GENT-WEVELGEM ’24 Preview: Who Will Win In Flanders Fields?
Here come the cobbles!
By Alastair Hamilton On Mar 22, 2024
Gent-Wevelgem Race Preview: After last Saturday’s Milano-Sanremo, the World Tour moves north to Belgium, the home of the cobbled Classics. Gent-Wevelgem is this Sunday, it’s not as big as De Ronde van Vlaanderen, but if you take the win ‘In Flanders Fields’ you’ll be a hero in Belgium (well, Flanders) forever. Here is the PEZ 2024 race preview.
Gent-Wevelgem is not a Monument, but it is a real Classic. A young race at ‘only’ 90 years-old (Milano-Sanremo is 117 years-old), not as long as Flanders at 253 kilometres to De Ronde at 271 and has fewer cobbles and sharp Flemish climbs, but if you look at the list of winners, they are all ‘names’. In 2022 we saw an historic victory for Biniam Girmay. Last year, Wout van Aert ‘gave’ his Jumbo-Visma teammate Christophe Laporte the win. This year Mathieu van der Poel is the man to watch, but there are others who can win and then there is always the possibly of a bunch sprint in Wevelgem.
A small group finish like 2022?
A bit of Gent-Wevelgem history
The first Gent-Wevelgem was on 9th of September, 1934 and Gustave Van Belle was the solo winner after 120 flat kilometres, he won with a lead of 20 seconds. In those days Gent-Wevelgem was organised for amateur riders by the newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen and Wevelgem was selected for the finish because it was the home town of the event’s first owner, local textile manufacturer Georges Matthijs. The race was originally run as a tribute to Gaston Rebry, a native of Wevelgem, who was one of the stars of cycling in Belgium in the 1930s.
Gaston Rebry
The 1936 the race distance was increased to 168km and Robert Van Eenaeme won. The race didn’t run during the Second World War, but when it made its return in 1945 as a race for professionals, it was Robert Van Eenaeme who won again. It took ten days for the final result to be announced as the officials needed a closer inspected of the photo finish. 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 prestige as Rebry managed to line up Italian cycling icons Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi, who attracted vast numbers of spectators. In the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, Belgian cycling legends Rik Van Looy and Eddy Merckx each won the race three times. Van Looy’s victory in 1962 was special because he also won the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in the same year. Two years later Jacques Anquetil was only the second non-Belgian winner after Rolf Graf of Switzerland in 1954.
Jacques Anquetil won in 1964
From the eighties Gent-Wevelgem was more a race for the sprinters. Guido Bontempi, Sean Kelly and Mario Cipollini were all winners. The Italian won Gent-Wevelgem three times, which makes him one of the record holders. In 2003 the race no longer started in Gent, but in Deinze. That year Andreas Klier won, but the next year a young Tom Boonen took the first of his three wins in his breakthrough season. His three wins in 2003, 2011 and 2012, also makes him a record holder. 2011 was also the year that the race was included in the WorldTour and in 2014, the race was officially renamed Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields, a reference to the famous war poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, written by the Canadian John McCrae. The name is also a reference to the route as it goes through a number of important locations of the First World War. The race still doesn’t start in Gent or Deinze, but in Ieper (Ypres) since 2020.
The start is now in Ieper (Ypres)
There isn’t one record holder, because Robert Van Eenaeme, Rik Van Looy, Eddy Merckx, Mario Cipollini, Tom Boonen and Peter Sagan have all won Gent-Wevelgem three times.
Eddy Merckx won in Wevelgem three times
In 2022 a thinned out peloton headed for the Kemmelberg, where the race proper would really begin. Wout van Aert put the hammer down and only a few favourites could follow, but the race was still together. A few riders managed to slip away: Christophe Laporte, Jasper Stuyven, Biniam Girmay and Dries van Gestel. Rasmus Tiller and Greg Van Avermaet saw the danger and tried to cross to the four, but couldn’t. Going into the last 15 kilometres, the leaders had 15 seconds and would fight for the win in Wevelgem. Laporte was forced to the front and Girmay took advantage and was the first to sprint. Girmay held Laporte off for a historic victory: The first African winner of a Spring Classic.
