Gent-Wevelgem, officially Gent-Wevelgem – in Flanders Fields is a road cycling race in Belgium that has been held annually since 1934. It is one of the classic races in the Flemish Cycling Week, which takes place at the end of March on the last Sunday before the Tour of Flanders. Since 2012, there has also been an elite women’s race of the classic Ghent-Wevelgem. This is always held on the same day as the men’s race, but over a shorter distance of 120 km.
The difference: unlike the men’s race, the start is in Ypres and the course does not go over the hills in northern France. Since 2016, the race has been part of the UCI Women’s World Tour. The 2022 edition of the women’s race took place on 27 March. The riders reached the finish line after 3 hours, 39 minutes and 15 seconds. The winner was Elisa Balsamo ahead of Marianne Vos and Maria Giulia Confalonieri.
The placings:
1 Elisa Balsamo (ITA) Trek–Segafredo
2 Marianne Vos (NED) Team Jumbo–Visma
3 Maria Giulia Confalonieri (ITA) Ceratizit–WNT Pro Cycling
4 Lotte Kopecky (BEL) SD Worx
5 Emma Norsgaard Jørgensen (DEN) Movistar Team
6 Marta Bastianelli (ITA) UAE Team ADQ
7 Susanne Andersen (NOR) Uno-X Pro Cycling Team
8 Tamara Dronova Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad
9 Silvia Persico (ITA) Valcar–Travel & Service
10 Clara Copponi (FRA) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope