Laporte and Reusser triumph in Gent-Wevelgem

Cristophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) Marlen Reusser (SD Works) won the classic Gent-Wevelgem male and female category respectively this Sunday March 26.

In the men’s race, the runners faced a 260.9 km course between Ypres and Wevelgem, and the key moment occurred at kilometer 52, when Laporte and Wout van Aert attacked. The two cyclists from the Jumbo-Visma team opened up a gap, were in the lead of the race, and no one could catch them. The Frenchman and the Belgian reached the final meters together, talked to each other, and decided not dispute the victory to the sprint. The decision was for Laporte to winand so it happened. Van Aert was second after an arrival in which both hugged each other for the last meters.

Third place went to Sep Vanmarcke (Israel-Premier Tech) who crossed the finish line one minute and 56 seconds behind Laporte, leading a small group that included Frederik Frison (Lotto Dstny), Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) and Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Emirates).

Reusser, reigned in the women’s event

Marlen Reusser won her first Gent-Wevelgem after a 40 kilometer attack end that allowed him to reach the finish line alone. The winner attacked, taking advantage of the lack of control in the peloton after a numerous crash, to get her first victory this season. The runners had to overcome a route of 162.5 kilometers.

The peloton crossed the finish line at 2 minutes and 42 seconds. In the main group sprint Megan Jastrab was the best and won second place. The third place corresponded to Maike van der Duin (Canyon SRAM Racing).

pien limpens (Parkhotel) starred in the breakaway of the day, but it did not last even 30 kilometers at the head of the race. Afterwards there were no more escape attempts until Reusser made the final attack that helped him win the Belgian classic.

MALE GENT-WEVELGEM CLASSIFICATION:

1 – LAPORTE Christophe (Jumbo) 5:49:39

2 – VAN AERT Wout (Jumbo)

3 – VANMARCKE Sep (Israel) +1:56

4 – FRISON Frederik (Lotto)

5 – PEDERSEN Mads (Trek)

6 – BJERG Mikkel (UAE)

7 – RENARD Alexis (Cofidis) +2:04

8 – KOOIJ Olav (Jumbo)

9 – VAN POPPEL Danny (BORA)

10 – MCLAY Daniel (Arkea)

CLASSIFICATION GENT-WEVELGEM FEMALE:

1 – REUSSER Marlen (SD Worx) 4:16:47

2 – JASTRAB Megan (DSM) +2:42

3 – VAN DER DUIN Maike (Canyon) mt

4 – SWINKELS Karlijn (Jumbo) mt

5 – SCHWEINBERGER Christina (Fenix) mt

6 – BASTIANELLI Marta (UAE) mt

7 – BARKER Elinor (One-X) mt

8 – COPPONI Clara (FDJ) mt

9 – HENDERSON Anna (Jumbo) mt

10- BOSSUYT Shari (Canyon) mt