Gent-Wevelgem Historical past: Gent-Wevelgem is a real Traditional the place something can occur. This Sunday the sprinters might need it their means, or will a late assault group take the day? Whoever wins, he provides his title to an inventory of high riders who’ve been first over the finish-line in Wevelgem.
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Sep Vanmarcke Unveils the secrets and techniques of the Kemmelberg | Gent-Wevelgem Insider’s Information
The primary Gent-Wevelgem was on ninth of September, 1934 and Gustave Van Belle was the solo winner after 120 flat kilometres, he received with a lead of 20 seconds. In these days Gent-Wevelgem was organised for beginner riders by the newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen and Wevelgem was chosen for the end as a result of it was the house city of the occasion’s first proprietor, native textile producer Georges Matthijs. The race was initially run as a tribute to Gaston Rebry, a local of Wevelgem, who was one of many stars of biking in Belgium within the Thirties.
Gaston Rebry
The 1936 the race distance was elevated to 168km and Robert Van Eenaeme received. The race didn’t run in the course of the Second World Warfare, however when it made its return in 1945 as a race for professionals, it was Robert Van Eenaeme who received once more. It took ten days for the ultimate end result to be introduced because the officers wanted a better inspected of the photograph end. Gaston Rebry was by then president of ‘Het Vliegend Wiel’ and the race director. In 1947 Gent–Wevelgem was given its Spring date on the calendar and gained status as Rebry managed to line up Italian biking icons Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi, who attracted huge numbers of spectators. Within the Fifties, Nineteen Sixties and Seventies, Belgian biking legends Rik Van Looy and Eddy Merckx every received the race thrice. Van Looy’s victory in 1962 was particular as a result of he additionally received the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in the identical yr. Two years later Jacques Anquetil was solely the second non-Belgian winner after Rolf Graf of Switzerland in 1954.
Jacques Anquetil received in 1964
From the eighties Gent-Wevelgem was extra a race for the sprinters. Guido Bontempi, Sean Kelly and Mario Cipollini have been all winners. The Italian received Gent-Wevelgem thrice, which makes him one of many file holders. In 2003 the race not began in Gent, however in Deinze. That yr Andreas Klier received, however the subsequent yr a younger Tom Boonen took the primary of his three wins in his breakthrough season. His three wins in 2003, 2011 and 2012, additionally makes him a file holder. 2011 was additionally the yr that the race was included within the WorldTour and in 2014, the race was formally renamed Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields, a reference to the well-known conflict poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, written by the Canadian John McCrae. The title can also be a reference to the route because it goes by numerous essential areas of the First World Warfare. The race nonetheless doesn’t begin in Gent or Deinze, however in Ieper (Ypres) since 2020.
The beginning is now in Ieper (Ypres)
There isn’t one file holder, as a result of Robert Van Eenaeme, Rik Van Looy, Eddy Merckx, Mario Cipollini, Tom Boonen and Peter Sagan have all received Gent-Wevelgem thrice.
Eddy Merckx received in Wevelgem thrice
In 2022 a thinned out peloton headed for the Kemmelberg, the place the race correct would actually start. Wout van Aert put the hammer down and just a few favourites might comply with, however the race was nonetheless collectively. A couple of riders managed to slide away: Christophe Laporte, Jasper Stuyven, Biniam Girmay and Dries van Gestel. Rasmus Tiller and Greg Van Avermaet noticed the hazard and tried to cross to the 4, however couldn’t. Going into the final 15 kilometres, the leaders had 15 seconds and would battle for the win in Wevelgem. Laporte was compelled to the entrance and Girmay took benefit and was the primary to dash. Girmay held Laporte off for a historic victory: The primary African winner of a Spring Traditional.
Jumbo-Visma 2023 domination
In 2023 Wout van Aert gave teammate Christophe Laporte a gift after a powerful two-man time trial. In 2024, two males rode collectively within the finale, however there was no current on the end. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) tore Gent-Wevelgem aside till they have been the one males left standing after the final time over the Kemmelberg. 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 16 seconds later.
Gent-Wevelgem 2024
Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields 2024
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.
In Flanders Fields
# Keep PEZ for the ‘Race Report’ on Sunday and all of the information in EUROTRASH Monday. #
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