On Sunday, it was estimated that for every sq. metre of West Flanders, there fell as much as 20 litres of rain. 176 riders set off from Ypres simply earlier than 11am and 98 of them arrived in Wevelgem six hours later, sodden, shivering, and trying to find crew buses and the recent showers inside.
The rain did not hammer down at any level throughout Gent-Wevelgem – this wasn’t a lashing or a bucketing – but it surely was relentless. From begin to end, it got here and it got here and it got here. Gore-Tex was floor down and compelled to offer manner, and so was almost half the sector.
Those that did make it to Wevelgem betrayed each inch of their ordeal. Vacant gazes seeped from mud-caked faces, arms shivered, and enamel chattered. The crew buses lay the opposite aspect of an compulsory media zone, with most driving straight by way of and ignoring our requires interviews – no exhausting emotions there.
When the highest three finally got here by way of after the rostrum ceremony, they have been wrapped up in hats and jackets – Sep Vanmarcke even had a warmth pack stuffed down his again – however they have been nonetheless chilly to the core.
The winner Christophe Laporte might barely get his phrases out, whereas his teammate Wout van Aert was handed a rattle and acquired it going with out even making an attempt.
On the street, it had been a day of struggling, ache, disappointment, and – for that Jumbo-Visma duo – jubilation. The feelings have been all captured by the skilled professional biking photographer Chris Auld (opens in new tab), whose photographs you possibly can take pleasure in in all their full-width glory under.
Jerseys line the streets of Ypres to set the scene for Gent-Wevelgem
The races units off from the placing Menin Gate
The fixed rain made for slippery roads
The peloton cross by a member of the fan membership for AG2R’s Stan Dewulf
The riders have been soaked by way of and caked in mud
Extra mud and extra distress
The breakaway hits the Kemmelberg – the race’s iconic climb
Harmful strikes fly on the gravel Plugstreets
Fabio Jakobsen assaults on the gravel however is caught in no man’s land
The defining second – Van Aert and Laporte assault on the second ascent of the Kemmelberg
The pair mix for 50km and are by no means seen once more
Mikkel Bjerg fights with the Kemmelberg
Stefan Kung was in simply as a lot ache
And so was Caleb Ewan
Van Aert and Laporte come spherical for the third and remaining Kemmelberg ascent
Van Aert was so sturdy he began to drop his teammate
Laporte clings on for expensive life
Too little too late within the chase
Van Aert and Laporte cross again by way of the Menin Gate, the portal to the run-in
An image-perfect 1-2, with Laporte allowed nudge his wheel to the road first
Sep Vanmarcke wins the dash for third place
Ben Turner’s face says all of it
Van Aert’s present to Laporte has divided opinion however crew spirit is sky excessive
The mud settles on a memorable version of Gent-Wevelgem
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