We're set for another battle between the PCT/CT's best cobblers - the Gent Wevelgem's first appearance outside the ProTour!
Summerhill, Vanspeybrouck and Boonen as the favorites today. BPost surely with the best lineup, under pressure to deliver.
A group of 4 riders went clear early into the race, probably facing a long day up at the front (with rain and crosswinds about 45kmh making for some tough conditions):
Van Hummel Vingerling Bercz Lampier
The breakaway would build a lead up to 8 minutes, but as soon as the first cobbled sectors were reached, this advantage is melting down quickly.
Even more, when Boonen attacked the peloton 59km before finish! The veteran maybe trying to surprise his biggest opponents today. He catches up to Vingerling/Lampier as the last two remaining escapees, as we still have 45km remaining.
Vanspeybrouck as the first trying to bridge across the 55"-gap on group Boonen.
Also Baugnies, Summerhill or Maes as those jumping behind..
All those moves making for a steady pace and Boonen didn't stand a chance to hold the chasing group off. 37km to go and all those latest attackers are back in the main bunch, that is down to 33 riders now..
With less than 20km remaining, we see the next wave of attacks. Clearly a few riders don't want to wait for a bunch sprint today:
again Vanspeybrouck and Maes/Verbist trying to go clear!
Only Vanspeybrouck managed to stay clear, though not really with a comfortable gap yet..
10km before finish, he's accompanied by Baugnies now, with the 29-men-bunch just half a minute in arrears. Summerhill pacing at the front there..
..and another empty-handed effort from Vanspeybrouck/Baugnies, who are swallowed by the chasing group 7km before finish.
Summerhill now with his first attack! With 6km to go, he obviously is amongst those, who want to avoid a "lottery" sprint.
Vanspeybrouck, Baugnies, Boonen, Vanmarcke and Thomas showing some interest to follow..
..but it's yet another short-lived attempt anyway: also Summerhill couldn't hold off the bunch and so we will see this (now) 26-men-group battling for line honours!
Thomas, Vanmarcke, Boonen, Summerhill kicking off the sprint from the leading positions.
Further behind: Vandenbergh, Daniel, Breschel/Baugnies, Nooytens and a now clearly suffering Vanspeybrouck...
Daniel opening up a clear gap on the bunch, with Boonen, Thomas and Nooytens trying to hang on!
Vanmarcke totally cracking, as well as Vanspeybrouck, who obviously wasted too much energy with his attacks.
And what a gap for Daniel now! He easily drops Boonen as the last one able to follow, while also Nooytens and Thomas now struggle to keep their pace!
It's a pretty chaotic fight for positions at the front of the bunch then: a few names like Summerhill, Breschel, Vandenbergh, Lagab, Vingerling in the mix.. as said before: Vanspeybrouck and Vanmarcke running out of gas though.
Huge sprint from Daniel to take out Gent - Wevelgem! Not trying to follow all those earlier attacks clearly paid off - as well as being amongst the better sprinters in this elite group of cobblers.
Boonen with a nice 2nd place then, holding off the bunch easily. His early attack didn't work that well, but he kept it cool afterwards and saved some energy, it seems.
Another Puma-celebration, as Declerq raises his arms for Daniel, while also adding an outstanding 3rd place for himself! A strong finish ahead of a tight bunch sprint for the further Top-10 placings here:
Vandenbergh and Thomas complete the Top-5 ahead of Summerhill, Breschel, Nooytens, Trentin and Baugnies.. especially Summerhill may regret his late attack, but did at least go for a still okay result.
Opposing to Vanspeybrouck (17th), Vanmarcke (18th) or Maes (20th), who had not much left to compete in this sprint.. a disastrous day for BPost in particular, as also Stallaert clearly underperformed as 16th and still the best finisher from all four Bpost-riders in this leading group.
