As it happened: In Flanders Fields Men ends in group sprint after late catch of breakaway
The cobbled Classics continue with the newly-named Gent-Wevelgem
In Flanders Fields 2026 - Route
Analysing the contenders for In Flanders Fields
Results
Hello and welcome to the 2026 In Flanders Fields!
For those who don’t know, and are confused as to what today's race is, ‘In Flanders Fields’ is the new name given to Gent-Wevelgem, which has been rebranded this year.
As well as the name, the race has also changed its start location, with the riders currently in waiting to start not in Ypres as they have in recent years, nor, as the former title suggests, Gent, but rather Middelkerke.
Despite these changes, the character of the race remains very much the same. There will be eight climbs including three ascents of the Kemmelberg, and a 35km flat run-in to the finish for the sprinters to try and get back in contention for a bunch finish.
Mathieu van der Poel at the start, seeking his third consecutive cobbled classic viceroy this spring.
The riders are in the neutralised section and will be racing any moment now.
Wout van Aert is here today, and ready to take on his great rival Mathieu van der Poel once again.
Attacks are flying out of the peloton right from the off.
A group of seven tried to go clear, but have not be allowed to by the peloton.
Four riders, including Victor Vercouillie and Julius Johansen, are the latest to give it a go.
Wessel Mouris and Camille Charret are the other two riders with them.
A Picnic-PostNL tried tried to join them but is back in the peloton.
A new group of four has also formed ahead of the peloton and is chasing the four leaders.
Dries De Bondt, Frits Biesterbos, Hartthijs de Vries and Jules Hesters are the four pursuing riders.
The peloton looks as though it's happy to let all of these riders go. They've allowed the front group 1:20 already.
And the four pursuers should be joining the four leaders before long - they’ve only 15 seconds to make up.
The two groups have indeed come together, so we now have eight riders leading the race.
Jonas Rickaert has taken over at the front of the peloton and is riding tempo. His Alpecin team didn’t want the gap to grow much more beyond the 3:15 it had already reached.
The four original breakaway riders, before they were joined by the other four.
The breakaway in full, after the two groups came together.
A reminder of the eight riders in the break;
Julius Johansen (UAE Team Emirates - XRG)
Frits Biesterbos (Picnic PostNL)
Camille Charret (Cofidis)
Victor Vercouillie (Flanders - Baloise)
Jules Hesters (Flanders - Baloise)
Wessel Mouris (Unibet Rose Rockets)
Hartthijs de Vries (Unibet Rose Rockets)
It’s not exactly warm in Flanders today, but the sky is blue and there’s no sign of any rain.
One rider missing from the start today who had been set to ride is deafening champion Mads Pederen, who, despite being back in action following his early season crash, has been struck ill. As a three-time winner, Pedersen loves this race, and it’s the only one in which he’s had the beating both Wout van Aert and Van der Poel in recent years.
As well as this race, it’s also the final stage of Volta a Catalunya today. Be sure to have another tab open to follow all the action with us there too!
Volta a Catalunya stage 7 LIVE: Race finale on the traditional Montjuïc circuit
Still the break's lead grows, now up to 4:50 with 185km left to ride.
Today sees the resumption of the rivalry between Van der Poel and Van Aert, for the second time this season following Milan-Sanremo. But whereas they were overshadowed by Tadej Pogačar that day, his absence means they are the two favourites for the victory today.
The eight riders in the break, who have built one of the biggest leads we've seen all season.
The race remains calm for now, but that will all change once they approach the De Moeren section, where this race more often than not blows to pieces in the wind.
Crash in the peloton, and some significant names are involved - sprinters Max Kanter and Laurenz Rex, plus Timo Kielich and Ferre Geeraerts.
The breakaway riders are at De Moeren, and the peloton will be there in a few minutes. The wind is not especially strong, but could still be enough for echelons on such an exposed section.
Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe are leading a much-sped up peloton as they ride towards De Moeren.
No signs any echelons forming yet.
Tratnik and Drizners burnt themselves out working for Red Bull leading into the De Moeren, and have been dropped.
