Lorena Wiebes seals hat-trick at In Gent-Wevelgem after early celebration scare
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) made it three in a row at In Flanders Fields, though not without a moment of tension on the line. The Dutch champion once again proved the fastest in Wevelgem, even if she briefly celebrated before the job was fully done.
On a redesigned course, shorter and less demanding than previous editions, the race still delivered a selective finale. Without the Moeren and with fewer climbs, the emphasis shifted toward positioning and timing in the hill zone, where the Kemmelberg remained the decisive point.
An early break of four riders, Idoia Eraso (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi), Lea Lin Teutenberg (Lotto-Intermarché ), Yonna van Dam (Citymesh-Customm) and Heidi Antikainen (Minimax Cycling Team), animated the opening phase, building a gap that never truly threatened the outcome.
As the peloton approached the climbs, the pace lifted and the race grew increasingly nervous, with several crashes disrupting the bunch.
The key move came on the final ascent of the Kemmelberg. Wiebes did not wait for a sprint scenario and instead forced the selection herself, riding clear with a small group that included Fleur Moors (Lidl-Trek), Elise Chabbey (FDJ United-Suez) and Eleonora Gasparrini and Karlijn Swinkels from UAE Team Emirates ADQ.
Behind them, a chase group featuring fast finishers like Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) and Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech) struggled to organise an effective pursuit. The gap held steady, and the race for victory was reduced to five.
In the run in to Wevelgem, the tactical battle began. Gasparrini attempted to exploit the numerical advantage of UAE , attacking more than once in the final kilometres. Each move was closely monitored, with Wiebes quick to respond.
Despite the pressure, the group hesitated to fully commit to further attacks. That hesitation played into the hands of the fastest finisher present. Wiebes was forced to open the sprint from the front, but still had the speed to hold off her rivals.
She crossed the line first, though she celebrated a fraction too early as Moors surged late. The gap held, and the win stood, with Swinkels securing third place.
“It’s nice to win from a break for once, that makes this one extra special,” Wiebes said post-race. “Maybe next time I shouldn’t give my sports director a heart attack,” she added with a smile, after celebrating just a touch too early on the line.
Result: Gent-Wevelgem Women
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