Jumbo-Visma 2023 domination
Last year Wout van Aert gave teammate Christophe Laporte a present after an impressive two-man time trial. Gent-Wevelgem is a true Classic where anything can happen. This Sunday the sprinters might have it their way, or maybe Mathieu van der Poel will add his name to the winners list.
Last ten winners Gent-Wevelgem:
2023: Christophe Laporte (Fra)
2022: Biniam Girmay (Eri)
2021: Wout van Aert (Bel)
2020: Mads Pedersen (Den)
2019: Alexander Kristoff (Nor)
2018: Peter Sagan (Slk)
2017: Greg Van Avermaet (Bel)
2016: Peter Sagan (Slk)
2015: Luca Paolini (Ita)
2014: John Degenkolb (Ger)
Gent-Wevelgem 2023:
1. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Jumbo-Visma in 5:49:39
2. Wout van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma
3. Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Israel-Premier Tech at 1:56
4. Frederik Friston (Bel) Lotto Dstny
5. Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo.
In Flanders Fields
Parcours
The start of Gent-Wevelgem has not been in Gent for a long time, and not Deinze any more. Since 2020, Ieper (Ypres) in West Flanders has hosted the start. With its history and the iconic Menin Gate, Ieper is the ideal starting place for Gent-Wevelgem ‘In Flanders Fields’, as the race is now officially called, a reference to the war poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, written by the Canadian John McCrae. The race passes through a number of important locations of the First World War. The first 100 kilometres are almost flat, but the wind often plays its part, so it is important that the riders stay attentive. After the first 100 kilometres and the passage through De Moeren, where the wind always causes an upset, then the race is on.
Gent-Wevelgem 2024 map
De Moeren is where the race can really open up for the first time. If not, then it will be ‘full gas’ to the first real climbs. The Heuvelland has the climbs of the Scherpenberg and the Baneberg. Then, 85 kilometres from the finish, it is the Monteberg–Kemmelberg, up the Kemmel cobbles via the longer, but less steep eastern side of Belvedère.
Gent-Wevelgem 2024 profile
After these climbs, the race leaves West Flanders for a loop through Hainaut for three rough 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 via the Scherpenberg and the Baneberg. This time via the steeper west side of Ossuaire, where the race could be decided. After the top of the Kemmel, there are 34 kilometres to the finish in Wevelgem. The road still climbs a little, especially the part just after Iepre, but there are no real climbs. The finish, as it has been for many years, is on the Vanackerestraat in Wevelgem.
Sep Vanmarcke Unveils the Secrets of the Kemmelberg | Gent-Wevelgem Insider’s Guide
The Favourites
Over the years, the top men have missed Gent-Wevelgem out of their race schedule, but this year sees a strong start-list. Gent-Wevelgem can have many outcomes. Last year, Van Aert and Laporte attacked in the hills and rode together to the finish in Wevelgem. Then, like in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, favourites could all look at each other and surprise winner could slip away.
Barry Hoban won from a group of favourites in 1974
Mathieu van der Poel didn’t start ‘In Flanders Fields’ in the last three editions. In his first two years as a road pro, MvdP finished 4th and 9th, then he changed his race program which didn’t include Gent-Wevelgem. This year the World champion is back in West Flanders. His season only started last week in Milan-Sanremo and now he will be racing all the Classics through to Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Just about every race Mathieu van der Poel starts, he has to be one of the top favourites and when he sets his sights on something… he succeeds. Last weekend in Milan-Sanremo, Van der Poel was strong and closed Tadej Pogačar down on the Cipressa and the Poggio, he then worked hard for his sprinter, Jasper Philipsen, to take the win. Van der Poel will want to split the race on the climbs. This will have to be his tactic or he could lose out to the fast-finishers. A solo finish or from a small group will be what the World champion will want.
Mathieu van der Poel must be the top favourite
Van der Poel’s Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate, Jasper Philipsen will still be on the crest of his Sanremo winning wave. The Belgian held on to the favourites on the Sanremo climbs and had the legs for the win after nearly 300 very fast kilometres. Philipsen can handle the cobbles and climbs and if he is still at the front at the finish, he will be hard to beat. The Alpecin team has Philipsen for a sprint and Van der Poel to split the race on the cobbles and climbs. Could this bring internal team conflict?
