Gent-Wevelgem (UCI 1.UWT) was the next cobbled classic on the UCI WorldTour race calendar. Tricky wind conditions and countless attacks made for a tough day out at the 253km long race. In the end, M. van der Poel and M. Pedersen crossed the finish line as a duo, with Pedersen securing the victory. Behind them, BORA - hansgrohe provided the perfect lead out for Jordi Meeus, who was ultimately the fastest in the sprint for 3rd place.
Result
01 M. Pedersen 5:36:00
02 M. van der Poel +0:00
03 J. Meeus +0:16
From the Finish Line
"It was a very stressful day, especially because of the wind conditions. A lot worked out for us today, the guys rode really smart. We were well positioned before every climb and were able to save some energy. Mathieu and Mads again rode on a different level; behind them we tried to keep the gap within bounds in order to have the chance of sprinting for the remaining podium spot in the finale. In the end we’re more than satisfied with Jordi in 3rd place - I'm proud of the boys!“ Heinrich Haussler, Sports Director
“It’s an important podium for me. I was able to jump in the first group during the echelons, so I could save a bit of energy and be ready for the ascents of Kemmelberg. I wanted to see how far I could come in the Classics this year, finishing in 3rd behind Mathieu and Mads at Gent-Wevelgem feels pretty good.” Jordi Meeus