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 had 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.
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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 cut up by the crosswinds in De Moeren after which destroyed within the hills, the Dane was the quicker man within the ultimate dash. Van der Poel and Pedersen had 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 enduring Menenpoort, Ieper is the perfect beginning place for Gent-Wevelgem ‘In Flanders Fields’, because the race is now formally known as, a reference to the warfare poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, written by the Canadian John McCrae. The race passes by way of various essential places of the First World Battle. The primary 100 kilometres are nearly flat, however the wind typically performs its half, so it is crucial that the riders keep attentive. After the primary 100 kilometres and the passage by way of De Moeren, the place the wind all the time 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 is going to 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 by way of 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 could possibly be determined. After the highest of the Kemmel, there are 34 kilometres to the end in Wevelgem. The street nonetheless climbs slightly, 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 offered to the followers at first
When requested if he would win by WielerFlits at first, prime favorite, Mathieu van der Poel stated: “It will be good to win this race, however sadly it’s not that simple. We’ll attempt. The E3 Saxo Basic can also be not simple to win. That’s not the case for any race, however it is a fully completely different race than the E3. The passage by way of the Moeren is essential, however everybody is aware of that. It is going to be fairly a wrestle to be on the entrance. It will depend on the place you might be, however in case you are able to do it with the staff you need to positively not depart it alone. However essentially 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 wanting ahead to it. It’s been a very long time since I did this race. We now have a number of playing cards to play with the staff and that additionally makes it simpler for me to race.”
The beginning in Ieper
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
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 an extended line
All collectively
The breaks quickly began
Alpecin and Bahrain had been doing the work
‘In Flanders Fields’
The wind and crashes cut up the race
If life wasn’t onerous sufficient, there was additionally the helicopter
The World champion was on or off the entrance all day
A day of echelons
A really sturdy lead group of 4 with 70 kilometres to go: Van der Poel, Pedersen. Pithie and Stuyven
After a solo of the entrance, Stuyven was dropped
The final time over the Kemmel wasn’t good for Pithie
Then there have been two
Gent-Wevelgem Outcome:
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.
# Keep PEZ for all of the information in EUROTRASH Monday. #
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