Gent-Wevelgem 2026, March 29

[Dazed and Confused]

Since we are approaching Easter, I will spare fellow cyclingfans of a severe rant related to the name change.

Startlist: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/gent-wevelgem/2026/startlist

Edit: No aliens, so everything is possible. Based on E3, was MVDP weaker than normal? We shall find out.

Open questions: Will Burgos manage to send a rider in the break?
Will Trentin clock up another top 10?
Can Degenkolb dial back time a handful of years?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Can Degenkolb dial back time a handful of years?

Would be better to dial it back more than two handfuls of years by now, although he was ok here in 2019.

 

[RedheadDane]

Since we are approaching Easter, I will spare fellow cyclingfans of a severe rant related to the name change.

In a way, I can... kinda understand the name-change. Makes sense that Middelkerke, the town that pays the bill for hosting the start, would want to have their name be part of the race-name, but why not simply re-name the race "Middelkerke-Wevelgem"? It's the spelling out the "from" and "to" part of the name that makes it seem... rather clunky.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Would be better to dial it back more than two handfuls of years by now, although he was ok here in 2019.

Give or take, I like to see him doing well here again, perhaps a final time.

 

[Berniece]

No aliens, so everything is possible.

MVDP is riding, right?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

MVDP is riding, right?

You're right, too bad. Will edit that part.

 

[pastronef]

let's hope he's a bit cooked by yesterday's effort

 

[Tim Cahill]

Mistake to ride for Van der poel I think, he looked like he was seeing stars and 48 hours isn’t long enough to recover from the level of effort. Could still win obviously but I think maybe a race to see which of the newer sprinters can handle monument distance, Lund, Brennan, Magnier.

 

[Squire]

So which new chapter will be written in the book series 'How to not win a race' with Per Strand Hagenes?

Edit: Oh, he's not riding. That's one way, I guess.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Welcome to In-Flanders-Fields-the-Poppies-Blow-Between-Middelkerke-and-Wevelgem-By-the-Way-Do-You-Realize-What-a-Wonderful-Town-Middelkerke-Is-and-Don't-You-Agree-They-Deserve-a-Mention-As-a-Reward-for-Their-Investment-in-This-Beautiful-Sport-Unlike-That-Other-City-That-Hasn't-Been-Hosting-the-Start-for-Many-Years-Long-Live-Middelkerke-to-Wevelgem!

 

[Heston]

Big chance for Brennan here. But Visma also have Van Aert and Laporte. Lots of ways for them to win it.

 

[Samamba]

No wind (literally only time the wind dies down in like 4 days time is the 3 hours around midday when they pass in De Moeren), and some strong teams with a really good sprinter. Red Bull will have Meeus, QS Magnier, Visma if they can't follow Brennan, Decathlon Lund, ...

I think this will be a sprint. Van der Poel himself also has Philipsen who probably really wants his chance.

 

[RedheadDane]

Welcome to In-Flanders-Fields-the-Poppies-Blow-Between-Middelkerke-and-Wevelgem-By-the-Way-Do-You-Realize-What-a-Wonderful-Town-Middelkerke-Is-and-Don't-You-Agree-They-Deserve-a-Mention-As-a-Reward-for-Their-Investment-in-This-Beautiful-Sport-Unlike-That-Other-City-That-Hasn't-Hosted-the-Start-for-Many-Years-Long-Live-Middelkerke-to-Wevelgem!

It's like they're trying to have a longer name than that French 1.1 race on the same day.


(Surely, mentioning that another race - also - has a very long name isn't a spoiler.)

 

[Samamba]

There will be for the first time ever a livestream of De Moeren section, but like said earlier, sadly right now the wind prediction say there won't be enough wind at the time they are going through it.

 

[Didinho]

Expecting Visma to make the race hard. Probably no early echelons so it should end up in a bunch sprint.

As for Mathieu. He always prefers to ride another race instead of the same hours as a last long training ride before the Ronde.

 

[Samamba]

No Pedersen... "a cold"

Even more chance of a bunch sprint I think.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

No Pedersen... "a cold"

Even more chance of a bunch sprint I think.

Don't think it would make much of a difference with his current form.

 

[Samamba]

Don't think it would make much of a difference with his current form.

He was fine, not 100%, but fine.
It's just an extra team that wants the easiest race possible and will go full for a bunch sprint. We have a lot of them already with QS, Decathlon, Lotto and NSN.

 

[VanBsr]

Actually I think is form it is not so bad and I take his message as good news. It seems he was already sick yesterday and he does not have a problem with the wrist. So what he showed yesterday wasn’t so bad in the end

 

[Dazed and Confused]

He was fine, not 100%, but fine.
It's just an extra team that wants the easiest race possible and will go full for a bunch sprint. We have a lot of them already with QS, Decathlon, Lotto and NSN

I think his form places him in the chase group scenario, ie. the sprint group.

Actually I think is form it is not so bad and I take his message as good news. It seems he was already sick yesterday and he does not have a problem with the wrist. So what he showed yesterday wasn’t so bad in the end

The question is whether his form is enough to make the race. I doubt it, but now we shall not know anyway. Next chance is DdV.

 

[Berniece]

I think this will be a sprint. Van der Poel himself also has Philipsen who probably really wants his chance.

I think it won't be a peloton sprint. With how strong WVA is, who has a free role, I wouldn't be surprised if we get MVDP/WVA duo TT and sprint for the win

 

[Samamba]

I think it won't be a peloton sprint. With how strong WVA is, who has a free role, I wouldn't be surprised if we get MVDP/WVA duo TT and sprint for the win

Visma/Van Aert is indeed my hope yes. Ineos too with Ganna, they don't have a sprinter.

Also just realised that in the final there will actually be a serious tail and cross-tailwind so thats good for attackers.

 

[Pantani_lives]

It's like they're trying to have a longer name than that French 1.1 race on the same day.


(Surely, mentioning that another race - also - has a very long name isn't a spoiler.)

Another race tomorrow is stage 6 of "The Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's Cup Tour of Thailand" (2.1). Long names are a trend.