Gent–Wevelgem

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Gent–Wevelgem
Gent–Wevelgem logo.svg
Race details
DateLate March
RegionFlanders, Belgium
English nameGhent-Wevelgem
Local name(s)Gent–Wevelgem (in Dutch)
Nickname(s)The Wind Classic
The Echelon Race
DisciplineRoad
CompetitionUCI World Tour
TypeOne-day
OrganiserFlanders Classics
Race directorLuc Gheysens
Web sitewww.gent-wevelgem.be Edit this at Wikidata
Men's history
First edition1934 (1934)
Editions83 (as of 2021)
First winner  (BEL)
Most wins Robert Van Eenaeme (BEL)
 Rik Van Looy (BEL)
 Eddy Merckx (BEL)
 Mario Cipollini (ITA)
 Tom Boonen (BEL)
 Peter Sagan (SVK)
(3 wins)
Most recent Wout van Aert (BEL)
Women's history
First edition2012 (2012)
Editions10 (as of 2021)
First winner Lizzie Armitstead (GBR)
Most wins Kirsten Wild (NED) (2 wins)
Most recent Marianne Vos (NED)

Gent–Wevelgem, officially Gent–Wevelgem – In Flanders Fields,[1] is a road cycling race in Belgium, held annually since 1934. It is one of the classic races part of the Flemish Cycling Week, run in late March on the last Sunday before the Tour of Flanders.

Although the event is often called a sprinters classic due to its flat finishing terrain,[2] its early-season date means riders are often tested by wind and rain, as well as several climbs, including two ascents of the steep and fully cobbled Kemmelberg.[3] As a result, few editions of Gent–Wevelgem actually end in a bunch sprint – often the winner comes from a small group of escapees.[3]

In 2005 the race was included in the inaugural UCI ProTour and in 2011 in its successor, the UCI World Tour.[4] Since 2011 it is organized by Flanders Classics, which also organizes the Tour of Flanders. Since 2012 a woman's event is held on the same day as the men's race.

Six riders share the record of victories. Belgians Robert Van Eenaeme, Rik Van Looy, Eddy Merckx and Tom Boonen, Italian Mario Cipollini and Slovak Peter Sagan each won the race three times. Sagan also achieved a record six podium finishes in the race.[5]

History[]

Amateur event[]

The event was created in honour of Gaston Rebry, although he never participated.

Created in 1934 and originally run by the newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen, the race's finish town of Wevelgem was selected because it was the home town of the event's first owner, local textile manufacturer Georges Matthijs.[3] [a] Its origin is a tribute to Gaston Rebry, a native of Wevelgem, who was one of the stars of cycling in Belgium in the 1930s.

The first edition was run on 9 September 1934 as an amateur race on a flat, 120 km route.[6] The race only had Belgian participants and was won by .[b] In 1936 the race distance was increased to 168 km and Robert Van Eenaeme was the first professional winner.

Spring classic[]

The event had its only interruptions during World War II, and was subsequently organized again as a professional event in 1945. Gaston Rebry, by then president of bike club "Het Vliegend Wiel", was the new race director. Robert Van Eenaeme was declared winner of the first post-War edition, surprisingly ten days after the race was over, after officials had closer inspected the photo finish.[6]

In 1947 Gent–Wevelgem was granted a springtime date on the calendar and gained prestige. Organizer Rebry managed to line up Italian cycling icons Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi, who attracted vast numbers of spectators to the race.

In 1957 the race became part of the short-lived Trophy of Flanders, a two-day formula with the Omloop Het Volk, in which Gent–Wevelgem was raced on Saturday, the Omloop on Sunday.[6] In the 1960s the race garnered international prestige. Belgian cycling legends Rik Van Looy and Eddy Merckx won the race three times; Tour de France winner Jacques Anquetil was the first French winner in 1964.

