Pedersen equals record after strong solo effort
Former world champion Pedersen has claimed his third victory on the Vanckerestraat. After echelons in De Moeren, he decisively broke the race open more than 70 km from the finish. During the second climb of the Kemmelberg, he embarked on his solitary journey towards Wevelgem.
At 10:40 a.m., the riders set off from the Grote Markt in Ypres for their Gent–Wevelgem In Flanders Fields. The race was immediately animated after the official start signal. Two small groups managed to break away from the peloton and formed a leading group of nine: Maisonoble (Cofidis), Sütterlin (Team Jayco AlUla), Liepins (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Haller (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), Vercouillie (Team Flanders - Baloise), Walker (EF Education - EasyPost), Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Brunel (TotalEnergies), and Leroux (TotalEnergies).
The early breakaway gained a maximum lead of four minutes, but Lidl-Trek kept things under control. As the riders approached De Moeren, nervousness in the peloton increased. The predicted wind did not disappoint and caused splits in the bunch. A first echelon of 32 riders, including an active Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), put sprinters Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) under pressure, as they found themselves in a second group. Under the impetus of Alpecin-Deceuninck, the peloton regrouped, but the echelon battle had done its damage. Belgian champion Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) was dropped and later abandoned the race.
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On the way to the hill zone, Campenaerts (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) anticipated before the first climb of the Baneberg. Shortly after, he joined the breakaway, which was now pushing towards the first ascent of the Kemmelberg and the famous Plugstreets. On the gravel sections, Pedersen shook things up again, with only Kooij (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Philipsen, and Livyns (Lotto) able to follow. Out of nowhere, misfortune struck: Philipsen suffered a puncture, while Kooij crashed into a ditch. Pedersen and Livyns soon joined the breakaway.
During the second ascent of the Kemmelberg, Campenaerts put pressure on the group, to which Pedersen responded with an acceleration. With 55 kilometers to go, the Dane reached the summit alone and set off on his solo ride to Wevelgem. The peloton gradually lost touch with the leading Mads Pedersen. By the third and final climb of the Kemmelberg, he had a two-minute lead over the bunch. In the peloton, Philipsen still showed strong legs, but it was not enough to catch the Dane.
Two-time winner Pedersen rode the time trial of his life towards Wevelgem and crossed the finish line solo in the Vanackerestraat. After his victories in 2020 and 2024, he now claimed his third win. With this triumph, Pedersen joins the exclusive list of riders who have won Gent-Wevelgem In Flanders Fields three times. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) won the sprint for second place, while Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) completed the Lidl-Trek celebration with third place.
