Gent-Wevelgem 2024: Mads Pedersen outsprints Mathieu van der Poel for second win in race
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Updated 24/03/2024 at 16:52 GMT
Gent-Wevelgem went the way of Mads Pedersen of Lidl-Trek for the second time in his career. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was the hot favourite to add to his E3 Saxo Classic success, but the power in his legs was not there in the final stages as Pedersen won the sprint. Stream top cycling action live and on-demand on Eurosport, the Eurosport app and discovery+.
'He's gone' - Van der Poel pulls up as Pedersen sprints to victory
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) beat Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in a two-up sprint to win Gent-Wevelgem for a second time.
The two had the race between them after breaking clear of the pack on the final climb of the day.
Van der Poel was totally dominant when winning the E3 Saxo Classic, but he did not have the legs to match Pedersen in a sprint on Sunday.
The Dane took the title in 2020, and joined the likes of Raymond Impanis, Briek Schotte, Frans Aerenhouts, Freddy Maertens, Guido Bontempi and Tom Steels as two-time winners of Gent-Wevelgem.
“I was not confident,” Pedersen said when asked about his hopes of winning a sprint finish against Van der Poel. “I had to believe that the sprint was good enough to beat Mathieu.
“I had to try the sprint and nothing else. It was a gamble.
“I took the front as I knew Deceuninck would be happy if the bunch came back with (Jasper) Philipsen.
“I had to keep the speed high and hope that I had the legs for the sprint.”
Pedersen made what proved to be his winning move when he attacked on the Kemmelberg for the final time with a little over 30km to run. Only Van der Poel could hold the wheel - and the pair opened up a gap over a minute on the chasers
Van Der Poel, after being so dominant in winning the E3 Saxo Classic on Friday, did not look in top shape and called the car for sustenance with 20km remaining.
The chasers got themselves organised in the final 15km and brought the gap below a minute with eight kilometres left.
Despite looking a little uncomfortable, Van der Poel continued to take his turns on the front, and the Dutchman and Pedersen kept the pack at bay and headed into Wevelgem with the race between them.
With a little over a kilometre to run, the mind games began - and Van der Poel positioned himself on Pedersen’s rear wheel.
Pedersen was first out of the saddle, and Van der Poel joined him in battle.
Van der Poel pulled out of the slipstream with 100 metres to race and briefly got on level terms, but dipped his head in acceptance of defeat in the final metres.
A bunch finish saw Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe) take the final podium place.
The focus will now turn to the second Monument of the year, and Pedersen will head to the Tour of Flanders next Sunday in a bullish mood.
“It is a different race,” Pedersen said on Eurosport. “I still believe this race suits me better than Flanders, but this confirms that the shape is definitely good.
“I am definitely confident.”
Van der Poel will recharge the batteries for De Ronde after a tough week in the saddle.
“I need some days to recover from Friday and today,” Van der Poel said. “I really suffered today. I am quite done now, so I need some rest.”
Wiebes beats Balsamo in photo finish
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx–Protime) held off a late charge from Elisa Balsamo (Lidl–Trek) for victory in the women’s race.
Grace Brown jumped away with over two kilometres to run and raised hope of an unlikely win when she opened up a decent gap.
But the pack organised itself and the Australian was swallowed up in the final 500 metres.
It set things up nicely for the sprinters, and Wiebes jumped off the wheel of team-mate Lotte Kopecky and opened up her sprint.
Balsamo followed Wiebes through but was just unable to reel in the Dutch rider.
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