The race was in a constant search of identity and re-invention, as reflected in the regular route and calendar changes. In 1977 the distance was 277 km, the longest edition ever, featuring eleven climbs in the Flemish Ardennes and a double ascent of the Kemmelberg.[6] The arduous edition was won by Bernard Hinault, claiming his first international success.

Italian sprint star Mario Cipollini is one of six riders who won the race three times.

In Flanders Fields Classic[]

Since the 1980s the race has built a reputation as a sprinters' classic. Italian sprint star Mario Cipollini claimed three victories.[7][8] Sean Kelly, Guido Bontempi, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov and Tom Steels are some of the other sprint specialists on the roll of honour.[9]

In 2003, Gent–Wevelgem abandoned its original start location Ghent and moved to suburban Deinze.[10] Tom Boonen claimed his first classic victory in 2004, later proceeding to equal the winning record of three wins.[11][12][13][14] For many decades, the race held a mid-week position between the Tour of Flanders and Paris–Roubaix. In 2011, the race was included in the UCI World Tour and returned to a Sunday date in the weekend between Milan–San Remo and the Tour of Flanders.[c][15]

Since 2015, the event is named Gent–Wevelgem – In Flanders Fields, after the iconic war poem by John McCrae.[1] Organizers wanted to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I, as the Westhoek region was at the heart of the war and is home to several Commonwealth war graves. The 2015 edition was won by Luca Paolini, but was particularly memorable as it was run in abysmal weather, with strong winds scourging the peloton. Several riders were blown violently off their bikes, including Geraint Thomas when he was leading the breakaway group,[16] prompting media to describe the race as "mayhem" and "one of the wildest bike races in recent years".[17][18] Only 39 riders finished the race.[19]

The 2016 edition was marred by the death of Belgian rider Antoine Demoitié, suffering fatal injuries from a crash and collision with a motor bike.[20][21] Peter Sagan won the 2018 event, marking Sagan's third Gent–Wevelgem title and sixth podium finish, thereby becoming the most successful rider in the race's history.[5]

Route[]

Route map of the 2014 Gent-Wevelgem: Starting in Deinze and finishing in Wevelgem, the race covers around 250 km
Final 100 km of the 2018 event

Unlike most of the Flemish spring classics, which centre around Oudenaarde and the plentiful hills in the Flemish Ardennes, Gent–Wevelgem travels west into West Flanders and Northern France and has fewer hills, providing it with a different character and making it more suitable for sprinters.[22] In recent years the total distance of the race was around 250 km.[23]

Present course[]

Since 2004, the race starts in Deinze, East Flanders, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) southwest of Ghent.[24] After the unofficial start on the city's Market Square, the route heads west, facing 100 kilometres through the wind-swept flatlands of West Flanders, up to and along the North Sea coast before turning south into the North department of France.[3][23] After 120 km comes the cobbled Kasselberg climb in Cassel, which is addressed twice in quick succession.[d] After the Katsberg, the second hill in France, the race re-enters Belgium after 50 kilometres (31 mi) on French roads, to enter the key section of the race in Heuvelland.[22]

The hill zone in the very south of West Flanders holds three climbs, the Baneberg, Monteberg and Kemmelberg, covered within twelve kilometres of one another.[23] This succession of climbs is interspersed with technical descents along narrow country roads, including the difficult descent of the Kemmelberg. The Kemmelberg is the hardest and most iconic climb of the race.[22]

After these three bergs, the course loops round and riders re-ascend the Baneberg–Monteberg-Kemmelberg sequence, covering a total of nine categorized climbs.[22] After the top of the ultimate climb of the Kemmelberg, some 35 kilometres (22 mi) from the finish, the course invariably ensues on a long and flat run-in to Wevelgem.[3] The finish is on the Vanackerestraat, Wevelgem's central avenue.

