Gent-Wevelgem 2020 Women's race - As it happened

ByEurosport

Updated 11/10/2020 at 16:23 GMT

The ninth iteration of Gent-Wevelgem women is upon us. Follow live coverage of the cobbled classic. However, defending champion Kirsten Wild will be absent having tested positive for Covid-19. There remains a strong field with the in form - and 2012 winner Lizzie Deignan - (Trek–Segafredo) leading a strong field including Chloe Hosking (Rally Cycling) and Amy Pieters (Boels - Dolmans Cycling Team)

What's next?

The next women's Flanders classic is Ronde Van Vlaanderen next Sunday. For now, you can read the report, which is building nicely over here, and catch up on the action in the men's race and stage nine of the Giro d'Italia too!

Top 10

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It was a disappointing finish for Trek-Segafredo to finish outside the top five, but Deignan looked like she left her sprint too late to catch D'Hoore and Kopecky.

Earlier D'Hoore said she was just happy the Belgian classics could go ahead, but now she's super happy that she managed to win one, especially her home race. She said: "I’m really super happy, the team did a perfect job today. I’m so happy I could win in the special season - it’s a bit weird but it’s always nice and takes the pressure off if you can win.”

1. Jolien D’Hoore
2. Lotte Kopecky
3. Lisa Brennauer
4. Sarah Roy
5. Marta Cavalli
6. Lauren Stephens
7. Demi Vollering
8. Lizzie Deignan
9. Amy Pieters
10. Elisa Longo Borghini

Home roads

D'Hoore who is from Gent, collects her first win of the year on home roads, and her first victory at Gent-Wevelgem after coming second in 2017 and 2018.

Top three

1. Jolien D’Hoore
2. Lotte Kopecky
3. Lisa Brennauer

Jolien D’Hoore wins

Amy Pieters led out, but the Boels-Dolmans rider sprinted with fellow Belgian Lotte Kopecky to claim the win.

SPRINT

Here we go...

1km

Amy Pieters has got away by a few metres and Elisa Longo Borghini is back on the front pushing hard to catch her. The spray from the earlier rain is causing havoc for the riders who took their glasses off before.

2km to go

Ellen Van Dijk of Trek-Segafredo launched a sprint with 3.4km to go followed by fellow lead-out woman Elisa Longo Borghini and they have succeeded in splitting the group as Amy Pieters tries to attack back.

7km to go

It's going to be a sprint. Lizzie Deignan who dons the purple leader's jersey produced the perfect sprint at La Course and last weekend at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Can she do it again?

The gap hovers at 20 seconds.

11km to go

Alice Barnes and Tiffany Cromwell of Canyon-SRAM are pushing in the chasing group - the gap to the front group has now reduced to 20 seconds on a long straight road into Wevelgem at 60kph (37mph if you support the alternative currency).

25km to go

The front group have now gained 38 seconds on the peloton. There's some grimaces as they battle to stay aboard the breakaway, each taking a turn on the front to maintain that fast pace, and battle the strong side winds... aaaand now the rain. Rain and cobbles don't equal a recipe for success.

Wondering where Van Vleuten is?

She is at home in Italy, still recovering from her wrist injury and preparing for the next Flanders classic of Ronde Van Vlaanderen next Sunday.

34km to go

Just as I was about to say the weather has cleared up a bit and the roads have dried out, Astana's Arlenis Canadilla Sierra and Sunweb's Liane Lippert took a tumble on a left hand corner descending the Kemmelberg. Both got back on, but Sunweb have some work to do to get back on the front as Trek-Segafredo start to push the front group on, inclusive of Lisa Brennauer and Amy Pieters.

'Death ridge'

The men's race saw some nasty crashes earlier down a particularly windy straight with Owain Doull, Ryan Mullen and Daniel Oss falling off.

‘Death ridge’ and vicious crosswinds combine at Gent-Wevelgem

43km to go

The riders are starting to ascend the Monteberg for the second time today, a 100m berg before the biggest one of the day - the Kemmelberg at 138m.

Race favourites

Trek-Segafredo are on fire at the moment. Their own Mads Pedersen won the men's race today, and Lizzie Deignan's recent domination at La Course, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Grand Prix de Plouay cannot be overlooked.

Deignan won here way back in 2012, and the team have a strong squad with Ellen Van Dijk, Elisa Longo Borghini and Trixi Worrack.

But expect some surprises too. Lisa Brennauer, Lorena Wiebes and Chloe Hosking are here and Boels-Dolmans have a strong team with Amy Pieters to challenge Trek-Segafredo on roads familiar to them.

What they said

Local hero Jolien D’Hoore didn’t think the Belgian classics would actually start, but here we are, and the weather is the same.

Lorena Wibes who was second here last year is a favourite to win since Wild will not start.

54km to go

Elisa Longo Borghini has had an off, but she looks to be ok and scrambles back on her bike.

What's happened so far?

We had a breakaway of six riders who gained 15 seconds on the peloton, however they were caught on the Scherpenberg and the riders are back as a peloton again.

No Kirsten Wild, or Team Ale BTC Ljublana

As mentioned below, two-time Gent-Wevelgem champion Kirsten Wild has contracted COVID-19 and will not start today; neither will Team Ale BTC Ljublana.

Organisers did not release route information to help keep the course free of spectators and in turn try and keep the coronavirus at bay, but it found other ways to interfere...

The team announced yesterday that they will not participate after finding a positive test within the team.

They said in a statement: "For this reason, we immediately implemented the protocol dictated by the UCI and, also according to the laws enforced in Belgium, the whole team has entered into quarantine. In agreement with the technical staff, we have decided not to take part in the race scheduled for tomorrow in Belgium."

141km stage

The women's race is underway. They set off from the Menin Gate in Ypres as the men modelled nicely here, and will arrive in Wevelgem in a couple of hours after 141km of strong winds, mud and crisp autumnal conditions.

Welcome to Gent-Wevelgem

As a thriller of a men's race just wraps up, we can hope (and maybe expect) a thriller of a women's race too.

The race will be without two-time winner and defending champion Kirsten Wild

The race will be without 2013 and 2019 champion Kirsten Wild, who it was confirmed on Saturday would miss the race having contracted Covid-19.

“Unfortunately, I am unable to defend my title Gent-Wevelgem because I returned a positive Covid-19 test on Friday,” said Wild.

“Luckily I got the result before I started my travel towards the team bubble."

How to watch the Giro d'Italia live– TV & live streaming

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You can watch the race for £6.99 on Eurosport Player (monthly subscription), while an annual pass is £39.99. We will also have rolling coverage online on the Eurosport.co.uk website and our social channels.

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