Degenkolb wins Gent-Wevelgem

John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) sprinted to victory at Gent-Wevelgem ahead of Arnaud Demare (FDJ.fr) and Peter Sagan (Cannondale) after a high-speed, hectic race on the hills and WW1 battle fields of Flanders. Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin) placed fourth, followed by Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) in fifth in the sprint but a crash took down Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) and Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) in the final kilometres. 

The two climbs of the Kemmelberg did little to test the favourites and only a late attack by Belgian champion Stijn Devolder (Trek Factory Racing), Silvan Dillier (BMC) and Andrey Amador (Movistar) almost spoilt the sprinters' party. However the move was neutralised inside the final two kilometres by a peloton approximately 40 strong. Everyone seemed to think they could win, sparking a trail of crashes but while Sagan hit out too early and Demare left it a little late, Degenkolb opened his sprint at the right moment and won in style. 

Degenkolb blew kisses to the television camera as he celebrated his victory.  "This is one of the really big Classics and I'm very happy to get this victory," he said.

"This is the next step in my career. I won Hamburg and that's a WorldTour race but with respect to it, this is a big, big race. It's great to win here."

How it happened

The conditions at the start of the 76th edition of Gent-Wevelgem, in Deinze were in stark contrast with those from last year.

Last year riders got back in the their team buses after signing on and then drove to Gistel due to the snow covering many roads. This time around temperatures of 18 degrees Celsius plus nearly no wind created an enjoyable start setting for the peloton. Knowing that the wind would not result in echelons at the feared flatlands of the Moeren made most riders very relaxed.

Straight from the start five riders attacked with no reaction from the peloton. The riders in the early breakaway move were Sebastian Lander (BMC), Manuele Boaro (Tinkoff-Saxo), Marcel Aregger (IAM), Jaco Venter (MTN-Qhubeka) and Frederik Veuchelen (Wanty-Groupe Robert). In less than an hour of racing the five had a lead of ten minutes on the peloton where Frederik Willems (Lotto-Belisol) set a steady pace for more than 100km.

When reaching the first climb of the day in France, the Mont Cassel, after 115km of racing the gap was down to eight minutes. During the 40km-long French passage the gap continued to fall and when heading back into Belgium 85km from the finish – two climbs later – the leaders had only 5:30 left on the peloton.

The emphasis of the hill zone was the trio of climbs comprised of the Baneberg, Kemmelberg and Monteberg with all to be completed two times. The leaders reached the zone three minutes up on the peloton and during the first loop Lander was dropped up front as Boaro and Veuchelen set a fierce pace.

Meanwhile, a pair of crashes in the peloton knocked some pre-race favourites out of contention. The first incident before the Kemmelberg took out Francisco Ventoso (Movistar) and on the roads following the Monteberg Ian Stannard (Sky) ended up in the ditch. Both Ventoso and Stannard would be brought to the hospital as a result of their crashes.

Some riders anticipated the second loop and launched an attack. Silvan Dillier (BMC), Lloyd Mondory (AG2R La Mondiale), Andrey Grivko (Astana) and Antonio Parrinello (Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela) jumped away and took half a minute on the peloton.

When starting the second loop of climbs the sun disappeared and so did most of the leaders. Boaro immediately attacked and led the race solo. The rest of the former lead group were quickly swept up by the four counter-attackers. The pace increased in the peloton and at the back Matthew Goss (Orica-GreenEdge) was struggling hard, seemingly in no shape to battle for the victory this Sunday afternoon.

In the run-up towards the Kemmelberg there was a big crash at the back of the peloton with Christopher Sutton (Team Sky) the biggest casualty. Boaro survived the Kemmelberg in front of the peloton where Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin) led the peloton up the climb. Pre-race favourites Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing), Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) were all in the front of the peloton as well.

Eighteen riders separated themselves from the peloton over the iconic cobbled climb with André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) surprisingly surviving the cut. More riders managed to bridge back up to the first group before the Monteberg. At the top of the Monteberg the final breakaway rider, Boaro, was finally caught. With 35km to go most of the sprinters featured in the front of the race and there was little time left for attackers to prevent a field sprint finale. Cancellara, Sagan and Boonen all took pulls in front but no more damage was done. The race looked set for a high-speed sprint finish.

With 30km to go it was clear that about 80 riders were still in the mix for the win with the bulk of the work in the peloton shared by BMC, Lotto-Belisol and Garmin-Sharp. Then Devolder dragged the late attack clear, setting up for the dramatic finale. Degenkolb avoided the crashes and chaos to find the best line to the finish and so add his name to the rich list of former winners.  

