Gent - Wevelgem: October 11th, 2020

[Pantani_lives]

In this unusual year the Flemish cycling week begins with Gent-Wevelgem. Don't be fooled by the name, because after seventeen editions starting in Deinze, for at least the next six years the start will be in Ieper (Ypres). The organizers want to link the cycling event to the memory of World War I. The starting point will be the Menenpoort (Menin Gate), an important war monument. The complete race will be in Flanders Fields, the region where these World War I battles took place. Because of the pandemic the riders won't cross the French border. The final remains the same as last year, with the "plugstreets" in Ploegsteert and nine climbs, including twice the Kemmelberg. The final 34 km are flat, which can lead to a final with echelons or a sprint with a reduced bunch.

Climbs:

1. Catsberg (113 km)
2. Le Vert Mont (107 km)
3. Mont Noir/Zwarteberg: Côte de Ravel Put (105 km)
4. Mont Noir/Zwarteberg: Côte de la Blanchisserie (100 km)
5. Baneberg (82 km)
6. Kemmelberg (Belvedère) (74 km)
7. Monteberg (70 km)
8. Baneberg (38 km)
9. Kemmelberg (Ossuaire) (34 km)

Recent winners:
2010 Bernhard Eisel
2011 Tom Boonen
2012 Tom Boonen
2013 Peter Sagan
2014 John Degenkolb
2015 Luca Paolini
2016 Peter Sagan
2017 Greg Van Avermaet
2018 Peter Sagan
2019 Alexander Kristoff

The men's race is 254 km long. The women's race will be 142 km.

Past winners (women):
2012 Lizzie Armitstead
2013 Kirsten Wild
2014 Lauren Hall
2015 Floortje Mackaij
2016 Chantal Blaak
2017 Lotta Lepistö
2018 Marta Bastianelli
2019 Kirsten Wild

 

[Anderis]

Seperto Langeleire FTW.

 

[RedheadDane]

If Gatto doesn't ride, and attacks on the Catsberg, I shall be very disappointed!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

If Gatto doesn't ride, and attacks on the Catsberg, I shall be very disappointed!

Yes, it would be purrfect if he did.

 

[Anderis]

If Gatto doesn't ride, and attacks on the Catsberg, I shall be very disappointed!

If Schwarzmann doesn't ride and attack on the Zwarte Berg, I shall be very disappointed!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

If Schwarzmann doesn't ride and attack on the Zwarte Berg, I shall be very disappointed!

It would be a total blackout, if he didn't

 

[RedheadDane]

If Ackermann doesn't ride, and attacks on a road leading over some fields, I shall also be very disappointed.

 

[sir fly]

Groenewegen certainly won't attack on Le Vert Mont.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Groenewegen certainly won't attack on Le Vert Mont.

But maybe Hivert or someone from Vermont will!

 

[tobydawq]

If Mikkel Bjerg doesn't ride and attacks on the Monteb...

Okay, maybe we're done...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

If Mikkel Bjerg doesn't ride and attacks on the Monteb...

Okay, maybe we're done...

And a track rider will attack on Baneberg

 

[Velolover2]

The excitement of the race depends on whether MVDP decides to go on the offensive or wait for the sprint.

 

[fuiers]

I have never seen this one before. Seems to be more of an sprinters special.

 

[tobydawq]

The excitement of the race depends on whether MVDP decides to go on the offensive or wait for the sprint.

I think the wind might also play a teeny tiny role on the excitement of the race.

 

[tobydawq]

I have never seen this one before. Seems to be more of an sprinters special.

Last year was batshit crazy apart from the final where it somehow ended in a sprint. But there was echelons basically in the neutralised zone and then it went on like that all day. I think Kristoff had averaged 352 watts or something like that.

 

[BlueRoads]

I wonder what Wout's form will be like.

 

[sir fly]

I wonder what Wout's form will be like.

Like a dream...

 

[Velolover2]

I think the wind might also play a teeny tiny role on the excitement of the race.

Totally forgot about last year's edition. That was an insane race.

Is Alaphilippe riding this one? I hope he will do a full classics campaign including Roubaix.

Keisse and Ballerini are in Italy after all.

 

[Anderis]

If Mikkel Bjerg doesn't ride and attacks on the Monteb...

Okay, maybe we're done...

Bjerg is doing the Giro.

 

[Nirvana]

The route posted in the opening post isn't the actual one, they've cut some 20 kms and the passage in France.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Fortunately they still have de Burghs (but not all of them it seems)

 

[RedheadDane]

Bjerg is doing the Giro.

I think that's his point.

 

[BlueRoads]

Van der Poel, van Aert - or Pedersen?

 

[SafeBet]

Why is SKA not riding this?

 

[dercuforever]

If raced hard, it can be a very fun race to watch. Around the "hills" the roads are sometimes very narrow, and with leaves + maybe rain, descents will be scary.

Crazy to think those are the hardest climbs in a 50km range from where I live, and pros will barely notice them

 

[hayneplane]

Whats the wind forecast like. That is the key factor changing it from a hard but not enormously selective final to a brutal every man or woman battling to hang on to the wheel in front final.