Former world champion Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) outmuscled the present rainbow-jersey-wearer, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), to take his second profession victory at Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday.
The duo broke free collectively over the ultimate climb with 35km to go, organising a two-up dash on the line. Pedersen launched his sprint first, and held off Van der Poel, who bowed over his handlebars within the closing metres, defeated.
The win marked the Dane’s seventh already this 12 months, in what has been a roaring begin to the season.
“I needed to consider that my dash was ok to beat Mathieu,” Pedersen mentioned in Wevelgem. “With the form he has proven currently, it was exhausting to consider, however I needed to strive the dash and nothing else.
“It was a bet. I took the entrance as a result of I knew he can be joyful, nicely, [Alpecin-]Deceuninck can be joyful if the bunch got here again with [Jasper] Philipsen as nicely. I needed to maintain the pace excessive and hope I nonetheless had the legs for an excellent dash.”
Pedersen led the cost over the ultimate ascent of the Kemmelberg, Gent-Wevelgem’s totem climb, towing the world champion away with him. “Both it was going to be me or Mathieu placing on the strain there,” he mentioned. “If I might management the tempo, and never put myself over the restrict, it might be extra useful for me than letting him do it and perhaps put me above the restrict.”
The duo then swapped by turns to the end line, holding off the peloton, who stripped their benefit from over a minute to only 16 seconds ultimately.
“This confirms to me that the form is unquestionably good,” mentioned Pedersen, waiting for subsequent Sunday’s Tour of Flanders. “I am positively assured for the subsequent week.”
The way it occurred
(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
After rolling out from underneath the Menin Gate in Ypres, an eight-rider breakaway shaped that lasted solely to the halfway level, earlier than the primary of steep hellingen ascents.
In whole, the lads would deal with 9 climbs, together with three assaults on the Kemmelberg, whose summit at 154m marks the best level in West Flanders.
On the primary ascent of the Kemmelberg, with 85km to go, Van der Poel seemed to check his rivals. The world champion, who gained the E3 Saxo Traditional on Friday with a 43km solo, accelerated away from the primary pack. His transfer was adopted by 21-year-old Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ) and Lidl-Trek trio Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven and Jonathan Milan, the latter attacking alone over the three gravel plugstreets.
Milan’s foray lasted round 20km earlier than Van der Poel, Pithie and Pedersen joined him. The Lidl-Trek rider then zipped clear once more on the second Kemmelberg take a look at, winding up the tempo for his Danish team-mate, earlier than dropping again to the peloton.
Pedersen led over the third and last ascent of the Kemmelberg, tackled from the more durable west facet, with pitches at 20%. There, having brushed shoulders with world champions previous and current, Pithie misplaced Van der Poel’s wheel, leaving the duo to jostle for the victory. Honours, in a easy drag race, went to Pedersen.
Outcomes
Gent-Wevelgem 2024: Ypres > Wevelgem (253.1km)
1. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek, in 5:36:00
2. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck, at identical time
3. Jordi Meeus (Bel) Bora-Hansgrohe, +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 Professional Biking, all at identical time
