Can somebody stop Mathieu van der Poel? - 2026 Gent-Wevelgem preview

Twelve months ago, Mads Pedersen powered to victory with a commanding 56 kilometre solo, finishing 49 seconds ahead of a chasing group led by Tim Merlier. In recent editions, Pedersen struck again in 2024, while Christophe Laporte won in 2023 after breaking clear alongside teammate Wout van Aert.

In 2022, Biniam Girmay made history as the first Black African rider to win a major Classic, with Wout van Aert and Mads Pedersen among the race’s standout winners in the early 2020s.

• Key information:
• Date -  Sunday 29 March
• Distance - 240 km
• Start Location - Middelkerke
• Finish Location - Wevelgem
• Start time (CET) - 11:07
• Expected finish (CET) - 16:30

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A total of 240 kilometres separate Middelkerke on the Belgian North Sea coast from the finish in Wevelgem. The opening phase is completely flat, but the first real danger comes at De Moeren, just before the 80 kilometre mark. The exposed roads here have split the race countless times in the past and could do so again if the wind plays its part, as outlined in the weather forecast below.

From there, the route transitions into the hill zone, beginning with the Scherpenberg, followed by the Baneberg and Monteberg, before the race reaches its defining climb, the Kemmelberg, visible from far across the surrounding fields.

The ascent is short but punishing, with gradients rising above 13%t on cobbles from the Belvedere side, which is tackled twice. The final passage comes via the tougher Ossuaire side, where ramps peak at over 16.5% and often prove decisive.

Before that last ascent, the peloton must navigate the Plugstreets, rough farm tracks typical of West Flanders. These uneven, cobbled sectors can disrupt rhythm and positioning, adding another layer of unpredictability.

From the top of the Kemmelberg, around 35 kilometres remain to the finish. Any rider going clear will need to sustain the effort all the way to Wevelgem, as the long run in offers an opportunity for chasing groups and fast finishers to reorganise and bring the race back together.

The conditions look set to favour the classics specialists. Rain is unlikely, but a steady 20 km per hour wind is expected. More important than the speed, though, is the direction. With a westerly wind, the exposed roads in De Moeren could split the race to pieces.

In the final, that same wind turns into a tailwind towards Wevelgem, encouraging aggressive racing all the way to the line. Riders like Van Aert and Van der Poel will relish these conditions. The sprinters, far less so.

Alpecin–Premier Tech lines up with the standout duo, Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen. Van der Poel is expected to make the race as hard as possible. He has yet to win Gent-Wevelgem, which only adds motivation to complete his classics collection. Philipsen, meanwhile, remains a major asset. He is one of the fastest riders in the field, especially after a demanding race, and has proven increasingly difficult to drop as his endurance continues to improve.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike arrives with a strong trio in Wout van Aert, Matthew Brennan and Christophe Laporte. Van Aert recently finished on the podium at Milan-San Remo despite a crash and a bike change, underlining his form. Brennan missed that race through illness, so his condition remains a question mark. If needed, Laporte provides a reliable alternative, combining strength with a fast finish.

Lidl-Trek also brings a powerful classics squad despite the absence of Mads Pedersen. Mathias Vacek, Søren Kragh Andersen and Jakob Söderqvist offer depth and attacking options that could shape the race from distance. With Jonathan Milan, they also hold a serious sprint card if it comes down to a reduced group finish.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe also brings an impressive line up. Laurence Pithie stands out as a rider to watch. In 2024, he was the last man able to follow Pedersen and Van der Poel before the sprint for victory. Now more experienced and with a stronger engine, he looks ready to take another step. After a spring last year disrupted by bad luck, he finally seems to be hitting top form again.

Jordi Meeus offers another strong option. He has a clear affinity with Gent Wevelgem, although his heavy crash in GP Denain raises some doubts about his condition. The team also lines up with Mick van Dijke and Tim van Dijke, both of whom have impressed this season. Tim, however, had to abandon Paris-Nice due to illness, so his level remains uncertain.

Soudal Quick-Step arrives with a squad built once more around the spring classics. Jasper Stuyven has been working his way back after a long illness before Paris-Nice and appears to be regaining form. Laurenz Rex is another rider well suited to this race and could play an important role. Paul Magnier is their main card if he makes it to the finish, with a clear task: survive the selection and sprint.

Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) continues to emerge as a rider perfectly suited to races like this. The Dane showed in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne that he is developing the engine required for long, demanding classics, and this profile should play to his strengths.

A similar case can be made for Madis Mihkels (EF Education-EasyPost). The Estonian, still only 22, already rides with the maturity of a seasoned professional. His performances suggest he has the endurance to thrive here, and this race could offer him a real opportunity to step up.

For Filippo Ganna Ineos Grenadiers), this has never been a standout race, yet on paper it suits him well. The form he showed in E3 and during last year’s Tour of Flanders points towards a rider capable of much more in these conditions. A podium is not out of reach if things fall his way.

Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling Team) returns to a race he won in 2022, though the circumstances appear less favourable this time. He would likely have preferred calmer conditions, but his experience and finishing speed should still put him in contention for a strong result.

The same conditions, however, could play into the hands of Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). This is a race closely tied to his breakthrough in 2020, and one that clearly suits his profile. If the race becomes selective, he has the tools to aim for a podium.

Lotto-Intermarché lines up with an intriguing pairing in Arnaud De Lie and Jenno Berckmoes. De Lie’s spring has been quiet so far, raising questions about his form. He even skipped races he would normally target, which only adds to the uncertainty. Whether that signals an issue or a deliberate build up towards Gent-Wevelgem remains to be seen.

Uno-X Mobility, meanwhile, brings options on different fronts. Søren Wærenskjold offers a fast finish, while Jonas Abrahamsen is the rider to animate the race from distance. In tough, windy conditions, that combination could prove valuable.

Other interesting attacking options: Matej Mohorič, Alec Segaert, Stefan Bissegger, Kasper Asgreen, Ben Turner, Matis Louvel, Lewis Askey, Antonio Morgado, Matteo Trentin, Davide Ballerini.

Other interesting (strong) sprinters: Samuel Watson, Luke Lamperti, Hugo Hofstetter, Juan Sebastián Molano, Pavel Bittner, Bastien Tronchon, Anthony Turgis, Iván Garciá Cortina, Robert Donaldson.