 

Full Results

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1John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano5:34:37
2Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.frRow 1 - Cell 2
3Peter Sagan (Svk) CannondaleRow 2 - Cell 2
4Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 5 - Cell 2
7Alexey Tsatevich (Rus) Team KatushaRow 6 - Cell 2
8Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) AG2R La MondialeRow 7 - Cell 2
9Thor Hushovd (Nor) BMC Racing TeamRow 8 - Cell 2
10Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 9 - Cell 2
11Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team KatushaRow 10 - Cell 2
12Sam Bennett (Irl) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 11 - Cell 2
13Bryan Coquard (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 12 - Cell 2
14Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 13 - Cell 2
15Matteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 14 - Cell 2
16Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 15 - Cell 2
17Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 16 - Cell 2
18Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 17 - Cell 2
19Boy van Poppel (Ned) Trek Factory RacingRow 18 - Cell 2
20Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 19 - Cell 2
21Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 21 - Cell 2
23Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team SkyRow 22 - Cell 2
24Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team SkyRow 23 - Cell 2
25Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 24 - Cell 2
26Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJ.frRow 25 - Cell 2
27Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 26 - Cell 2
28Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN - Qhubeka0:00:04
30Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-Merida0:00:06
31Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 30 - Cell 2
32Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:00:09
33Oscar Gatto (Ita) Cannondale0:00:10
34Sébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 33 - Cell 2
35Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:00:16
36Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 35 - Cell 2
37Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica GreenEdge0:00:19
38Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory RacingRow 37 - Cell 2
39Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto BelisolRow 38 - Cell 2
40Grégory Rast (Swi) Trek Factory RacingRow 39 - Cell 2
41Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 40 - Cell 2
42Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 41 - Cell 2
43Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Michael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 43 - Cell 2
45Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 44 - Cell 2
46Björn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 45 - Cell 2
47Christian Knees (Ger) Team SkyRow 46 - Cell 2
48Steve Chainel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 47 - Cell 2
49Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 48 - Cell 2
50Bram Tankink (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
51Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 50 - Cell 2
52Roger Kluge (Ger) IAM CyclingRow 51 - Cell 2
53Dries Devenyns (Bel) Team Giant-Shimano0:00:27
54Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 53 - Cell 2
55Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto BelisolRow 54 - Cell 2
56Mickael Delage (Fra) FDJ.frRow 55 - Cell 2
57Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 56 - Cell 2
58Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar TeamRow 58 - Cell 2
60Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 59 - Cell 2
61Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek Factory RacingRow 60 - Cell 2
62Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Androni GiocattoliRow 61 - Cell 2
63Jack Bauer (NZl) Garmin SharpRow 62 - Cell 2
64Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 63 - Cell 2
65Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66Egoitz Garcia Echeguibel (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 65 - Cell 2
67Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 66 - Cell 2
68Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Trek Factory RacingRow 67 - Cell 2
69Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 68 - Cell 2
70Marco Bandiera (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 69 - Cell 2
71Iljo Keisse (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Matti Breschel (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 71 - Cell 2
73Thomas Leezer (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 72 - Cell 2
74Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 73 - Cell 2
75Jaco Venter (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 74 - Cell 2
76Alan Marangoni (Ita) CannondaleRow 75 - Cell 2
77Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) CannondaleRow 76 - Cell 2
78Maciej Bodnar (Pol) CannondaleRow 77 - Cell 2
79Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team0:02:08
80Martin Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team0:02:27
81Mitchell Docker (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 80 - Cell 2
82Klaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing Team0:02:39
83Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Team NetApp - Endura0:03:27
84Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:04:07
85Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 84 - Cell 2
86Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team0:04:28
87Ruslan Tleubayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
88Antonio Parrinello (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 87 - Cell 2
89Jesse Sergent (NZl) Trek Factory RacingRow 88 - Cell 2
90Blaz Jarc (Slo) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 89 - Cell 2
91Tim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 90 - Cell 2
92Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 91 - Cell 2
93Danny van Poppel (Ned) Trek Factory RacingRow 92 - Cell 2
94Marcel Aregger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 93 - Cell 2
95Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 94 - Cell 2
96Matthias Krizek (Aut) CannondaleRow 95 - Cell 2
97Nicola Testi (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 96 - Cell 2
98Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 97 - Cell 2
99Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 98 - Cell 2
100Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 99 - Cell 2
101Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 100 - Cell 2
102Robert Wagner (Ger) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 101 - Cell 2
103Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) MTN - QhubekaRow 102 - Cell 2
104Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Team KatushaRow 103 - Cell 2
105Raymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 104 - Cell 2
