Gent-Wevelgem

The most famous hills –a double loop around the Baneberg, the Kemmelberg and the Monteberg-; the finishing part, with a long flat section; and the three ‘Plugstreets’ white gravel roads also tackled in the men’s event are featured in the Gent-Wevelgem race part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour – yet compressed into a much shorter route: only 142km starting at Ieper / Ypres and -truth be told- a closing 85 kilometers identical to those the boys will cover three hours later.

The big difference in this new ‘pavé’ race for the Movistar Team ladies compared to their colleagues is the opening part of the race. The hills at the other side of the French-Belgian border are not tackled and the route becomes somewhat more labyrinthine. A short, 20-some-kilometer transfer west to Roesbrugge and Westouter brings the girls quickly back east to soon enter the very much known circuit from the men’s course. The first ascent (Baneberg) is located 90km from the end, and from there, the race offers no respite.