Gent-Wevelgem is a long race - more than 250 kilometres. In the C2HC category this year, this is an important race for all C2 teams who have invested in the cobbled terrain. There are some tough cobbles in here - but also a long way to the finish line once the cobbles have ended.
F
H
St
Co
Sp
A
2020 Team
Nolf
Frederik
73
65
76
79
62
70
Carrefour - ESPN
Baugnies
Jerome
77
71
79
79
64
72
Los Pollos Hermanos
Taubel
Christoph
73
65
69
78
61
64
Guave's Sunlight Cycling
Taillefour
Fabien
77
57
70
78
54
55
Eddie Stobart
Van Avermaet
Greg
74
72
72
78
74
72
Strava
Van Lerberghe
Bert
74
66
75
77
75
73
Philips
Manamalage
Nipuna Shira
81
59
71
77
57
56
Nordica - Enel
Thomas
Geraint
73
58
72
77
72
75
Trans cycling team
Maes
Nikolas
78
65
76
77
60
64
Tryg - Ritter Sport
Sinkeldam
Ramon
74
75
74
77
68
68
Carlsberg - Danske Bank
Okbamariam
Tesfom
73
65
70
76
72
68
Bralirwa - Stevens Bikes
Naesen
Oliver
75
72
77
76
77
76
Bralirwa - Stevens Bikes
Weber
Sascha
73
67
74
75
77
77
BNZ Cycling Team
Paprstka
Tomas
75
69
74
75
70
72
Philips
Lhotellerie
Clement
71
62
72
75
57
66
Project: Africa
Schlechter
Pit
74
72
71
75
61
66
Sauber Petronas Racing
Abraha
Tesfay
72
64
70
75
74
72
Trans cycling team
Minoungou
Oumaru
70
65
73
75
69
68
Project: Africa
Tsatevich
Alexey
74
77
74
75
75
75
Carrefour - ESPN
Sanikwathi
Thanawut
72
66
70
72
78
78
Carrefour - ESPN
Sbaragli
Kristian
76
66
76
72
77
78
Strava
Dakteris
Janis
75
64
74
72
77
77
Carrefour - ESPN
We pick up coverage with 100km to go, as we start the first of 5 laps around the Kemmelberg.
Kemmelberg - 1st Circuit
There is a breakaway of eight riders out front. None too keen on the cobbles: Cisse Consonni Katrasnik King Korosec Kreder Noia Schorn
Carlsberg's Resell had once been with them, as the best cobbled rider. However to get there he had bridged across a 4 minute gap solo, and promptly blew up on the first hill, not so long ago.
And it only takes one ascent to obliterate the peloton.
There's a 24 man front group. Then a group of 10, then a group of 19, and then amidst the next group of 35 - seen descending or even coming over the crest of the hill are the biggest notable casualities, in team leaders Lhotellerie, Minoungou, Schlechter, Basso and Rathe.
There's no huge urgency at this stage in the peloton and some of the groups get back in - but there's still a chase on for the group containing these 5.
Kemmelberg - 2nd Circuit
Through the second round, Carrefour are controlling the race here. Dakteris and Planckaert currently on the front.
Rathe has made it back in, but Basso and Schlechter are still looking to chase back on. Project: Africa's riders are further back, and their race is done.
The Basso/Schlechter group makes contact and we have a peloton of around 40 riders remaining.
Kemmelberg - 3rd Circuit
Kreder is the last breakaway rider left, but this is the last we'll see of him.
We have a first real split at the front!
Abraha Baugnies Coronel Nolf Sanikwathi Taillefour Thomas Tsatevich
Two for Trans in here as Abraha leads the way - but Oelerich and Bovenhuis are quick to close down the danger.
The attacking begins on the following flat sections. Rathe and Weber getting a small gap.
Others also attacking, but these are just initial skirmishes, and not race-winning moves.
Kemmelberg - 4th Circuit
It's all together, and group of 26, on our 4th circuit.
But halfway up Kemmelberg, there's a coming together on the turn.
Four key riders are held up here: Taubel Van Avermaet Maes Manamalage
And others look to capitalise!
Tsatevich Nolf Van Lerberghe Baugnies Taillefour Weber Paprstka
These 7 have opened up a gap. Van Avermaet, Taubel and Manamalage are a minute back at this point, alongside Naesen.