If Jasper Philipsen is there at the finish…
Olav Kooij is fast enough to battle with Philipsen and any other sprinter, if they can hold on. The Poggio was just too much for the young Dutchman, but in Gent-Wevelgem he has more chance to weather the storms. As in Sanremo, Wout van Aert will not be there, so Kooij should be Visma | Lease a Bike leader, along with Laporte. Last year Kooij showed what he can do, but Classic winner is another set up the ladder. Kooij is one of the best sprinters, very close to Philipsen, but is he a Classics winner yet?
Olav Kooij has had four wins this season already
Visma | Lease a Bike also has last year’s winner, Christophe Laporte. Gent-Wevelgem was the 30 year-old Frenchman first Classic win. It was said that Wout van Aert ‘gifted’ the win to Laporte, but Laporte has proven that he was a worthy winner, following up with victories in Dwars door Vlaanderen – A travers la Flandre, two stages in the Dauphiné and the European championships. In Milan-Sanremo, the Frenchman was not at 100% and didn’t finish, but he would hope to be fit for Sunday. Tiesj Benoot is also a man to watch for Visma | Lease a Bike.
If fully fit, Christophe Laporte could do a double
Another sprinter that could be at the finish could be Tim Merlier. He is Soudal Quick-Step’s top sprinter, but it is unlikely he will be riding the Giro d’Italia or the Tour de France again this year, so he must concentrate on the flatter Classics. “Last year I was very good in Gent-Wevelgem. Only the lights went out in the last five kilometres. For the same money, the race turns out very differently and I still finish on the podium. Then we speak completely differently,” Merlier said earlier this year. His sprint in the Nokere Koerse last week was unbeatable.
Tim Merlier took Nokere Koerse
Michael Matthews nearly won Milano-Sanremo last Saturday, only Philipsen got the better of him by the width of a tyre. The Australian has the form, but he will also need luck. Jayco AlUla will also have Dylan Groenewegen, but he will struggle on the climbs. He has started Gent-Wevelgem five times and his best result was 44th. Matthews has to be the man to watch for the Australian team.
Michael Matthews was very close last week in Sanremo
Lidl-Trek’s Mads Pedersen led a strong team in Milano-Sanremo, but he couldn’t compete in the final sprint with Philipsen and Matthews. Jonathan Milan also didn’t have it on the Cipressa, but both should be back in the Gent-Wevelgem battle. Tough conditions and a hard finale would suit the Dane. Jasper Stuyven will be there to work for his leaders, but he can also play his own card, if he is allowed.
Lidl-Trek has strong team behind Mads Pedersen
Laurence Pithie has been impressive so far this season with his strong finish. He will fight to the end with the other favourites, men like Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) and Matteo Trentin (Tudor). Pithie maybe doesn’t have the experience in the Classics of the other favourites, but he has shown he has the power in the final.
Laurence Pithie was strong in Kuurne, but missed the boat
Arnaud De Lie showed he can ride the cobbled climbs on the Muur in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the Kemmelberg in the Koksijde Classic. He also performed well in the echelons and jumped solo from one echelon to another. He missed travelling to Italy for Milan-Sanremo to ride Bredene and the GP Denain, because he hadn’t recovered from his crash in Le Samyn. Now he seems to be at 100%, so should be a contender.
Arnaud De Lie
There are a lot of out bets for Gent-Wevelgem. Luca Mozzato and Arnaud Démare (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Jordi Meeus and Danny van Poppel (BORA-hansgrohe), John Degenkolb (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) and Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) are all fast-finishers, if they are still at the front in Wevelgem. Then there are the strong Classics riders who will want to make life as hard as possible for the sprinters: Yves Lampaert (Soudal Quick-Step), Pierre Gautherat & Oliver Naesen (Decathlon AG2R), Joshua Tarling & Jonathan Narvaez (INEOS Grenadiers), Nils Politt & Antonio Morgado (UAE Team Emirates), Dries Van Gestel (TotalEnergies) and Jannik Steimle (Q36.5).
Van der Poel, Philipsen or?
The Favourites:
TOP: Mathieu van der Poel
Very Possible: Olav Kooij and Jasper Philipsen
Possible: Arnaud De Lie, Tim Merlier, Mads Pedersen and Michael Matthews
Maybe: Jasper Stuyven, Laurence Pithie and Christophe Laporte.
# Keep it PEZ for the Gent-Wevelgem race report on Sunday and all the Classic news in EUROTRASH Monday. #
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