The pace is slow enough in the peloton for Tratnik and Drizners to make their way back into it.
The riders are through De Moeren, where it wasn’t windy enough to burst the race to life as it has in previous editions.
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The exposed section might be done, but now the riders have a couple of cobblestone sectors to contend with.
The peloton passing through Moeren, were the race did not break apart.
Everyone is over the cobblestones, and the peloton remains together. The next obstacle the riders will be up against is the Scherpenberg, the first of four climbs in quick succession coming up in about 35km.
Laurenz Rex has abandoned the race, following his fall earlier.
Kanter has also abandoned after being involved in the same crash as Rex.
A reminder that the final stage of Volta a Catalunya is taking place, and it’s all kicking off.
Volta a Catalunya stage 7 LIVE: Remco Evenepoel lights up the race on third ascent of Montjuïc
Van der Poel, safely in the peloton.
There's been a development - it’s unclear how exactly, but there’s been a split in the peloton, with about 40 riders clear of the rest.
Meanwhile the second peloton is 45 seconds adrift of the first. The race is very much on!
The front peloton is evidently working hard, and want this move to stick.
Alpecin are leading the first peloton, indicating that their men Van der Poel and Philipsen have made the split.
Here's the front peloton. Visma-Lease a Bike's Affini leads, so we assume Van Aert is there too.
As well as Van der Poel, Van Aert and Philipsen, De Lie, Magnier, Trentin, Florian Vermeersch are all present in the front group.
One rider who has missed the split is Van Aert's teammate Matthew Brennan.
Red Bull are well represented in the front peloton, with Pithie and the Van Dijk brothers both here.
In the second peloton, EF, Ineos and Decathlon are doing most of the chasing at the front.
It seems that Jonathan Milan has missed the split.
Another view of the front peloton.
Decathlon and Ineos are chasing fiercely, and have the front peloton within 25 seconds. They’re riding for their respective leaders Andresen, and Turner and Ganna.
NSN are also joining in as their leader (and former Gent-Wevelgem winner) Biniam Girmay is also in the second peloton.
Red Bull lead the front peloton on the climb. They have five riders in this group - Meeus, Pithie, Gianni Vermeersch and the Van Dijke brothers.
Laporte and Gianni Vermeersch have attacked out of the front peloton.
Laporte and Vermeersch are sitting up and waiting for the rest of the group.
The second peloton is making inroads on the front peloton.
The second peloton split on the previous climb, with Ineos leading up it.
The race is coming back together! The Ineos-led second peloton has joined the front peloton.
There's still another smaller group that needs to bridge up to the peloton, but they're nearly there.
Hesters is dropped out of the break on the lower slopes of the Kemmelberg
Attack from Turner out of the peloton on the Kemmelberg.
The concertina effect is happening in the peloton as the peloton bunches up on the climb.
Turner has gone 15 seconds clear of the peloton, and just 25 seconds behind the break.
Florian Vermeersch is leading the chase in the peloton.
Turner has been brought back.
Now the Kemmelberg has been completed for the first time, the riders have a long flat section before the day's fourth climb. That doesn't mean there will be a cessation in the action, however, and the riders in the peloton are continuing to attack each other on this flat section.
It seems Van Aert slipped a chain climbing the Kemmelberg, but wasn't held up for long and managed to stick in the peloton.
A group of about eight riders have clipped off the front of the peloton, with a gap of a couple of seconds.
They've been brought back, but more attacks keep coming.
Now a group of five goes clear, featuring Gianni Vermeersch.
Sénéchal, Fedorov, Kluckers and De Pestel are the riders with G. Vermeersch.
We’re approaching a new phase of the race - the Plugstreets. These dirt roads have the capacity to cause damage in the peloton - especially if anyone is struck by a mechanical on them.
The five-man group has been brought back, and the attacks in the peloton have ceased.
There has been another split in the peloton on the approach to the Plugstreets.
Jasper Stuyven accelerates.
Stuyven has the peloton stretched out, and there are splits.
Van der Poel had to close one of the splits, and is now in the front group, which contains about 20 riders.
