Gent-Wevelgem 2024: Mads Pedersen beats Mathieu van der Poel in two-man sprint finish; Lorena Wiebes takes women's title
The 2019 road race world champion Mads Pedersen outsprinted Mathieu van der Poel after 253.1 km of racing to claim the 2024 Gent-Wevelgem title on Sunday (24 March).
It was the second time that the 28-year-old Dane took the win in the cobbled classic, having previously won the race in 2020.
Reigning road race world champion Mathieu van der Poel was the pre-race favourite following his convincing solo victory in Friday’s E3 Saxo Bank Classic. The Dutchman rode aggressively to smash the peloton apart on the first ascent of the iconic Kemmelberg cobbled climb, 84km from the finish.
A select group of riders including van der Poel, Pedersen, Jonathan Milan, and Laurence Pithie was formed at the front of the race. Milan and Pithie were dropped on the climb, however, as they were unable to match the pace set by van der Poel and Pedersen.
The duo then fought to stay ahead of the chasing peloton that, despite narrowing the gap to less than 30 seconds, could not bridge across.
Instead, Pedersen and van der Poel managed to increase their advantage again and stay clear of the pack.
In Wevelgem, Pedersen launched his sprint first with van der Poel following right behind. The Dutchman sprinted side by side with the Dane but had to resign 25 metres from the finish line to see Pedersen take his seventh victory of the season.
Belgium's Jordi Meeus rounded off the podium after winning the sprint for third in the peloton.
France's Christophe Laporte was not in contention to defend his title as he was recovering from illness.
Lorena Wiebes of the Netherlands won the women's Gent-Wevelgem 2024 in a photo-finish sprint ahead of Italy's Elisa Balsamo. Chiara Consonni, also from Italy, was third.
Gent-Wevelgem 2024 men's results (top 10)
1. Mads Pedersen (DEN/Lidl-Trek) 4:36'00"
2. Mathieu van der Poel (NED/Alpecin-Deceuninck) st.
3. Jordi Meeus (BEL/Bora-Hansgrohe) +16"
4. Jasper Philipsen (BEL/Alpecin-Deceuninck) st.
5. Jonathan Milan (ITA/Lidl-Trek) st.
6. Olav Kooij (NED/Visma-Lease-a-Bike) st.
7. Biniam Girmay (ERI/Intermarche-Wanty) st.
8. Tim Merlier (BEL/Soudal-QuickStep) st.
9. Dylan Groenewegen (NED/Jayco-AlUla) st.
10. Matteo Trentin (ITA/Tudor) st.
Gent-Wevelgem 2024 women's results (top 10)
- Lorena Wiebes (NED/SD Worx-Protime) 4"16'18"
- Elisa Balsamo (ITA/Lidl-Trek) st.
- Chiara Consonni (ITA/UAE Team ADQ) st.
- Charlotte Kool (NED/Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) st.
- Maria Giulia Confalonieri (ITA/Uno-X Mobility) st.
- Arlenis Sierra (CUB/Movistar Team) st.
- Puck Pieterse (NEDFenix-Deceuninck) st.
- Thalita de Jong (NED/Lotto Dstny Ladies) st.
- Christina Schweinberger (AUS/Fenix-Deceuninck) st.
- Maggie Coles-Lyser (CAN/Roland) st.