Gent-Wevelgem 2026, March 29

[Samamba]

Nice 21st place by Girmay ...

This guy acted like NSN made him so much better after winning random races in Februari

 

[Didinho]

 

[yaco]

That wasn't an issue. He didn't do any turns while Johansen was still in the group, and then a few token pulls only in the handful of minutes before he was dropped on Kemmelberg.

Why has he won one race in his career. He gets nervous in races and makes poor decisions.

 

[awavey]

Race should finish at the Menin Gate instead.

I wouldnt be comfortable with that to be honest, i like that its part of the race, as it should be, Flanders fields is about the history of that area and paying respects fully and its done well.

But the Menin gate, remember its a memorial to over 54,000 people with unknown graves in WW1, that memorial effectively is their grave, it should be a place of reflection, of memorial, i like that its the one part of the race where it does go quiet, not that kind of finish line hooplah celebration of a bike race.

If they finished in Ypres id want it at the Grote Markt

 

[Wyndbrook]

I wouldnt be comfortable with that to be honest, i like that its part of the race, as it should be, Flanders fields is about the history of that area and paying respects fully and its done well.

But the Menin gate, remember its a memorial to over 54,000 people with unknown graves in WW1, that memorial effectively is their grave, it should be a place of reflection, of memorial, i like that its the one part of the race where it does go quiet, not that kind of finish line hooplah celebration of a bike race.

If they finished in Ypres id want it at the Grote Markt

I agree, much better idea. my Menin comment was that I am not a fan of long run in finishes.
The race is always special to me, I've always known that I have a great uncle buried in Kemmel cemetary and also another nearby. Have recently found out about another relative who is listed on the Menin wall.

 

[Sciatic]

A

I agree, much better idea. my Menin comment was that I am not a fan of long run in finishes.
The race is always special to me, I've always known that I have a great uncle buried in Kemmel cemetary and also another nearby. Have recently found out about another relative who is listed on the Menin wall.

Aside from the memorial aspects of the course, which I’m only vaguely acquainted with, the long-run feels like that is part of the character that makes this race what it is. The long run in comes after 205 km of (sometimes) hard racing unlike any of the other major classics.

 

[Squire]

A

Aside from the memorial aspects of the course, which I’m only vaguely acquainted with, the long-run feels like that is part of the character that makes this race what it is. The long run in comes after 205 km of (sometimes) hard racing unlike any of the other major classics.

I don't see why route complaints would surface after we just had a great race. The GW route is pretty much perfect as is. A long chase between attackers/sprinters is part of the character, as you say. Would hate to see every race be the same/similar.

 

[Netserk]

if anything , its too hard for a bunch sprint

had the duo committed , they wouldnt have been caught

thus the bunch wouldnt have made it ever since 2019 after which they added the third ascent of kemmelberg

 

[harrybo]

Hatch at his worst again on TNT, lost count on the number of times he refered to Biniam on commentary.... now no other rider gets called by his first name. On the plus side Hatch does entertain by his tom foolery, but it the wrong type of entertainment. Even his sidekick Adaaaammm starting to do to it. If anyone interested Biniam Girmay he finished 21st. If you reading this Hatch maybe you could explain yourself and also why you havnt leant to pronounce Unibet Rose Rockets yet. Bring back the bold Carlton and tnt get the old p45 if theres no improvement, I pay a lot of money fot TNT and a bit of professionalism from Hatch isnt too much to ask

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Hatch at his worst again on TNT, lost count on the number of times he refered to Biniam on commentary.... now no other rider gets called by his first name. On the plus side Hatch does entertain by his tom foolery, but it the wrong type of entertainment. Even his sidekick Adaaaammm starting to do to it.

He is following the general convention for names in Eritrea

Habesha naming conventions - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

On the other hand, I'm not convinced that any of the commentators have ever uttered the word Evenepoel.

 

[Brullnux]

If there is one thing Hatch loves to make a point of, it's pronouncing names and following respective cultures' conventions. I don't think this one is a good criticism of him

 

[Berflamand]

I'm really annoyed by Merlier's injury troubles. This is his dream race and the way the race played out, this could have actually been his best chance at victory but he couldn't even start the race.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I'm really annoyed by Merlier's injury troubles. This is his dream race and the way the race played out, this could have actually been his best chance at victory but he couldn't even start the race.

A big part of the reason the race playing out the way it did is Merlier not being able to start. Because it made a sprint that much more attractive for Alpecin.

 

[Berflamand]

A big part of the reason the race playing out the way it did is Merlier not being able to start. Because it made a sprint that much more attractive for Alpecin.

You think MVDP would have pulled harder in that case and they would have stayed clear?

I'll counter that with the assumption that Quick-Step would probably have had a few domestiques left in the group who could have helped pull the peloton back (assuming all other teams who worked this year would also have worked in that scenario).

 

[Devil's Elbow]

You think MVDP would have pulled harder in that case and they would have stayed clear?

I'll counter that with the assumption that Quick-Step would probably have had a few domestiques left in the group who could have helped pull the peloton back (assuming all other teams who worked this year would also have worked in that scenario).

Soudal only had Stuyven left after Kemmelberg, him joining an already well-functioning chase moves the needle less than Van der Poel and Van Aert pulling at 100% rather than at 95 and 98.

As for other riders they might have drafted in, Van Baarle and Van Gestel would have been the best options, neither was ever scheduled for this race (as per Sporza pre-Omloop) and it's not like either are certainties to make it over the hills at their current level anyway.

 

[Berflamand]

Soudal only had Stuyven left after Kemmelberg, him joining an already well-functioning chase moves the needle less than Van der Poel and Van Aert pulling at 100% rather than at 95 and 98.

As for other riders they might have drafted in, Van Baarle and Van Gestel would have been the best options, neither was ever scheduled for this race (as per Sporza pre-Omloop) and it's not like either are certainties to make it over the hills at their current level anyway.

Yeah if it's only Stuyven I agree. I didn't watch the race live but didn't they lose a lot of domestiques to help/pace back Magnier after his bad luck/bike changes? If they still had Merlier in the peloton they probably don't do that and more domestiques might make it in the first peloton after the last Kemmelberg?

Anyway, there's no way to know how it would have played out but it's still a shame he couldn't defend his chances this year.

EDIT: Ok, I looked at their actual startlist and probably only Laurenz Rex and perhaps Lampaert probably could have made the first peloton but Rex already crashed out early in the race.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Yeah if it's only Stuyven I agree. I didn't watch the race live but didn't they lose a lot of domestiques to help/pace back Magnier after his bad luck/bike changes? If they still had Merlier in the peloton they probably don't do that and more domestiques might make it in the first peloton after the last Kemmelberg?

Anyway, there's no way to know how it would have played out but it's still a shame he couldn't defend his chances this year.

Rex crashed out and (the current version of) Lampaert, Vervenne, Van Den Bossche and Van Lerberghe are all pack fodder on the hills. It didn't matter that much.