champion Matieu van der Poel introduced to the followers initially
When requested if he would win by WielerFlits initially, high favorite, Mathieu van der Poel stated: “It might be good to win this race, however sadly it isn’t that simple. We’ll strive. The E3 Saxo Traditional can also be not simple to win. That’s not the case for any race, however it is a utterly completely different race than the E3. The passage via the Moeren is essential, however everybody is aware of that. It is going to be fairly a battle to be on the entrance. It depends upon the place you’re, however in case you are able to do it with the staff it’s best to undoubtedly not go away it alone. However probably the most troublesome factor is to get into that place, as a result of everybody needs to be on the entrance. I primarily have to attend and see how the legs are after Friday. E3 was a troublesome competitors. I’m trying ahead to it. It’s been a very long time since I did this race. We’ve a number of playing cards to play with the staff and that additionally makes it simpler for me to race.”
The beginning in Ieper
It took some time earlier than an early break fashioned. After greater than 30 kilometres, Michael Mørkøv (Astana Qazaqstan), Johan Jacobs (Movistar), Kelland O’Brien (Jayco AlUla), Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech), William Blume Levy (Uno-X Mobility) and Cyrus Monk (Q36.5) escaped. Dries de Bondt (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and Mathis Le Berre (Arkéa-B&B Lodges) joined them. The group took a 5 minute hole on the peloton.
The peloton leaving Ieper by way of the Menenpoort: Theuns (Lidl-Trek), Van der Poel Mathieu (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Stuyven (Lidl-Trek)
All collectively earlier than the beginning correct
The break’s lead disappeared once they hit the Moeren. The expected wind, with gusts of as much as 70kph, break up the peloton into items. Round a bunch of 30 thirty riders survived on the entrance, together with Mathieu van der Poel, Jasper Philipsen, Olav Kooij, Tim Merlier, Mads Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven and Stefan Küng. They caught the main group 120 kilometres from the end.
Alpecin-Deceunick has their second card to play – Milano-Sanremo winner Jasper Philipsen
It didn’t take lengthy for the bunch to be pulled into a protracted line
Bahrain Victorious, Jayco AlUla and Lotto Dstny had missed the transfer, so the chase needed to begin within the peloton. The distinction fluctuated round 30 to 40 seconds for a very long time, however they acquired again collectively initially of the Baneberg. A big group headed in the direction of the Kemmelberg for the primary time.
All collectively
The breaks quickly began
Mathieu van der Poel began the assaults. Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan have been on his wheel and a bit of later Jasper Stuyven, Tim van Dijke, Laurence Pithie and Rasmus Tiller managed to cross. The peloton, with nearly all sprinters, was at about 30 seconds. Lidl-Trek had the benefit of numbers and so Milan jumped away. He began the primary part of ‘gravel’ with a lead of 25 second.
Alpecin and Bahrain have been doing the work
Behind him, Van der Poel threw the hammer down on the tough highway. Solely Pedersen and Pithie may comply with him. Stuyven was struck with a puncture, Van Dijke and Tiller appeared to have gone off track. Van der Poel and Pithie closed the hole to Milan, with Pedersen in tow, so there have been now 4 leaders on the best way to the Kemmelberg for the second time. The peloton was at 50 seconds after the three sections of gravel and was led by BORA-hansgrohe and Visma | Lease a Bike.
‘In Flanders Fields’
Earlier than the second time up the Kemmel, the peloton got here very near the leaders. On the entrance, Pedersen was one of the best on the cobbled climb, though Van der Poel and Pithie caught him on the descent. The chasing group of greater than 30 riders have been solely 20 seconds behind. the race was nonetheless broad open at this level.
The wind and crashes break up the race
If life wasn’t exhausting sufficient, there was additionally the helicopter
Hugo Web page and Ben Turner put in a chase, whereas Lidl-Trek and Groupama-FDJ tried to gradual the peloton. The race was heading to the Kemmelberg for the final time, 34 kilometres from the end. Pedersen put in a robust effort on the cobbled climb, Van der Poel struggled for a bit, however the World champion fought his method again to the Dane’s wheel.
The World champion was on or off the entrance all day
Pithie was dropped on the Kemmelberg, however may nonetheless see the 2 in entrance of him on the descent, however the hole rapidly elevated as Van der Poel and Pedersen labored properly collectively. The peloton was at greater than 1 minute as a result of nobody eager to work. Pithie, Web page, Turner and (now additionally) Anthony Turgis have been between break and bunch, however they have been going nowhere.
A day of echelons
A really sturdy lead group of 4 with 70 kilometres to go: Van der Poel, Pedersen. Pithie and Stuyven
The ability of Pedersen and Van der Poel saved the peloton at bay and it seemed like we’d have a two-man dash battle in Wevelgem. Soudal Fast-Step, Visma | Lease a Bike and BORA-hansgrohe had by this level acquired their act collectively and began to chase. The bunch began to shut the hole within the final 10 kilometres, however had they left it too late? Patrick Lefevere will need to have given his males a great speaking too after the E3 Saxo Traditional.
After a solo of the entrance, Stuyven was dropped
Van der Poel and Pedersen needed to preserve the velocity as much as the end. The poker recreation began within the final 2 kilometres. The Dane did a bit extra work and was compelled into the lead by the World champion within the last kilometre. This didn’t trouble Pedersen and he began a protracted dash: 300 metres out. Van der Poel held the dane for so long as he may, however his legs gave out after a tough day, 50 metres from the end. Pedersen had the win.
The final time over the Kemmel wasn’t good for Pithie
Then there have been two
The peloton acquired very shut, nevertheless it was too late. Jordi Meeus was first throughout the road from the bunch for third place, simply forward of the Milano-Sanremo winner, Jasper Philipsen in fourth. Jonathan Milan was fifth after his attacking day.
Pedersen went for a protracted dash
Race winner, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek): “I needed to belief my dash, nevertheless it was Mathieu. I didn’t actually have a lot confidence. On the one hand, I needed to belief my dash. We couldn’t assault one another. I needed to consider it was adequate. For those who have a look at Mathieu recently, it’s not that simple. It was a raffle. I took the lead, as a result of he could be happy with the peloton coming again. Philipsen was sitting there. I needed to preserve the tempo excessive. If I may preserve the tempo and never go over the restrict, that was good. I’d reasonably have that than Mathieu doing that and throwing me overboard. I attempted it there (on the Kemmel) along with Mathieu and it labored.”
And the win went to the ex-World champion over the present rainbow jersey
Second, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “I had little or no confidence in my dash, if I’m sincere. I actually suffered loads immediately. On the second time on the Kemmelberg I nearly misplaced to Mads and the final time it was simply making an attempt to maintain the wheel. The strongest has gained. In some unspecified time in the future you must decide. As World champion you additionally need to journey in that scenario, and Jasper didn’t win the dash both. It was fairly gruelling. I took Friday’s race with me, however Mads additionally rode that, so that’s no excuse. However right here the strongest gained. I actually didn’t have the legs I had on Friday. I typically felt in character about it and would have appreciated to win, however there was one stronger.”
Jordi Meeus introduced the bunch in for third place
Gent-Wevelgem End result:
1. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek in 5:36:00
2. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck
3. Jordi Meeus (Bel) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:16
4. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
5. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek
6. Olav Kooij (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike
7. Biniam Girmay (Eri) Intermarché-Wanty
8. Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Fast-Step
9. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Jayco AlUla
10. Matteo Trentin (Ita) Tudor.
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