As it happened: Lorena Wiebes wins Gent-Wevelgem to take 100th career victory

Welcome to our live coverage of Gent-Wevelgem women

The riders have set off from Ypres for the neutral start 

The first 9.8 km are neutralised. 

There is the potential for some wind today which could split the race, especially from the Kemmelberg where it is reported that there could be a strong cross/tailwind. Teams will need to be on high alert but pre-race favourite, Lorena Wiebes, has already shown her capabilities in the crosswinds so far this season at UAE Tour Women last month. 

We already have two non-starters today, both from from Visma | Lease a bike: Linda Riedmann and Margaux Vigié did not start the race. 

We've already mentioned pre-race favourite, Lorena Wiebes, who won this race in 2024: The European Champion is looking for her 100th career victory today, just a few days after securing her 99th at Brugge-De Panne on Thursday. Can the SD Worx - Protime rider take back-to-back wins and round up that career win tally today? 

If Thursday's race is anything to go by then the rider most likely to stand in Wiebes' way, should the race culminate in a sprint, is Canyon//SRAM - zondacrypto's new signing, Chiara Consonni. The Italian rider looked closest to Wiebes in speed in De Panne, taking second place -- can she go one better today?  

Lidl-Trek worked hard all day for their sprinter, Elisa Balsamo, on Thursday but the former World Champion was unable to finish the job. She will be hoping to rectify that today. 

This race doesn't always go the way of the sprinters, however, and there will be plenty looking for a long-range move including UAE Team ADQ's Elisa Longo Borghini. The Italian champion narrowly missed out on Sanremo Women last weekend and will be hoping for a move to stick today. 

More on the favourites for today's race here. 

Official start

The flag is dropped and the riders are off for the official start of the race!

Footage of the riders setting off from Ypres earlier. 

Breakaway

A breakaway has already established: 

Katia Ragusa (Human Powered Health), Beatrice Caudera (BePink - Imatra - Bongioanni) and Britt de Grave (DD Group Pro Cycling Team) have a gap of 25 seconds ahead of the peloton. 

The three leaders have extended their lead to 42 seconds already. It looks like the peloton are happy to let this breakaway go. 

There has been a counter move from Maaike Boogaard of VolkerWessels Women's Pro Cycling Team and Franziska Brauße of Ceratizit Pro Cycling Team. They are 34 seconds behind the three leaders.

The two chasers have now joined up with the three leaders. 

Meanwhile, we have two more chasers in the form of Mia Griffin of Roland and Cleo Kiekens of DD Group Pro Cycling Team. The gap to the peloton is getting smaller, is the front group becoming too big for their liking? 

Breakaway

To recap, the leaders are: 

Katia Ragusa of Human Powered Health, Beatrice Caudera ofBePink - Imatra - Bongioanni, Britt de Grave and Cleo Kiekens of DD Group Pro Cycling Team, Maaike Boogaard of VolkerWessels Women's Pro Cycling Team and Franziska Brauße of Ceratizit Pro Cycling Team,and Mia Griffin of Roland. Their advantage is now 40 seconds. 

The peloton have sat up and seem content to let this move go. The gap is now 2'07"

145 km to go

The gap between the breakaway and the peloton is now 3'38"

Meanwhile, over in the men's race there is echelon action kicking off with 95 km to go. Is this a sign of things to come for the women later on? 

4'09" now for the seven leaders. 

The gap is starting to come down, the leaders now have a 3'37" advantage over the peloton which is being led by SD Worx - Protime.

130 km to go

In 17 km the break will reach the first cobbled sector of the day, the Beauvoordestraat. 

The gap between the breakaway and the peloton has increased again to 4'28"

The gap has reduced again to 3'42".

117 km to go

The breakaway is in De Moeren and will soon reach the first cobbles of the day, Beauvoordestraat 

Crash

A crash in the peloton has caused splits.

The peloton is split with a front group of around 35 riders 

Nienke Veenhoven of Team Visma | Lease a Bike has abandoned the race following the crash. 

It looks like the second part of the peloton will catch up to the first. 

Just a few kilometres to go until the cobbles of Beauvoordestraat 

The gap between the first part of the peloton and the break is now just 1'48". 

10 seconds between the first and second part of the peloton. 

Peloton back together.

The two groups are now back together. 

1'45" now for the breakaway of seven. 

The break are now on Beauvoordestraat

The pace is high in the peloton, the lead for the seven breakaway riders is still 1'50" 

The third group that split after the crash is now back up to the peloton.

But not for long, we have more echelons 

100 km to go

The peloton is back together. The gap to the breakaway is 1'53".

Bike change for Letizia Borghesi of EF - Education - Oatly. 

86 km to go

The gap to the breakaway is 1'40" and we are not too far away from the hilly section of this race now. 

There has been an injection of pace and gap is down to 1'14" now as some riders are also getting dropped from the peloton. 

All together

The break have been caught. The race is back together!

Bike change for Alison Jackson (EF Education-Oatly) 

The race is on the Scherpenberg climb. 

