History! Girmay is the first African ever to win Gent-Wevelgem

Just like Friday in the E3 Harelbeke, Jelle Wallays (Cofidis) was again in the early flight. Despite the fast pace of the peloton, the Stadenaar managed to get away with six other freebooters. Among them a Swiss with a Belgian father and girlfriend, Johan Jacobs (Movistar), and two more Belgians: Ludovic Robeet (Bingoal-Wallonie Bruxelles) and Lindsay De Vylder (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise). The escapees were given a lot of freedom from the peloton and gained a lead of up to six minutes. De Moeren, in 2015 still the setting for an unprecedented balancing act of riders in the wind, this time formed only an anonymous passage due to the breeze. Whoever drove for the win did not put in his team yet and so the attackers stayed well ahead.

Lots of falls

Not in the good sense, but in the run-up to the first hill, the Scherpenberg, there was news from the peloton for the first time. A fall in the tail meant that unlucky Sep Vanmarcke, but also Gianni Vermeersch (Roeselare) and Jens Keukeleire (Bruges) were left behind. Florian Sénéchal of Quick Step – Alpha Vinyl also suffered and Oss was even taken away in the ambulance. Young talent Brent van Moer of Lotto-Soudal was also on the ground in the aftermath of the second mountain, the Baneberg.

Livyns tries

On the first ascent of the Kemmelberg the forsing was conducted in the peloton. Van Aert was immediately visible in the foreground. Meanwhile, the escapees’ lead had shrunk to 40 seconds. An elite group arose without Van Aert, but with Mohoric and Van Avermaet. They then grabbed the flight of the day, but were also caught themselves. Towards Kemmelberg the second time, Waregemnaar Livyns tried to anticipate an expected eruption. He started with a few seconds lead on the Kemmel, but did not survive the steep mountain.

Van Aert won’t get away

Wout Van Aert untied his wings at the last pass of the Kemmel. No one was able to follow him. But with more than thirty kilometers to go, a solo might not have been the best idea. Asgreen, Pedersen, Laporte, Mohoric and Kragh Andersen were able to quickly grab Van Aert by the collar. Behind it all kinds of small groups followed who were able to make the connection a little later. During the usual nerve play, we were shown several seizures. The attempt by Girmay, Van Gestel, Laporte and Stuyven at twenty kilometers from the finish was by far the most dangerous.

Exciting denouement

Girmay, Van Gestel, Laporte and Stuyven were able to hold on to their lead. They had to fight among themselves who would win the 84th edition of Gent-Wevelgem. Girmay was the strongest in a frantic sprint, winning ahead of Laporte and Van Gestel.