Gent–Wevelgem
File:Gent–Wevelgem logo.svg | |
Race details | |
---|---|
Date | Late March |
Region | Flanders, Belgium |
English name | Ghent-Wevelgem |
Local name(s) | Gent–Wevelgem Template:Nl icon |
Nickname(s) | Ghent-Bubblegum |
Discipline | Road |
Competition | UCI World Tour |
Type | One-day |
Race director | Luc Gheysens |
Web site | www |
History | |
First edition | 1934 |
Editions | 75 (as of 2013) |
First winner | Gustave Van Bell (BEL) |
Most wins | Robert Van Eenaeme (BEL) Rik Van Looy (BEL) Eddy Merckx (BEL) Mario Cipollini (ITA) Tom Boonen (BEL) (3 wins) |
Most recent | Peter Sagan (SVK) |
The Gent–Wevelgem is a Flanders Classics cycle road race held in Belgium in late March each year. The event was first run in 1934, and it is often called the sprinters' classic due to its flat finishing terrain.[1] Its early-season date means riders are often tested by wind and rain. Further challenges include a number of climbs, including two ascents of the cobbled, difficult, and often selective Kemmelberg.
Indeed, the selectivity of the course means that very few editions of Gent–Wevelgem actually end in a bunch sprint. A smaller elite group (including some sprinters) often contest the finish line. In recent years, the race has been situated on the Wednesday between de Tour of Flanders and Paris–Roubaix, and while not officially part of the Vlaamse Wielerweek (Flemish cycling week), it can be seen as an unofficial finale of the series of cycling classics in Flanders. In 2010 the fixed date of the race shifted from the Wednesday after the Tour of Flanders to the Sunday before the Ronde.[2] Since 2005 the race has been part of the UCI ProTour,[1] and since 2009, part of the UCI World Ranking calendar.
Despite its name, the race hasn't started in Ghent since 2004, traditionally beginning on the market square of nearby Deinze. The course then sets westward towards the Belgian coastal region, after which it moves southwards near the French border towards the Monteberg and Kemmelberg, before heading towards Wevelgem. The 73rd edition was held on March 27, 2011, and covered 219 kilometres.
In 2012, a women's race was added to the weekend. The inaugural was won by Lizzie Armitstead, of Team AA Drink/leontien.nl, after a 40-km solo breakaway.[3]
History
The first edition was played on September 9, 1934 as a junior race for a distance of 120 km. Its origin is a tribute to Gaston Rebry (Wevelgem natural) who in that year to the win in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. After the Second World War took place, and for professionals, on July 29, 1945 for a distance of 200 km. and organization, to this day, the cycling club "Het Wiel Vliegende."
In 1947 the Gent–Wevelgem joined the timing of the "spring classics" and constituted, for the period 1957–1959 the "Trofee van Vlaanderen (Flanders Trophy) next to the Omloop Het Volk.
The competition started in 2004, despite the name, not in Ghent but in nearby Deinze. Gent–Wevelgem is the first race toward the coast, which ends must be followed. Near Veurne the winds broke open the game normally. Because of the often strong winds on the flat Flemish roads the race often develop fans. The main obstacle is the Kemmelberg, a difficult climb with cobblestones which must be climbed twice, but equally notorious for its dangerous descent, where many a cyclist dropped. Often is the two-part Monteberg Kemmelberg the breakpoint of the match. Furthermore, the relatively flat trail, which is often in Wevelgem race ends in a sprint of a small group or a larger group.
From the 2008 edition of the trail is substantially modified and the riders not to the coast, but drive a detour along the Steenstraat (Bovekerke-Works) and then approach Furnes from the polders in place from the direction of the coast. Then comes the Hill Zone, with the Vidaigneberg, the Rodeberg (Belgium), Monteberg (to the summit and then left), a detour and Kemmelberg approached from the village of Kemmel. The descent is made along a detour to rebuilt the dangerous descent and avoid potential crashes. Then this hill area repeated in the same order and then drive toward Wevelgem. The new trail has been adopted by most riders. Some believed that the launching of the Kemmelberg nervous, but this is according to race director Hans De Clercq normal and part of the course.