Crash

Crash in the peloton for two riders.

70 km to go

One of the riders involved in the crash was Elisa Longo Borghini however she is back on her bike and back in the bunch. 

The peloton are 5 km away from the Baneberg climb.

UAE Team ADQ, Fenix-Deceuinck, and Uno-X - Mobility lead the peloton. 

100 km completed

Attack from Amber Kraak of FDJ SUEZ on the Baneberg

Elisa Longo Borghini is caught out towards the back 

Amber Kraak still leads the peloton over the top of the climb.

The race is strung out 

Attack

Justine Ghekiere of AG Insurance - Soudal attacks 

Ghekiere is brought back

Anna Henderson of Lidl-Trek leads the peloton 

Small split 

Back together 

SD Worx - Protime have come to the front with Marta Lach, Lorena Wiebes on her wheel. 

60 km to go

Crash

Crash in the peloton 

Canadian Champion Olivia Baril of Movistar and Ally Wollaston of FDJ SUEZ are involved 

The riders are on the Kemmelberg. Anna Henderson of Lidl-Trek leads. 

Lotte Koecky attacks, taking Henderson, Elise Chabbey and Letizia Borghesi with her.

Lorena wiebes has made the front split over the top of the Kemmelberg

Charlotte Kool finds herself behind, as does Elisa Longo Borghini

Anna Henderson is on the front of the leading group as they aim to maintain their advantage. 

Elisa Longo Borghini leads the chase group 

The front group: 

Kopecky, Wiebes, and Mischa Bredewold of SD Worx - Protime, Henderson, Elisa Balsamo and Lucinda Brand of Lidl-Trek, Elise Chabbey of  FDJ SUEZ, Letizia Borghesi of EF Oatly - Cannondale, Giada Borghesi of Human Powered Health, Chloe Dygert of Canyon//SRAM - zondacrypto and Margot Vanpachtenbeke of VolkerWessels Women's Pro Cycling Team. 

The chase group, led by Elisa Longo Borghini, have caught up to the front group. 

The next climb is the Scherpenberg in just over 2 km. 

Attack from Emma Norsgaard of Lidl -Trek 

Norsgaard is brought back and her teammate, Ellen van Dijk, counters. 

Another Lidl-Trek attack, this time from Lauretta Hanson who gets a small gap. 

50 km to go

Bredewold of SD Worx - Protime leads the chase behind Hanson.

A small group has formed off the front. 

Crash

Cat Ferguson of Movistar has crashed out of the front group 

Another attack from Ellen van Dijk 

Crash

Crash for Elena Cecchini of SD Worx - Protime 

Echelons! 

A few splits formed but the reduced group is all back together. 

Lucinda Brand attacks for Lidl-Trek and is joined by Alexandra Manly of AG Insurance - Soudal 

A small group has gone clear 

Manly, Brand, Mischa Bredewold of SD Worx - Protime, Jeanne Korevaar of Liv AlUla Jayco, Marta Jaskulska of Ceratizit, and Anneke Dijkstra of VolkerWessels Women's Pro Cycling Team.

The leading six have a gap of 15 seconds 

The gap is now 26 seconds as Canyon//SRAM - zondacrypto lead the chase behind with Soraya Paladin 

The leading group have reached the Baneberg

Just 9 seconds now for the leaders 

The lead group don't seem to be pushing too hard at the moment 

Lucinda Brand comes to the front towards the top of the climb

Back together 

The peloton is strung out 

38 km to go

Mischa Bredewold brings Lorena Wiebes to the front of the group 

Lidl-Trek are riding on the front 

Liv AlUla Jayco come to the front 

Lotte Kopecky attacks from the bottom of the Kemmelberg 

Huge split over the top of the Kemmelberg 

Lotte Kopecky, Lorena Wiebes, and Elisa Longo Borghini go clear 

Letizia Borghesi and Chloe Dygert join the leading trio  

Anna Henderson and Christina Schweinberger are just behind

Behind Henderson and Schweinberger Ellen van Dijk leads a chasing group containing Elisa Balsamo 

World Champion Lotte Kopecky is on the front of the lead group 

12 seconds is the gap between the leaders and the chasers

Lorena Wiebes attacks from the front group 

Longo Borghini closes the gap 

The front group are now working together but the gap is down to just 8 seconds 

Lidl-Trek are closing the gap to the leading group 

The pace has gone out of the front group

26 km to go

Attack from Daniek Hengveld of WNT 

Kopecky closes 

Lidl-Trek take to the front of the peloton 

Chiara Consonni is back at the team car 

Attack from a rider from Volkerwessels 

Mischa Bredewold of SD Worx - Protime chases

The peloton are passing through Ypres 

Lotte Kopecky is towards the back of the peloton 

The riders are passing under the Menin Gate Memorial where the race started earlier today. 

