One of the best cycling weekends of the year, Gent Wevelgem is the start of Flanders week & a more intimate sportive than the much bigger Tour of Flanders. Most of the peloton are locals so you will get a lesson in how to ride in the wind and on the few cobbled sectors. In recent years the race has included the gravel Plugstreets – famous WW1 roads going through battlefields.

Each year sees the race change slightly, so there is always something new to discover. The next edition’s sportive will start and end in Wevelgem but the pro race will start in Ypres rather than Deinze. However, the famous mid-section is still part of the race; promising tough climbs, off-road riding and a battle against strong headwinds. In March it’s again time for your classic springtime ride through the fields of Flanders. Gent-Wevelgem is a race unique in its kind.

What is the Gent Wevelgem?

Since 1934, Gent Wevelgem is frequently referred to as a ‘sprinters classic’, stemming from the flat terrain at the end of the race allowing for a final push to the finish line. However, wind and rain, along with multiple climbs and cobbled roads, means that this event is not for the faint-hearted.

On the sportive there are multiple race routes so that cyclists of all experience levels can take part in the gruelling yet satisfying race. The long route drops into France on an undulating route. All three options include the Kemmelberg as the main climb on a route that features headwinds, cobbles, a couple of climbs & some gravel sections. The main challenge is battling the winds, this is a sportive to use your brain as well as your legs and share the work in groups – getting stuck on your own in the wind can be a lonely ordeal.