Van Aert is also in this front group, as is Stuyven's Soudal sprinting teammate Magnier.
A group that was dropped has dragged itself back to this group of favourites.
The peloton is off the second plugstreet, and have just one more to complete.
Magnier is off the back of the peloton. He had looked great, so we assume he's had some kind of mechanical.
Magnier did indeed have a puncture, and is off the bike havin swapped bikes with his teammate Bert Van Lerberghe.
Rotten luck for Magnie, who appears to have a problem with the bike he took. He’s looking for assistance from the team car - it’ll be hard for him to get back into contention from here.
Magnier has now changed bike, and is trying to chase back on.
Better news for Magnier, as the pace is off in the peloton. He might be able to chase back on after all.
More problems for Soudal, as Lampaert has needed to change bikes too. They've joined together and are chasing back.
Not too long until the riders will be climbing again, with the Monteberg just 5km away.
As the final climbs approach, all eyes turn towards Van der Poel. Will he go long again? Or will he be more cautious after what happened at E3 on Friday?
Magnier and Lampaert have both made their way back into the peloton. That'sa lot of energy used up, but Magnier remains in contention for the win.
This is a crucial moment in the race, as the Kemmelberg follows immediately after the Monteberg. Positioning ahead of that climb is essential.
Decathlon, Ineos and UAE are at the front of the peloton.
Van Aert leads the peloton on the climb.
He's stretched the peloton out, and splits are opening.
Now he's droppnig riders - only Van der Poel and Florian Vermeersch are still with him!
That trio catch the break as they go over the top.
So 9 riders now lead the race - 6 from the original break, plus Van der Poel, Van Aert and Florian Vermeersch.
There's a large peloton chasing behind these nine leaders.
The peloton is ten seconds behind the leaders. It looks like they're going to bring them back.
Daan Hoole of Decathlon leads the chase, but looks frustrated at other teams for not contributing.
More riders are making their way up the peloton, including Milan.
Ben Turner has crashed in the peloton.
It was a nasty one for Turner, who looks like he might be too hard to continue.
Van Aert the previous time up the Kemmelberg, where he made the selection.
Decathlon still lead, but the group is drifting further away. They're 35 seconds away from the leading nine.
Also in Flanders, the women's edition is taking place - here's where you can follow all the action.
Julius Johansen is proving a useful rider in the lead group, doing turns for his UAE teammate Florian Vermeersch.
Johansen is done, and swings off, just before the start of the climb. His teammate F. Vermeersch leads them on it.
Aimé De Gendt attacks out of the peloton.
Vermeersch leads the break over the summit.
Just one more time to go then - and it’s the Kemmelberg once again, only this time up its even tougher side.
Decathlon continue to lead what remains a large peloton.
Aimé De Gendt is still stranded between the two groups, 35 seconds behind the leaders and 20 seconds ahead of the peloton.
Van der Poel leads, and already it's just he, Van Aert and Vermeersch with him.
Vermeersch is dropped...can Van Aert hold on?
Yes he can! Van Aert clearly had to go very deep, and lost the wheel towards the top, but crests the climb with Van der Poel.
If these two work together, they might make it all the way to the finish.
Vermeersch crested the climb 10 seconds later.
The peloton are much further adrift, now over a minute down.
Can the peloton get themselves organised and chase down Van der Poel and Van Aert?
The breakaway group, before Van Aert and Van der Poel broke clear of them.
This is a tricky situation for Vermeersch, who is tasked with trying to chase the combined might of no less than Van de Poel and Van Aert all by himself.
The peloton split on the Kemmelberg, down to about 20 riders, but more are about to join them.
The dramatic moment on the Kemmelberg when it seemed Van der Poel was about to break Van Aert, only for the Belgian to just about hold on.
Although historically a familiar sight, this is the first time for a long time we’ve seen Van Aert and Van der Poel in direct combat at a spring classic. The stage is set for a thrilling finale between them.
Despite his difficult situation, Vermeersch is giving this a great go. He’s still only about 15 seconds behind the two leaders.
