Ghent-Wevelgem 2025, Pedersen scores a hat-trick. The order of arrival

Wevelgem (Belgium), 30 March 2025 - Between announced defections and last-minute withdrawals, the startlist of the Ghent-Wevelgem 2025 it does not appear as attractive as hoped: at the start of Ypres there are Tadej pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van aert e Filippo Gana. However, there are some on the signature sheet Jasper Phillipsen, Arnaud De Lie e Olav kooij, who between falls and punctures take themselves out of the game paving the way for the exploit of Mads pedersen, who wins this race for the third time in total, the second in a row and does it with a high school trick: sprint on the first pass on the Kemmelberg and very long solo, preceded by a great work of his Lidl Trek to wear out their rivals, trying to take advantage of the strong wind of the day. Among the victims of this forcing is Tim Merlier, but the same friendly fire of jonathan milan he still proves to be too immature to hold his own on the Flemish walls. The two disappointed of the day, 49" behind the winner, will then challenge each other in the sprint of the group or what remains of it: the European champion wins, preceding the Italian, who nevertheless climbs onto the podium of a race that for theItaly It remains taboo for a long time 10 damages, that is, from the success of Luca Paolini. It's not enough to break the spell, but it's also good David Ballerini, always sixth in the sprint among the defeated, where you can also see the outline of Biniam Girmay, that 3 years ago he sees himself known in this race, becoming the first runner of theAfrica to conquer a classical of the World TourAmong the protagonists of the day there is also the nobody Jules Hesters, not exactly a big name in cycling today but who hit the headlines for having remained locked in his hotel room, thus risking having to miss his home race: the native of Ghent he 'saved himself' by climbing down from the window with a ladder, in an image that immediately went viral on social media, as did the feat of Pedersen, someone who always gets excited in these latitudes.

Race report

The first shot is of Jules Hesters (Team Flanders-Baloise), which however was immediately cancelled: the attempt to Sam Maisonobe (Cofidis), Jasha Sutterlin (Team Jayco AlUla), Mark Haller (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), William Blume Levy (Uno-X Mobility), Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Max Walker (EF Education-EasyPost), Victor Vercouillie (Team Flanders-Baloise), Samuel Leroux e Alexys Brunel (Team TotalEnergies). Almost out of nowhere, the long phase of equilibrium is broken when he attacks Mads pedersen (Lidl-Trek), one of the favourites of the day, as well as the reigning winner, who starts shortly after the race has passed through the town of The Mooren: the burst is brief, but it serves to make the team lose ground Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) e Jasper Phillipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who had already had to deal with a puncture shortly before. Behind the breakaway, which in the meantime had lost a lot of advantage precisely because of what had happened behind it, two groups were formed, with the second one pulled by Ineos Grenadiers which also has to deal with a wind that is anything but trivial. The situation is resolved but the Lidl Trek he insists in his forcing to split the group again: and so it happens, with merlier e Philipsen, which will then puncture again, losing contact again. From the group he then takes off John Jacobs (Groupama-FDJ), later joined by Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) when a potential favorite like Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Pro Cycling Team). A fall caused by Jordy Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) also strikes in a cascade Matteo Trentin (Tudor Cycling Team) and Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). Just before Baneberg (1 km with an average slope of 7,6%) Campenaerts he follows the pacesetters, while nothing to do for Jacobs. Behind the group regroups, but on the Kemmelberg (500 meters with an average slope of11,9% and maximum of 16%) snaps Pedersen, to which he promptly replies Philipsen before getting a puncture, precisely, again, with the whole process of changing bikes. Also Olav kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) ends on the asphalt. The second passage on the Kemmelberg sees Pedersen first to sew up what remains of the morning's fugitives, whom he had joined Campenaerts, which then crashes, and then tries to leave, increasing their advantage over the Scherpenberg (1,2 km with an average slope of 3,4%): behind him theAlpecin-Deceuninck takes on a very complicated pursuit. The Dane tries to top up his loot on Baneberg (2 km with an average slope of 4,8% and maximum of11,2%), with Philipsen which, also considering the work of the stopper Milan, tries to escape: his teammate follows him Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck), as well as the group of the first pursuers was joined Arjen Livyns (Lotto Cycling Team). In reality, both groups are short-lived and are caught up by the group, which is delayed by 1'40 " da PedersenThe latter wins the Ghent-Wevelgem for the third time in his career, and the second in a row: behind him the consolation sprint takes place, which sees merlier brutish Milan, which still ends up on the podium. A special mention also goes to David Ballerini (XDS Astana Team), who always finishes sixth in the sprint among the defeated.

Arrival order Ghent-Wevelgem 2025

  1) Mads Pederden (LTK) in 5h30'21" 2) Tim Merlier (SOQ) +49" 3) Jonathan Milan (LTK) +49" 4) Alexander Kristoff (UXM) +49" 5) Hugo Hofstetter (IPT) +49" 6) Davide Ballerini (XAT) +49" 7) Biniam Girmay (IWA) +49" 8) Jenno Berckmoes (LOT) +49" 9) Jordi Meeus (RBH) +49" 10) Laurenz Rex (IWA) +49"