Sagan wins Gent-Wevelgem
Cannondale's superstar improves on last year's second place
Peter Sagan brought the first week of a fortnight of Flanders races to a close with a solo win at the WorldTour Gent-Wevelgem. The Slovak who rides for Cannondale will feel much relief after coming runner up in the Strade Bianche three weeks ago, last week’s Milan-San Remo and Friday’s E3 Harelbeke.
Like Milan-San Remo, Gent-Wevelgem was shortened because of snow, but instead of the truncation announced after the race had started, organizers in Flanders decided yesterday to move the race start to Gistel, northwest of Gent, taking 45 kilometres off the course.
Nevertheless, it was a cold, windy day for the riders, who were bundled in layers at the start. A large escape featuring three-time and reigning champion Tom Boonen (Belgium/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) didn’t get far on the group, but a three man breakaway with Juan Antonio Flecha (Spain/Vacansoleil) at its centre had better luck.
It was Swiss Fabian Cancellara’s RadioShack who did the majority of work to bring back the earlier big break, but Spartacus, who easily won his third E3 Harelbeke just two days previous, climbed off at the feedzone with 68 kilometres to go. Soon after Tom Boonen crashed but shakily remounted, eventually climbing off the bike after ascending the Kemmelberg.
By the 51 kilometre to go mark, the trio up ahead was joined by ten riders including Sagan, the only contender with a teammate. In fact, it was Pole Maciej Bodnar who worked very hard to keep the squad 1:30 in front of the peloton for nearly an hour. Just when it seemed like that gap would survive and the escapees would start to play cat and mouse, the peloton started reeling them back. The last 12 kilometres would prove to be tense.
When Sagan attacked with 3.5 kilometres left, there was no one who could grab his wheel, and cycling’s newest superstar had time to pop his trademark wheelie over the line. Borut Bozic (Slovenia/Astana) came runner-up and Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium/BMC) rounded out the podium.
Racing in Belgium continues Tuesday with the Three Days of De Panne before climaxing on Easter Sunday with the Tour of Flanders.