The final four riders from the day's break have a long last been caught by the peloton. It's been a superb effort from them all day.
It’s a large peloton that’s chasing, being led by Decathlon, along with help from teams like Lotto and Red Bull.
Sprinter Luke Lamperti had still been in the peloton, but has just had a puncture.
Milan is not in the peloton - he's alone somewhere out the back.
It seems his Lidl team car didn't want the TV to see Milan - he could be heard swearing loudly at the TV motor as they drove past.
15KM TO GO
It’s an organised chase behind, and they’re slowly bringing back Van der Poel and Van Aert - they’re only 35 seconds ahead.
Florian Vermeersch has, at last, sat up, and will rejoin the peloton.
The peloton can see the two leaders now, and is getting closer and closer. Who would have expected this once they escaped on the Kemmelberg?
There are 30 or so riders in the chasing peloton, including several sprinters who will fancy their chances in a group finish.
Included in the peloton are: Andresen, Meeus, Girmay, plus Van der Poel’s teammate Philipsen and Van Aert’s teammate Laporte.
Other fast finishers present include Ballerini, Trentin and Turgis.
Only 10 seconds for the leaders now.
Nothing is certain, especially remembering what happened with Van der Poel just two days ago, but it does appear that the catch is going to be made.
In which case - who will be the favourite in a sprint? On paper Jasper Philipsen is the sprinter with the best credentials, but Andresen has arguably the best form.
The peloton is breaking up! Alec Segaert has attacked and others are countering.
Meanwhile the gap to the two leaders has stopped falling - it’s holding at 10 seconds.
Red Bull are a man down with G. Vermeersch having swung off, but Decathlon are trying to keep a lid on things.
The duo's lead is growing - it's up to 14 seconds with 4km left.
Alec Segaert has bridged to the two leaders - what a ride!
So Van der Poel, Van Aert and Segaert are all now at the front of the race together.
The gap's coming down again, to 8 seconds, with just 3km left.
Segaert's not taking any turns.
Now he does, with 2km left.
Ganna is leading the charge, and they're 5 seconds behind. What a finish!
Ganna looks like he's going to do it.
Van der Poel and Van Aert are caught!
Not Segaert though, who attacked them under the 1km to go banner and is leading alone.
Segaert is going to get caught though as the lead-outs begin...
It's Philpsen verus Andresen in the sprint...
Van der Poel might have been caught this time, but still Alpecin take the win.
Andresen took second, Laporte third.
That’s a major win in the career of Jasper Philipsen, whose collection of sprinter cobbled classics is looking quite complete. He adds this one to titles at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Scheldeprijs and Ronde Van Brugges.
Rounding off the top behind Philipsen, Andresen and Laporte were: De Lie, Donaldson, Trentin, Mozzato, De Gendt, Abrahamsen and Stuyven.
Tobias Lund Andresen didn’t quite finish off all the work his team did to chase down Van der Poel and Van Aert, but second-place is still an excellent result for the young Dane. He’s been arguably the most consistent rider of the spring campaign, having earlier taken top tens at Omloop Nieuwsblad, E3 and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.
Whereas the late catch worked out OK in the end for Alpecin, who won the race anyway with Philipsen, Van Aert’s Visma were left frustrated. Laporte did manage to get them on the podium by finishing third, however, and seals a third podium finish at this race in his last three appearances.
The sprint for the win, the first time this race has been decided this way since 2019.
This race might be best remembered as the time Van der Poel and Van Aert went clear, only to get brought back. We’ve grown so used to long-range attacks sticking, even when a rider is by himself, that it felt like a move from a pair as strong as this would be uncatchable.
Thanks for joining us today, for yet another thrilling edition of Gent Wevelgem / In Flanders Fields. This is turning out to be an exciting and unpredictable spring, with the long-range attacks by the strongest riders no longer appearing to be such a guarantee of victory.
Next up on Wednesday is Dwars door Vlaanderen, before the big one on Sunday - the Tour of Flanders. But the action for today isn’t done yet, with the women’s race still underway. Be sure to head over to our Live page for that race.
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