Character of the race[]

The essential ingredients of Gent–Wevelgem have remained the same for decades. First to take their toll on the peloton, in the opening 100 kilometres, are the crosswinds and often rainy weather on exposed, flat roads across Flanders’ largest open plain. As teams try to protect and position their captains in the early stages of the race, splits and echelons at this point frequently see 40 to 60 riders eliminated from the running.[3]

The Kemmelberg first featured in 1955 and has become the centrepiece of the race. The steepest slopes reach 23 % gradient near the top.

Subsequently, after hours of pounding across the Flanders flatlands and the occasional excursion to Northern France, the riders approach the hill zone in Heuvelland, which features the day's most difficult ascents. The hills are at the heart of the action and usually the sites where breakaways are formed. The race's most renowned climb is the Kemmelberg, a fully cobbled hill road in Kemmel with gradients up to 23%, but equally notorious for its difficult and technical descent.

The Kemmelberg, the highest point in the region, is the toughest climb and the emotional centrepiece of the race.[22] Named after Camulos, the Celtic god of war, the Kemmelberg's summit lies atop a thickly wooded ridge which was the scene of the Battle of the Lys in April 1918, in which more than 200,000 soldiers died.[3] The climb has been controversial in the past because of several severe crashes in its descent. In 2007 French rider Jimmy Casper crashed heavily, suffering numerous facial and other fractures.[26][27] In 2016 the climb was addressed by its steepest road for the first time in more than 20 years.[28][29]

After the Kemmelberg, the ultimate battle between breakaways formed on the bergs and the chasing peloton unfolds on the 35-kilometre flat roads towards the finish. Despite its reputation as a sprinter's classic, Gent–Wevelgem's breakaways frequently hold off their pursuers because of the unpredictable terrain.[3]

The Kemmelberg is one of the only cobbled sites in the race.

Cobbles[]

Main article: Cobbled classics

Although media usually classify Gent–Wevelgem as a cobbled classic,[30] the route actually has very few sections of cobbled roads. Only the Kemmelberg and the upper stretches of the Kasselberg are cobbled, totaling a possible maximum of two kilometres of cobbled section, which is significantly less than the other cobbled races of Flanders and Northern France. Moreover, there are no flat sections of pavé and both cobbled climbs are in excellent condition, as they are part of a busy suburban traffic network.

Course changes[]

The first race was in 1934 on an all-flat route from Ghent's St Pieter's Station to Wevelgem.[31] The second edition in 1935 addressed the Flemish Ardennes in East Flanders and included the climbs of Kwaremont, Kluisberg and Tiegemberg. From 1936 to 1939 the race ran from Ghent to Kortrijk, followed by local laps, including the Lauwberg as the main difficulty.

Since 1945, the hills in Heuvelland, including Kemmelberg and Rodeberg (pictured) are the heart of the finale.

After World War II, Gent–Wevelgem restyled with a new route across the Flemish Ardennes and the Heuvelland region.[31] The Edelareberg, Hoppeberg, Kwaremont, Zwarteberg and Rodeberg featured along the way. In 1947 and 1948 the course looped up to and along the North Sea coast for the first time.

From 1949 to 1954 the Flemish Ardennes returned, followed by the Heuvelland hills of Rodeberg and Vidaigneberg. In 1955 the Kluisberg and Kemmelberg made their first appearance. The road on the Kemmelberg was still unpaved. In 1956 the Eikenberg was included.

Mont Cassel is one of the Franco-Flemish hills in Northern France, introduced in 1957.

In 1957, as Gent–Wevelgem was part of the Trophy of Flanders, organizers introduced climbs in French Flanders: Zwarteberg, Mont Cassel, Katsberg and Wouwenberg preceded the Kemmelberg. In 1958, these Franco-Flemish climbs were not included: the pre-Schengen border crossing caused too many administrative burdens. After the run-up to the coast, the route featured only the Rodeberg, Vidaigneberg and Kemmelberg climbs in Heuvelland.

