Gent-Wevelgem
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gent-Wevelgem | |
|---|---|
| Local name: | Gent-Wevelgem |
| Region: | Flanders, Belgium |
| Date: | Early April |
| Type: | One-day race |
| History | |
| First Edition: | 1934 |
| Editions: | 67 |
| First Winner: | Gustave Van Bell ( Belgium) |
| Most Recent: | Thor Hushovd ( Norway) |
| Most Wins: | Robert Van Eenaeme, ( Belgium) - Rik Van Looy, ( Belgium) - Eddy Merckx, ( Belgium) and Mario Cipollini, ( Italy), 3 times |
Gent-Wevelgem is a professional cycle road race held in Belgium in early April each year. While not one of the Monuments, it is widely regarded as one of the early season classics, and falls between the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix. The event was first run in 1934, and it is often called the sprinters' classic due to its flat finishing terrain.
Its early-season date means riders are often tested by wind and rain, while the route also takes them twice over the difficult cobbled climb of the Kemmelberg where key splits often emerge. Since 2005 the race is part of the UCI ProTour series.