Alison Jackson of EF Education - Oatly leads the second group 

20 km to go

Lidl - Trek, Liv AlUla Jayco and Pfeiffer Georgi of Team Picnic PostNL set a high pace at the front 

Lotte Kopecky now comes to the front 

It's a tailwind towards the finish now 

There's not much pace in this group now. Many of the teams will be looking for a sprint, but will we see others go for a long-range attack? 

Riders are chatting amongst each other 

Anneke Dijkstra and Eline Jansen and VolkerWessels Women's Pro Cycling Team attack 

The pair are brought back as the chase group make the juncture to the front group 

Floortje Mackaij of Movistar attacks 

Elena Cecchini of SD Worx ProTime comes to the front of the group alongside teammate Marta Lach 

10 km to go

Looks like we are heading towards a bunch sprint. Can Lorena Wiebes take her 100th win today? 

SD Worx - Protime are lined out at the front keeping the pace high 

It's still SD Worx Protime on the front with Lidl-Trek behind leading into the final 7 km 

The whole SD Worx - Protime team are lined out in front including Wiebes and Kopecky

Behind, other teams such as Picnic PostNL appear to be struggling to organise themselves. 

Human Powered Health are coming towards the front as are Liv AlUla Jayco 

AG Insurance - Soudal come to the front 

5 km to go

Megan Jastrab of Picnic PostNL leads

SD Worx Protime have been somewhat swamped by Picnic PostNL and AG Insurance Soudal 

AG Insurance - Soudal, Picnic PostNL, Liv AlUla Jayco and SD Worx Protime are lined out at the front 

3 km to go

2 km to go

Teams are looking to line up their sprinters 

Team Picnic PostNL are looking organised, SD Worx Protime less so

It's down to just Kopecky and Wiebes for SD Worx Protime with the World Champion getting ready to lead the European Champion out 

1 km to go

Kopecky is right at the front with Wiebes on her wheel 

Kopecky is powering towards the finish to lead out her teammate

Chloe Dyget brings Consonni up in the middle for Canyon//SRAM 

Finish

Lorena Wiebes takes the win! Her 100th career victory 

Elisa Balsamo of Lidl-Trek takes second

Charlotte Kool of Picnic PostNL takes third 

Top-10

Interview

Lorena Wiebes: 

It looked easy for her on the Kemmelberg

"It felt good, and then we were with a small group in front but the cooperation was not so good so the group came back."

Nobody wanted to take her to the finish? "Yes, we expected that already." 

Talk us through the sprint:

"I knew that I had Lotte in the final and we chose to do only me and Lotte. The other girls did an amazing job with pulling before. She wentr eally long with the leadout so at one point I said 'ok I start now'." 

"I am very very happy, you always want to win and every time it works out it's fantastic. Lotte was super important she could do whatever she wanted on the climbs." 

"We knew we had to go for a bunch sprint, that was the plan. The other girls kept the pace high and Lotte did the leadout. I can trust her completely, I just had to follow her. She was all the time with her head in the wind and did a fantastic leadout for me."

Is she confident going into Flanders?

"I hope to be there still in the final and I can help the team." 

Not for her own ambitions?

"I don't think so. There's no expectations from me to do something like this in the Tour of Flanders, Lotte will be the leader and we will have more cards to play."

Interview

Elisa Balsamo

"In this period she [Wiebes] is really strong. She is the strongest now but I am quite satisfied about my sprint. Of course we are always racing to win but also a podium of an important race like this is also good."

Lorena Wiebes went long, were you surprised? 

"No, I know she is really strong so she can do a long sprint. I just tried to do the best sprint I could and it was not enough."

Is she happy? 

"Yes, I think as a team we were really aggressive, unluckily there was not enough wind because we were really trying to do some echelons but it was not working. But yes another time I want to say thank you to all my teammates because they always do a great job and always believe in me, and I really hope that one day I can win for them." 

Maybe next week?

"I will race on Wednesday [at Dwars door Vlaanderen] so for sure we will try again." 

Interview

Charlotte Kool: 

In the final Wiebes is always difficult to beat, how are you feeling now? 

"Satisfied. I think i did a really good race. I was there in the front, it came all back together which was nice for us to have some extra for the leadout. I think we came a bit early so the last bit was quite a bit of surfing but I gave my all and this is what it was for today." 

How hard was the last climb of the Kemmelberg? 

"Yeah, like always it's really, really hard and you think it never ends but I was quite satisfied that I was quite close to the front." 

Did you think after Kemmelberg you would see the front again? 

"I thought that maybe the good thing that Lorena is climbing so well and nobody wants to go with her to the finish. So if there is a little group up front it's inevitable they work together to bring it back. So Trek wanted to follow and help us bring them back."  

Were you surprised by the size of the group? 

"In the end there wasn't really any tempo in the group which was strange. For us it wasn't a problem because we were lucky to have riders who could help us with the leadout but I didn't expect such a big group like this." 

Kopecky started early, were you surprised?

"No, not at all. We would expect that and they were so strong in doing this. The last part I just had to follow the other riders but this was the best I could do." 

"It's giving me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season."