Sunday, March 24, 2024 at 5:49 PM
Lorena Wiebes is the winner of Ghent-Wevelgem 2024 among the women. After a race of more than 170 kilometers, the spring classic turned into a bunch sprint of a thinned out peloton and she was the fastest, although a finish photo had to be taken to determine the winner. Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) came very close with her jump. Chiara Consonni finished third.
This edition of Gent-Wevelgem was the longest one-day race in the Women’s WorldTour ever. The race was even eleven kilometers longer than the maximum allowed 160 kilometers. After an early passage through De Moeren, the Heuvelland followed following a 100 kilometer race, with seven climbs: the Scherpenberg, the Baneberg, the Monteberg, the first time Kemmelberg, back the Scherpenberg, the Baneberg and finally the toughest variant of the Kemmelberg (Ossuaire ) at 34 kilometers from the finish.
The leading group of the day emerged following just five kilometers of racing and consisted of six riders. Laura Molenaar (VolkerWessels), Lieke Nooijen (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Julie Van de Velde (AG Insurance-Soudal) provided input from the Low Countries. Christina Schweinberger (Fenix-Deceuninck), Giorgia Vettorello (Roland) and Amandine Fouquenet (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) were also present. They drove away for more than six minutes.
photo: Cor Vos
Just like with the men, the threat of fans was a reason for nervousness in the peloton. SD Worx-Protime set the pace and thus helped ensure that the breakaway group was caught with 80 kilometers to go. A compact peloton started on the hill zone, where Lotte Kopecky immediately took action on the Baneberg.
Elite group does not last following Kemmelberg
It was the start of an explosion on the first time at Kemmelberg. Kopecky emerged with Lorena Wiebes, Puck Pieterse, Pfeiffer Georgi and Silvia Persico. Lidl-Trek duo Elisa Balsamo and Elisa Longo Borghini also joined, causing seven leaders to pull away. However, the collaboration stalled, resulting in a merger and all eyes focused on the last time at Kemmelberg.
Kopecky pulled through strongly with Wiebes in her wheel. The only one who might follow the two from SD Worx-Protime was the surprising Georgi. It did not turn very smoothly, allowing a group with Pieterse, Longo Borghini, Shirin van Anrooij, Karlijn Swinkels and Marlen Reusser to join. Even though there were two top sprinters with Wiebes and Kopecky, SD Worx-Protime had everything and everyone come back.
photo: Cor Vos
Mass sprint coming
The last flat 25 kilometers to Wevelgem was started by a thinned out peloton, where Lidl-Trek took the initiative in the service of sprinter Elisa Balsamo. Various attacks – especially from Floortje Mackaij and Emma Norsgaard – were then neutralized, meaning that a bunch sprint was written in the stars.
Grace Brown did not accept that. The Australian runner crashed away 2.5 kilometers from the finish and forced Ellen van Dijk into pursuit. However, the Dutch had already answered many attacks and had no immediate response, so Brown made a serious bid for victory. The leader of FDJ-Suez went solo under the rag, but was eventually caught by the sprinters’ trains.
Kopecky’s lead out for Wiebes was impressive, following which the Dutchwoman started her sprint. Balsamo came up strong from Wiebes’ wheel, following which it was all over the place. The finish photo had to be viewed to determine the winner and it showed that Wiebes had won by a narrow margin. Chiara Consonni came third, Charlotte Kool fourth. With Puck Pieterse and Thalita de Jong, two more Dutch ladies finished in the top 10.