106Wesley Kreder (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 105 - Cell 2
107Alexander Porsev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 106 - Cell 2
108Lars Boom (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
109William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ.frRow 108 - Cell 2
110Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ.frRow 109 - Cell 2
111Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 110 - Cell 2
112Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team SkyRow 111 - Cell 2
113Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 112 - Cell 2
114Kenneth Vanbilsen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 113 - Cell 2
115Stijn Steels (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 114 - Cell 2
116Nick Nuyens (Bel) Garmin SharpRow 115 - Cell 2
117Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Androni GiocattoliRow 116 - Cell 2
118David Boucher (Fra) FDJ.fr0:08:11
119Andrea Palini (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 118 - Cell 2
120Edward King (USA) CannondaleRow 119 - Cell 2
121Jerome Cousin (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 120 - Cell 2
122Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 121 - Cell 2
123Jay Thomson (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 122 - Cell 2
124José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 123 - Cell 2
125Andrea Zordan (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 124 - Cell 2
126Kevyn Ista (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 125 - Cell 2
127Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 126 - Cell 2
128Elia Favilli (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 127 - Cell 2
129Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 128 - Cell 2
130Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto BelisolRow 129 - Cell 2
131Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin SharpRow 130 - Cell 2
132Rudiger Selig (Ger) Team Katusha0:13:04
133Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 132 - Cell 2
134Jasha Sütterlin (Ger) Movistar TeamRow 133 - Cell 2
135Michal Kolár (Svk) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 134 - Cell 2
136Tim De Troyer (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 135 - Cell 2
137Simon Yates (GBr) Orica GreenEdgeRow 136 - Cell 2
138Kristijan Koren (Slo) CannondaleRow 137 - Cell 2
139Gert Joeaar (Est) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 138 - Cell 2
140Davide Appollonio (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 139 - Cell 2
141Maximiliano Ariel Richeze (Arg) Lampre-MeridaRow 140 - Cell 2
142Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:14:29
143Enrique Sanz (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 142 - Cell 2
144Sebastian Lander (Den) BMC Racing TeamRow 143 - Cell 2
145Albert Timmer (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 144 - Cell 2
146Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) FDJ.frRow 145 - Cell 2
147Vladimir Isaychev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 146 - Cell 2
148Andreas Stauff (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 147 - Cell 2
149Maxime Daniel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 148 - Cell 2
150Yohann Gene (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 149 - Cell 2
151Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) IAM CyclingRow 150 - Cell 2
152Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La MondialeRow 151 - Cell 2
153Edwig Cammaerts (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 152 - Cell 2
DNSSvein Tuft (Can) Orica GreenEdgeRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFDmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFRick Flens (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFMaarten Wynants (Bel) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFAnthony Geslin (Fra) FDJ.frRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Millar (GBr) Garmin SharpRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFJohan Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin SharpRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFNiccolo Bonifazio (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFLuca Dodi (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFFilippo Pozzato (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFKris Boeckmans (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFAndré Greipel (Ger) Lotto BelisolRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Willems (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar TeamRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFFrancisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFLuke Durbridge (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Hepburn (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFJens Mouris (Ned) Orica GreenEdgeRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFAntoine Duchesne (Can) Team EuropcarRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFMorgan Lamoisson (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFYannick Martinez (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFReinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFLuca Paolini (Ita) Team KatushaRow 176 - Cell 2
DNFChristopher Sutton (Aus) Team SkyRow 177 - Cell 2
DNFLuke Rowe (GBr) Team SkyRow 178 - Cell 2
DNFIan Stannard (GBr) Team SkyRow 179 - Cell 2
DNFNicki Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 180 - Cell 2
DNFHayden Roulston (NZl) Trek Factory RacingRow 181 - Cell 2
DNFCarlos Jose Ochoa (Ven) Androni GiocattoliRow 182 - Cell 2
DNFPatrick Facchini (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 183 - Cell 2
DNFLouis Verhelst (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 184 - Cell 2
DNFHeinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM CyclingRow 185 - Cell 2
DNFSébastien Hinault (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 186 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Pelucchi (Ita) IAM CyclingRow 187 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Reimer (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 188 - Cell 2
DNFBradley Potgieter (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 189 - Cell 2
DNFJonathan McEvoy (GBr) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 190 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Schorn (Aut) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 191 - Cell 2
DNFScott Thwaites (GBr) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 192 - Cell 2
DNFPaul Voss (Ger) Team NetApp - EnduraRow 193 - Cell 2
DNFDanilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 194 - Cell 2
DNFJames Vanlandschoot (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 195 - Cell 2
DNFYves Lampaert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 196 - Cell 2
DNFPieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 197 - Cell 2
DNFJelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 198 - Cell 2

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