In 1960 scheduling conflicts marked the end of the Trophy of Flanders and the race placed itself on the calendar between the more prestigious classics the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. In 1961 Gent–Wevelgem implemented a two-day course, a one-year novelty. The race ran from Ghent to Antwerp on the first day and to Wevelgem on the second.

From 1962 to 1976 Gent–Wevelgem ran via the coast to Heuvelland, with the Rodeberg, Vidaigneberg and Kemmelberg as fixed venues, sometimes supplemented with Monteberg, Baneberg, Sulferberg, Goeberg, Suikerberg (Sugar Hill), Kraaiberg and Scherpenberg.

In 1977, the hills of the Flemish Ardennes were addressed for the last time to date, featuring eleven significant climbs, including Koppenberg, Edelareberg, Kattenberg, Varent, Kluisberg and Tiegemberg. In 1993, the Franco-Flemish hills made their re-appearance but were omitted again in 1996.

The race passes under the Menin Gate World War I memorial in Ypres during the race finale.

In 2008, the route was substantially modified, following the race's status as a UCI Pro Tour event.[31] The distance was increased from ca. 200 km to 235 km. The course no longer ran along long coastal stretches, but instead approached Veurne from the polders. More climbs in Heuvelland were inserted: Zwarteberg, Baneberg, Rodeberg, Vidaigneberg and Monteberg preceded the double ascent of the Kemmelberg. As a consequence of the heavy crashes of the 2007 race, the Kemmelberg was approached from the village of Kemmel, in order to avoid the dangerous cobbled descent and potential new crashes.

In 2010 the Franco-Flemish hills of Kasselberg, Scherpenberg, Katsberg, and Berthen were re-introduced, before ensuing the traditional route in the Heuvelland hills. In recent years the city of Ypres features prominently in the race finale.[32] In the context of the Centenary of the outbreak of World War I, the peloton crosses the city centre and leaves it passing under the iconic Menin Gate, arguably the most famous Flanders Fields memorial, before proceeding on the final run-in to the finish in Wevelgem.[33]

The 2017 race saw the addition of three so-called Plugstreets in Ploegsteert Wood, semi-paved gravel roads at the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing, to commemorate the Christmas truce of 1914.[34][e] The three Plugstreets were integrated between the two Kemmel climbs, with a total distance of 5.2 km (3.2 mi).[35]

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the change of calendar and that year's edition was postponed for the 11th of October.

Winners[]