In 2010 another major change was made. The date of the race was changed from the Wednesday between the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix to the Sunday before the Tour of Flanders. Also, many more slopes inserted before the Kemmel climb, Scherpenberg, Mont des Cats, Berthe, Black Mountain, Baneberg, and then Rodeberg Monteberg and Kemmelberg. This series of hills the riders climb twice before hitting the finish in Wevelgem cycling.
It is currently held on the Sunday before the Tour of Flanders, and although not officially part of the Flemish Cycling Week, can be seen as a final unofficial series of classics in Flanders.
From 2005 to 2010, the race was part of the UCI ProTour and from 2010, part of the UCI World Tour.
Route history
The first race was in 1934, and was held for junior riders. The second edition in 1935 (also for juniors) went through the Flemish Ardennes with climbs such as the Kwaremont, Kluisberg and Tiegemberg.
From 1936 to 1939 the race opened to independent amateur riders. It went directly from Ghent and Kortrijk then followed local rounds including the significant Mountain Lauw.
In 1945, after the Second World War, Ghent-Wevelgem became a race for professionals. A completely new route traveled through the Flemish Ardennes to Wevelgem and then looped by the Flemish hills. The Edelareberg, Hoppenberg, Kwaremont, Zwarteberg (Black Mountain) and Rodeberg (Red Mountain) featured along the way. In 1947 and 1948 the route followed the coast.
From 1949 to 1954 the Flemish Ardennes (Calvarieberg, Kwaremont) returned, followed by the Heuvelland (Rodeberg, Vidaigneberg, Slope of Mesen). In 1955 the Kluisberg and Kemmelberg were added. The road on the Kemmelberg was still unpaved. In 1956 the Eikenberg was included.
In 1957, Tour of Flanders, Omloop Het Volk, and Gent–Wevelgem were raced together, and riders vied for a joint prize, the "Trophy of Flanders." At this time, the Gent–Wevelgem added climbs in French Flanders (Black Mountain, Catsberg, Kite Mountain, Kasselberg) as precursors to the Kemmelberg. In 1958, these Franco-Flemish climbs were not included: the border crossing meant too many administrative burdens. After the run-up to the coast, the route followed only the Rodeberg, Vidaigneberg and Kemmelberg in the Hills.
In 1960 scheduling conflicts marked the end of the Trophy of Flanders. At this time the lower prestige Gent–Wevelgem placed itself between more famous classics. This year, besides the climbs of Geraardsbergen, Kwaremont, and Kluisberg Tiegemberg in the Flemish Ardennes, are the Vidaigneberg, Kemmelberg and Slope of Mesen in the Hills.
In 1961 the Gent–Wevelgem implemented a two-day course. The first day of the Ghent and Antwerp to Gent–Wevelgem half days with only slopes in the hilly country (Rodeberg, Vidaigneberg, Kemmelberg, Slope of Mesen).
From 1962 to 1976 Gent–Wevelgem was raced via the coast to the hilly country, with the Rodeberg, Vidaigneberg and Kemmelberg as fixed venues, sometimes supplemented with Monteberg, Baneberg, Sulferberg, Goeberg, Suikerberg (Sugar Mountain), as well as the climbs of Nieuwkerke, Geluveld, Crow Mountain or Scherpenberg. This also applies to the years 1978 to present. In the period 1993 to 1995, the Franco-Flemish slopes were again inserted, but in 1996 the traditional route was restored. The Flemish Ardennes are not affected because the roots of Gent–Wevelgem and because the riders wanted to keep it.
In 1977 the course changed radically and the Flemish Ardennes was done with 11 significant climbs (including Edelareberg, Kattenberg, Varent, Kluisberg and Tiegemberg). Also in the 1976 Tour of Flanders with the Koppenberg was on the race calendar, while in Gent–Wevelgem the Steengat climb was featured.
