photo credits @ Gent-Wevelgem
Lidl-Trek enjoyed a dominant afternoon in Flanders as Mads Pedersen led resoundingly for the final 50km to cross the line for his third Gent-Wevelgem crown, successfully defending his title. A heavy favorite going into the race, Pedersen lived up to his billing with a blistering performance in which he was never troubled, easing to the 50th professional race win of his career
On the narrow tracks known as plugstreets, with 74km to go, Pedersen escaped the peloton’s clutches. He charged across to the breakaway before leaving behind those who remained after less than 20km in their company. He was able to establish a healthy advantage which, 20km later, stood at 1’50”.
Meanwhile, Uno-X Mobility and Alpecin-Deceuninck kept the pressure on the sole leader, as the two teams battled for second place with Pedersen largely out of sight, only for the two squads to fall away in the final kilometers
But as the final 5km began to take shape, so too did Lidl-Trek’s dominant finish. In the battle for second place, Jonathan Milan went head-to-head with Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step). The Belgian came out on top with Milan finishing a close third.
“It’s crazy,” Pedersen said. “I never expected to be able to do something like this, but to win here again is super nice. I knew the tailwind would favor being alone in the last 20km, and on the plug-streets I had really good legs so I decided to open the race. At some point, it’s the point of no return. This could have ended in s*** but it went well, so. Luckily, it was a good decision. I haven’t been in better shape than now. Friday and today confirm it, so I’m super happy. In the last 5km I knew the bunch was coming but the last 300-400m I couldn’t realize. I was told this morning that if I won this I would be a joint record holder, and of course, it’s nice, but winning is just nice,” said Pedersen.
Earlier, Jules Hester (Flanders-Baloise) attempted to animate things, but a counterattack from Sam Maisonobe (Cofidis), Jasha Sütterlin (Jayco-AlUla), Marco Haller (Tudor) and Emīls Liepiņš (Q36.5) ultimately came to form the day’s first breakaway effort.
However, Victor Vercouillie (Flanders-Baloise), Max Walker (EF Education-EasyPost), Samuel Leroux and Alexys Brunel (TotalEnergies), Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates XRG) emerged from the peloton to join the escapees with 228km to go, later opening up an advantage of nearly four minutes after 80 kilometers of racing.
Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) attacked with Johan Jacobs (Groupama-FDJ) later attacked, but the Swiss rider couldn’t hold the wheel of the former Hour Record holder on the Baneberg and dropped back to the peloton, who made his way to the leaders before the Monteberg with 94km to go. On the first ascent of the Kemmelberg, Vercouillie and Leroux lost touch while behind, a probing attack from Pedersen pulled away a small group but it was closed down quickly.
Pedersen attacked again on the section of three plug-streets with 72km to go and was joined by Arjen Livyns (Lotto) to bridge across to the breakaway.
From there, Pedersen made his way to the remnants of the early breakaway with 63km to go, while back in the peloton, Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) crashed out of the race
Back up front, the breakaway was still clinging to a one-minute gap over on the peloton with 60km to go, with Brunel trying to make a move on the Monteberg, dropping Liepinš and Oliveira, leaving Maisonobe swinging off the back when the group hit the Kemmelberg.
Campenaerts led the way into the Kemmelberg, dropping Brunel along with Walker and Maisonobe, but Pedersen came over the top and blasted away solo, destroying the rest of the breakaway, leaving just Campenaerts, Hallery and Livyns to chase.
It wasn’t long before the peloton reined in the trio, followed by a surge from Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates XRG), a move that was closely marked by Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek), but the acceleration was enough to reel the three chasers in.
In the meantime, Pedersen proved unstoppable during the final 15km, soloing to victory with ease despite a concerted effort by Alpecin-Deceuninck, Uno-X Mobility and Soudal-Quickstep to rein him in.