Year Country Rider Team
1934  Belgium
1935  Belgium
1936  Belgium Robert Van Eenaeme
1937  Belgium Robert Van Eenaeme
1938  Belgium
1939  Belgium André Declerck
1940–
1944 		No race
1945  Belgium Robert Van Eenaeme
1946  Belgium Ernest Sterckx Alcyon
1947  Belgium Maurice Desimpelaere Alcyon
1948  Belgium Valère Ollivier
1949  Belgium Marcel Kint
1950  Belgium Briek Schotte Alcyon
1951  Belgium André Rosseel
1952  Belgium Raymond Impanis
1953  Belgium Raymond Impanis
1954   Switzerland Rolf Graf
1955  Belgium Briek Schotte Alcyon
1956  Belgium Rik Van Looy
1957  Belgium Rik Van Looy
1958  Belgium Noel Fore
1959  Belgium Léon Van Daele
1960  Belgium Frans Aerenhouts
1961  Belgium Frans Aerenhouts
1962  Belgium Rik Van Looy
1963  Belgium Benoni Beheyt
1964  France Jacques Anquetil
1965  Belgium Noel De Pauw
1966  Belgium Herman Van Springel
1967  Belgium Eddy Merckx Peugeot
1968  Belgium Walter Godefroot Flandria–De Clerck
1969  Belgium Willy Vekemans Goldor–Hertekamp–Gerka
1970  Belgium Eddy Merckx Faemino–Faema
1971  Belgium Georges Pintens Hertekamp–Magniflex
1972  Belgium Roger Swerts Molteni
1973  Belgium Eddy Merckx Molteni
1974  Great Britain Barry Hoban Gan–Mercier
1975  Belgium Freddy Maertens Carpenter-Confortluxe-Flandria
1976  Belgium Freddy Maertens Flandria-Velda-West Vlaams Vleesbedrijf
1977  France Bernard Hinault Gitane-Campagnolo
1978  Belgium Ferdi Van Den Haute Marc Zeepcentrale–Superia–ISC
1979  Italy Francesco Moser Sanson
1980  Netherlands Henk Lubberding TI–Raleigh–Creda
1981  Netherlands Jan Raas TI–Raleigh–Creda
1982  Belgium Frank Hoste TI–Raleigh–Campagnolo
1983  Netherlands Leo van Vliet TI–Raleigh–Campagnolo
1984  Italy Guido Bontempi Carrera–Inoxpran
1985  Belgium Eric Vanderaerden Panasonic
1986  Italy Guido Bontempi Carrera–Inoxpran
1987  Netherlands Teun van Vliet Panasonic
1988  Ireland Sean Kelly Kas
1989  Netherlands Gerrit Solleveld Superconfex-Yoko
1990  Belgium Herman Frison Histor-Sigma
1991  Soviet Union Djamolidine Abdoujaparov Carrera Jeans–Tassoni
1992  Italy Mario Cipollini GB-MG
1993  Italy Mario Cipollini GB-MG
1994  Belgium Wilfried Peeters GB-MG
1995  Denmark Lars Michaelsen Festina–Lotus
1996  Belgium Tom Steels Mapei–GB
1997  France Philippe Gaumont Cofidis
1998  Belgium Frank Vandenbroucke Mapei–Bricobi
1999  Belgium Tom Steels Mapei–Quick-Step
2000  Belgium Geert Van Bondt Farm Frites
2001  United States George Hincapie U.S. Postal Service
2002  Italy Mario Cipollini Acqua e Sapone–Cantina Tollo
2003  Germany Andreas Klier Team Telekom
2004  Belgium Tom Boonen Quick-Step–Davitamon
2005  Belgium Nico Mattan Davitamon–Lotto
2006  Norway Thor Hushovd Crédit Agricole
2007  Germany Marcus Burghardt T-Mobile Team
2008  Spain Óscar Freire Rabobank
2009  Norway Edvald Boasson Hagen Team Columbia–High Road
2010  Austria Bernhard Eisel Team HTC–Columbia
2011  Belgium Tom Boonen Quick-Step
2012  Belgium Tom Boonen Omega Pharma–Quick-Step
2013  Slovakia Peter Sagan Cannondale
2014  Germany John Degenkolb Giant–Shimano
2015  Italy Luca Paolini Team Katusha
2016  Slovakia Peter Sagan Tinkoff
2017  Belgium Greg Van Avermaet BMC Racing Team
2018  Slovakia Peter Sagan Bora–Hansgrohe
2019  Norway Alexander Kristoff UAE Team Emirates
2020  Denmark Mads Pedersen Trek–Segafredo
2021  Belgium Wout Van Aert Team Jumbo–Visma

Multiple winners[]

Riders in italics are still active

Wins Rider Country Editions
3 Robert Van Eenaeme  Belgium 1936, 1937, 1945
Rik Van Looy  Belgium 1956, 1957, 1962
Eddy Merckx  Belgium 1967, 1970, 1973
Mario Cipollini  Italy 1992, 1993, 2002
Tom Boonen  Belgium 2004, 2011, 2012
Peter Sagan  Slovakia 2013, 2016, 2018
2 Raymond Impanis  Belgium 1952, 1953
Briek Schotte  Belgium 1950, 1955
Frans Aerenhouts  Belgium 1960, 1961
Freddy Maertens  Belgium 1975, 1976
Guido Bontempi  Italy 1984, 1986
Tom Steels  Belgium 1996, 1999

Wins per country[]

Wins Country
50  Belgium
7  Italy
5  Netherlands
3  France
 Germany
 Norway
 Slovakia
2  Denmark
1  Austria
 Ireland
 Soviet Union
 Spain
  Switzerland
 United Kingdom
 United States

Women's race[]

Britain's Lizzie Armitstead won the first women's Gent–Wevelgem in 2012.