Winners
Year | Country | Rider | Team | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1934 | Belgium | Gustave Van Bell | ||
1935 | Belgium | Albert Depreitre | ||
1936 | Belgium | Robert Van Eenaeme | ||
1937 | Belgium | Robert Van Eenaeme | ||
1938 | Belgium | Hubert Godart | ||
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 | ||
1969 | Belgium | Willy Vekemans | ||
1970 | Belgium | Eddy Merckx | Faema | |
1971 | Belgium | Georges Pintens | ||
1972 | Belgium | Roger Swerts | ||
1973 | Belgium | Eddy Merckx | Molteni | |
1974 | Great Britain | Barry Hoban | ||
1975 | Belgium | Freddy Maertens | Flandria-Carpenter | |
1976 | Belgium | Freddy Maertens | Flandria-Carpenter | |
1977 | France | Bernard Hinault | Gitane-Campagnolo | |
1978 | Belgium | Ferdi Van Den Haute | ||
1979 | Italy | Francesco Moser | Sanson | |
1980 | Netherlands | Henk Lubberding | TI-Raleigh | |
1981 | Netherlands | Jan Raas | TI-Raleigh | |
1982 | Belgium | Frank Hoste | TI-Raleigh | |
1983 | Netherlands | Leo van Vliet | TI-Raleigh | |
1984 | Italy | Guido Bontempi | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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1985 | Belgium | Eric Vanderaerden | Panasonic | |
1986 | Italy | Guido Bontempi | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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1987 | Netherlands | Teun van Vliet | Panasonic | |
1988 | Ireland | Sean Kelly | Kas | |
1989 | Netherlands | Gerrit Solleveld | Superconfex-Yoko | |
1990 | Belgium | Herman Frison | Histor-Sigma | |
1991 | Uzbekistan | Djamolidine Abdoujaparov | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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1992 | Italy | Mario Cipollini | GB-MG | |
1993 | Italy | Mario Cipollini | GB-MG | |
1994 | Belgium | Wilfried Peeters | GB-MG | |
1995 | Denmark | Lars Michaelsen | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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1996 | Belgium | Tom Steels | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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1997 | France | Philippe Gaumont | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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1998 | Belgium | Frank Vandenbroucke | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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1999 | Belgium | Tom Steels | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2000 | Belgium | Geert Van Bondt | Farm Frites | |
2001 | United States | George Hincapie | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2002 | Italy | Mario Cipollini | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2003 | Germany | Andreas Klier | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2004 | Belgium | Tom Boonen | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2005 | Belgium | Nico Mattan | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2006 | Norway | Thor Hushovd | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2007 | Germany | Marcus Burghardt | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2008 | Spain | Óscar Freire | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2009 | Norway | Edvald Boasson Hagen | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2010 | Austria | Bernhard Eisel | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2011 | Belgium | Tom Boonen | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2012 | Belgium | Tom Boonen | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2013 | Slovakia | Peter Sagan | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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Victories per country
# | Country | Victories |
---|---|---|
1. | Belgium | 48 |
2. | Italy | 6 |
3. | Netherlands | 5 |
4. | France | 3 |
5. | Germany | 2 |
5. | Norway | 2 |
6. | Austria | 1 |
6. | Denmark | 1 |
6. | Ireland | 1 |
6. | Slovakia | 1 |
6. | Spain | 1 |
6. | Switzerland | 1 |
6. | United Kingdom | 1 |
6. | United States | 1 |
6. | Uzbekistan | 1 |
Women's race
The Gent–Wevelgem women's race was held for the first time in 2012, on the same day as the men's race but over a shorter course of 114 km.[4]
Year | Country | Rider | Team |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Great Britain | Lizzie Armitstead | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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2013 | Netherlands | Kirsten Wilde | You have called {{Contentious topics}} . You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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References
- ^ a b Gent-Wevelgem
- ^ (the slot formerly held by the Brabantse Pijl)
- ^ "Armitstead powers to solo win". Sky Sports. March 25, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
- ^ "Elizabeth Armitstead wint eerste Gent-Wevelgem voor vrouwen". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 25 March 2012.