Once again though, nobody is ready to fully commit, and everything comes together to a group of 21.
Van Avermaet has lost Oelerich now though, just Kluge left alongside him.
Kemmelberg - 5th Circuit
And not quite every rider made it back. Maes is still behind, and together with Basso, looking to regain contact.
We're on the Kemmelberg for the final time, and Nolf and Baugnies take to the front, the two strongest cobbled riders in the race.
To Wevelgem!
The cobbles end, and there is no selection. 19 riders left, 42km to the Wevelgem finish line.
Weber Naesen Okbamariam Schoonbroodt Sinkeldam De Vreese Tsatevich Nolf Taillefour Taubel Baugnies Rathe Manamalage Van Lerberghe Paprstka Schlechter Van Avermaet Kluge Thomas
Coronel and Sanikwathi had led the group onto the Kemmelberg, got dropped, but now catch up again and with 39km to go actually lead the pace.
It's not too fast - and with 37km to go, Basso is back.
Then at 28km to go, remarkably, Maes has hauled himself back into the race!
There's not likely to be any more returnees though. There's more than three minutes back to the next group - only Minoungou, Kvist and Lobato del Valle are currently pacing in it, the 10 others in there - including five from Strava, are just sitting on.
The first strong attack now comes and remarkably it is Basso. He's been off the back numerous times, now he leads into the final 20km, and has opened up 40 seconds!
Van Lerberghe makes a strong response with 18km to go. Van Avermaet was on his wheel following but opted out.
Van Lerberghe reaches Basso, and there are lots of attacks behind now.
Rathe is the first to actually break clear and join Van Lerberghe. Then with 11km to go Paprstka comes across to make it two Philips riders, and this soon marks the end of that move.
Now Van Avermaet does commit, he has a gap with 8km to go.
Baugnies comes over the top of him, and this has broken the elastic of the lead group.
Six more join them: Manamalage Nolf Weber Van Lerberghe Paprstka Maes
How oh how is Maes there? Well, we soon find out - as he is quickly dropped again. One last effort, but too much effort wasted amid his earlier difficulties.
The 7 leaders keep up the pace, Baugnies giving it a go under 5km to go. Weber, Van Lerberghe and Van Avermaet are the best three sprinters of the 7 - with the other big sprint threat of Naesen caught in the group behind.
Maes is really gone now - and it's possible he has forced a split in the chase.
2nd group: De Vreese Thomas Naesen Taubel Schoonbroodt Sinkeldam Taillefour
Left with Maes: Okbamariam Rathe Schlechter Kluge Basso
Huge move at the front now, Paprstka has created a gap! This could be a tactical masterstroke for Philips, as Van Lerberghe can now sit on, while the fastest in the group Weber, is finding himself having to chase.
De Vreese is leading the second group, they're not far behind! He is doing it for Sinkeldam, but it's keeping Thomas, Naesen and Taubel in the race too.
Into the last 3 kilometres, and Weber has gone for it!
The weakest sprinter of the group Manamalage was on his wheel, and has been blown away. Weber makes it up to Paprstka!
Are Baugnies, Nolf, Van Avermaet and Van Lerberghe stuck behind the Sri Lankan here? The race could be slipping away from them here, and now Thomas is flying past, tracked by Naesen.
Past they go - is Taubel going to be the next to sweep through?
Finally Baugnies breaks free.
But the fight for the win is down to four, and into the final kilometre. Weber looks to have taken a breather alongside Paprstka, but
that has allowed Naesen and Thomas to close in.
Now Weber goes!
But Naesen is coming with him.
Oliver Naesen wins Gent - Wevelgem!
It is 2nd for Weber, while Paprtska holds on for 3rd - Thomas could not carry his momentum through to a podium place.
Van Lerberghe got his act together and will take 5th place ahead of Baugnies.
A flying finish from Rathe sees him take an unexpected 7th place! Taubel, Sinkeldam and Van Avermaet complete the Top 10.
Disappointment for Nolf. Carrefour did a lot of work today, but he can only finish 11th. Schlechter, Taillefour, Manamalage and Okbamariam completed the Top 15.
Behind the 23 that emerged at the front, the Eritrean partnership of Abraha and Habtom were able to win the fight for the final two ranking positions - finishing 27 seconds clear of the Strava cluster.