Since 2012 a women's race of Gent–Wevelgem is held, on the same day as the men's event but over a shorter course of 120 km. Unlike the men's race, the start is in Ypres and the course does not cover the hills in Northern France.[36] The inaugural women's edition was won by British rider Lizzie Armitstead after a 40-km solo breakaway.[37][38] Since 2016 the race is included in the UCI Women's World Tour, cycling's top-tier female elite competition.[39]

Year Country Rider Team
 Great Britain Lizzie Armitstead AA Drink–leontien.nl
 Netherlands Kirsten Wild Argos–Shimano
2014  United States Lauren Hall Optum–Kelly Benefit Strategies
2015  Netherlands Floortje Mackaij Team Liv–Plantur
2016  Netherlands Chantal Blaak Boels–Dolmans
2017  Finland Lotta Lepistö Cervélo–Bigla Pro Cycling
2018  Italy Marta Bastianelli Alé–Cipollini
2019  Netherlands Kirsten Wild WNT–Rotor Pro Cycling
2020  Belgium Jolien D'Hoore Boels–Dolmans
2021  Netherlands Marianne Vos Team Jumbo–Visma

Wins per country[]

Wins Country
5  Netherlands
1  United Kingdom
 United States
 Finland
 Italy
 Belgium

Cyclosportive[]

Since 2009, a cyclosportive is organized on the day before the professional event.[40] There are four distances, ranging from 60 km to 215 km. All courses start and finish in Wevelgem, at the finishing location of the professional event. Most routes pass through the Menin Gate in Ypres, flirt with the French border, tackle the Kemmelberg before turning back towards Wevelgem.[41] There are 5.000 participants on average; 40% of which are non-Belgians.[42]

Notes[]

