TOP FIVE IN AN AGGRESSIVE YET FUTILE GENT-WEVELGEM

With a course that always lends itself to a range of racing outcomes, heavily influenced by the unpredictable Belgian spring conditions, a large group ultimately came back together for a bunch sprint at Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields.

Chiara Consonni dug deep to produce a sprint worthy of fifth place after a demanding race in strong winds and over punishing climbs. Here’s what she had to say about the result:

“Today’s race was really hard because at 45 kilometres, we passed De Moeren and the group started to split, but I think we did a really good job because we stayed in front and we were all in the first group. In the last kilometre, I was a bit far back but then I followed Chloe and she brought me into the best position. I tried to do my best sprint but it was not enough, and I was a bit tired. Maybe after the long distance and with these efforts before, I didn’t have the best legs, unlike in De Panne. But yeah, we tried and maybe we could have tried to also attack with Chloe, but it was full gas and there was a lot of wind, so we were going really, really fast. Also, we were already represented earlier in the first group with Chloé, if something happened and I stayed in the second group, then she could have tried something, but when we’re in a big group, I say that I do my sprint. It’s not a podium, but fifth place still isn’t bad – we were there and we’re still really motivated for the next races.”

The peloton set out from the historic town of Ypres, well aware that the opening 90 kilometres would be anything but a calm procession before reaching the so-called ‘hill-zone’. The wind wasn’t a full gale, but it was strong enough to possibly have a decisive impact on the race.

Although the peloton fractured through the notorious, below-sea-level stretch of De Moeren, all teams were on high alert, eager to stitch the groups back together while keeping their tinder dry for the tougher sections ahead.

With 60 kilometres of the 169km race remaining, CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto was consistently represented at the front by Chloé Dygert, who powered into a formidable move of 11 riders after the first up-and-over assault on the punishing Kemmelberg (550m, 10% average gradient). This group was eventually reabsorbed by a larger peloton containing Soraya Paladin and Chiara, before Chloé forced her way into an elite selection of five after the second ascent from the steeper Ossuaire side (700m, 9.6% average, 20% max).

The pace didn’t hold in the front group for long, and they were soon reeled in by various chasing groups, gradually forming a nearly 90 strong peloton. A handful of riders attempted late attacks, but the race found itself in a stalemate situation, with many teams fully committed to setting up a bunch sprint.

After battling through the chaos on fading legs to a fifth place, Chiara now sets her sights on Dwars Door Vlaanderen on Wednesday – a race she claimed victory at in 2022.