The Alpecin Deceuninck duo formed by Mathieu Van der Poel and Jasper Philipsenprotagonists of the latter’s triumph at Milan San Remo, will start as favorite in the 86th edition of Ghent-Wevelgem which will be held this Sunday on a 253.1 km route, a rehearsal for the Tour of Flanders on the 31st.
The conflict in principle for this test considered the “sixth monument” will be settled by the classics against the sprinters, and in this section the Alpecin is shown to be equal to Van der Poel and Philipsen and Visma Lease a Bike in French Christopher Laportedefending champion, and the young sprinter Tiesj Olav Kooij.
We also have to rely on the Slovenian Matej Mohoricfifth at Strade Bianche and sixth at San Remo, a rider who is always ambitious.
The list of winners leaves room for sprinters, so the options for Tim Merlier (Soudal), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché), winner in 2022, Arnaud Demáre, Mark Cavendish (Astana), Mads Pedersen ( Lidl), winner of 2020, Colombian Sebastián Molano (UAE), the Australian from Jayco Michael Matthews, the Norwegian Alexander Kristoff (Uno X) and the Bora duo Danny Van Poppel and Jordi Meeus.
The Movistar team will also present its options with Colombian Fernando Gaviriawithin a team completed by Carlos Canal, Johan Jacobs, Mathias Norsgaard, Manlio Moro, Iván Romeo and Vinicius Rangel.
The route connects the towns of Ypres and Wevelgem with a 253.1 km route, which includes cobblestone incentives, several sections of dirt, the possibility of wind and, above all, the tradition of being a highly contested race. An ideal test a week before the Tour of Flanders.
Besides the three roads or ‘Plugstreets’, in memory of the trenches of the world wars, the race will be decided on 3 passes on the Kemmelberg, the most difficult of the nine planned climbs. The final climb, this time on a different slope than the first two, is 44 km from the finish line. The main point, because there are usually escape attempts with exciting chases.
Ghent-Wevelgem
Final winners
. 2023. Christophe Laporte (FRA)
. 2022. Biniam Girmay (ERI)
. 2021. Wout Van Aert (BEL)
. 2020. Mads Pedersen (DIN)
. 2019. Alexandr Kristoff (NOR
Source: La Verdad
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