  1. ^ The start location of Ghent was a logical economic choice. The city was home to several flax factories who traded with the many textile manufacturers in Wevelgem.[6]
  2. ^ Van Belle died in 1954 when he tried to save his seven-year old son who had fallen in the Leie river in Ghent.[6]
  3. ^ The slot formerly held by the Brabantse Pijl.
  4. ^ In 2016 and 2017 Gent-Wevelgem did not include the Casselberg because of the annual Easter carnival in the commune that coincided with the race.[25]
  5. ^ Ploegsteert, where Winston Churchill served as Commanding Officer during 1916, was a site of trench warfare during World War I. On Christmas Eve 1914, German soldiers started singing Silent Night, Holy Night, to which the Allied troops responded with a rendition of The First Noel. On Christmas Day, German and Allied troops approached each other in No man's land, resulting in playing games of football. A similar ceasefire was observed in 1915 although in 1916 there were commands to execute any soldiers who fraternized with the enemy.[34]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "In Flanders Fields". Gent-Wevelgem. Flanders Classics. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  2. ^ Henrys, Colin (7 December 2015). "Gent-Wevelgem 2015 preview: six fast men who could win the 'sprinter's Classic'". RoadCyclingUK. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Gent–Wevelgem". UCI. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Gent-Wevelgem". Archived from the original on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  5. ^ a b "Gent-Wevelgem: It's a hat trick for World Champ Sagan". Velonews.com. Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Geschiedenis". gent-wevelgem.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  7. ^ Jones, Jeff. "Tuscan encore". Cycling News. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Mario Cipollini". gent-wevelgem.be. Flanders Classics. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Tom Steels ( 1996 en 1999 )". gent-wevelgem.be. Flanders Classics. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  10. ^ Jones, Jeff. "65th Gent-Wevelgem - 1.HC. Belgium, April 9, 2003". Cycling News. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Tom Boonen scores his first classic victory. 07 april 2004". gent-wevelgem.be. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  12. ^ Jones, Jeff. "66th Gent-Wevelgem - 1.HC. Belgium, April 7, 2004". Cycling News. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  13. ^ Ryan, Barry. "Boonen surprised by Gent-Wevelgem victory. Belgian bridges seven year gap in finishing sprint". Cycling News. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Boonen wins again in Ghent-Wevelgem". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  15. ^ Kröner, Hedwig. "Preview. Gent - Wevelgem Gent-Wevelgem: to sprint or not to sprint?". Cycling News. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  16. ^ Brown, Gregor (29 March 2015). "Geraint Thomas blown off the road in Ghent-Wevelgem". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Gallery: Gent-Wevelgem mayhem". Cycling News. Immediate Media Company. 31 March 2015. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  18. ^ Brown, Gregor. "Wind like never before in Belgium's Gent-Wevelgem classic". Cycling Weekly. Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  19. ^ Decaluwé, Brecht (31 March 2015). "Paolini wins Gent-Wevelgem". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Belgian rider Antoine Demoitié dies in hospital after Ghent-Wevelgem crash". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. 27 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  21. ^ "Antoine Demoitié dies following Gent-Wevelgem crash". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  22. ^ a b c d e Ryan, Barry (28 March 2015). "Gent-Wevelgem preview: Degenkolb, Kristoff and Cavendish face off in Belgium". Cycling News. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  23. ^ a b c "GW2015 Elite men map profile" (PDF). flandersclassics.be. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  24. ^ "Wegwijzer - Itinéraire" (PDF). Het Nieuwsblad. Corelio. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  25. ^ "Geen Casselberg in Gent-Wevelgem: "Zware streep door de rekening"". Sportwereld (in Dutch). Corelio. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  26. ^ Brown, Gregor; Decaluwé, Brecht. "69th Gent-Wevelgem - PT". Cycling News. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  27. ^ Westemeyer, Susan. "Casper considers suing Unibet, reflects on Kemmelberg". Cycling News. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  28. ^ "Gent-Wevelgem weer over steilste kant Kemmelberg". Sportwereld (in Dutch). Corelio. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  29. ^ Fletcher, Patrick. "Gent-Wevelgem to be revamped with steeper side of the Kemmelberg". Cycling News. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  30. ^ "Cobbled Classics". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  31. ^ a b c "Past". gent-wevelgem.be. Flanders Classics. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  32. ^ "Ieper nog steeds de poort tot de finale". gent-wevelgem.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  33. ^ Delvaux, Maarten. "Alles wat u moet weten over Gent-Wevelgem". sportwereld.be (in Dutch). Corelio. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  34. ^ a b "Gent-Wevelgem pays tribute to First World War with 2017 route". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  35. ^ Fletcher, Patrick (25 March 2017). "Gent-Wevelgem 2017 race preview". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  36. ^ Delvaux, Maarten. "Alles wat u moet weten over Gent-Wevelgem". Sportwereld.be (in Dutch). Het Mediahuis.
  37. ^ "Armitstead powers to solo win". Sky Sports. March 25, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  38. ^ "Elizabeth Armitstead wint eerste Gent-Wevelgem voor vrouwen". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 25 March 2012.
  39. ^ Frattini, Kirsten. "2016 Gent-Wevelgem Women overview". cyclingnews. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  40. ^ "Gent-Wevelgem Cyclo". cyclinginflanders.cc. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  41. ^ Mitchell, Mathew (2019-04-03). "Gent Wevelgem Sportive Review 2019". ProCyclingUK.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  42. ^ Weyters, Gert-Jan. "5000 deelnemers genieten van zonovergoten Gent-Wevelgem Cyclo". sport.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 March 2019.

External links[]

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