Gent–Wevelgem
 |
|
| Date | Late March |
|---|---|
| Region | Flanders, Belgium |
| English name | Ghent-Wevelgem |
| Local name(s) | Gent–Wevelgem (Dutch) |
| Nickname(s) | Ghent-Bubblegum |
| Discipline | Road |
| Competition | UCI World Tour |
| Type | One-day |
| Organiser | Flanders Classics |
| Race director | Luc Gheysens |
| First edition | 1934 |
| Editions | 78 (as of 2016) |
| First winner |
 Gustave Van Belle (BEL)
|
| Most wins |
Robert Van Eenaeme (BEL) Rik Van Looy (BEL) Eddy Merckx (BEL) Mario Cipollini (ITA) Tom Boonen (BEL)(3 wins) |
| Most recent |
 Peter Sagan (SVK)
|
| First edition | 2012 |
| Editions | 5 (as of 2016) |
| First winner |
 Lizzie Armitstead (GBR)
|
| Most wins | no repeat winners |
| Most recent |
 Chantal Blaak (NED)
|
Gent–Wevelgem, officially Gent–Wevelgem – In Flanders Fields, is a road cycling race in Belgium, held annually since 1934. It one of the classic races part of the Flemish Cycling Week, run in late March on the last Sunday before the Tour of Flanders.
Although the event is often called the sprinters' classic due to its flat finishing terrain, its early-season date means riders are often tested by wind and rain, as well as several climbs, including two ascents of the steep and fully cobbled Kemmelberg. As a result, few editions of Gent–Wevelgem actually end in a bunch sprint – often the winner comes from a small group of escapees.
In 2005 the race was included in the inaugural UCI ProTour and in 2010 in its successor, the UCI World Tour. Since 2011 it is organized by Flanders Classics, which also organizes the Tour of Flanders. Since 2012 a woman's event is held on the same day as the men's race.
Created in 1934 and originally run by the newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen, the race’s finish town of Wevelgem was selected because it was the home town of the event’s first owner, local textile manufacturer Georges Matthijs. Its origin is a tribute to Gaston Rebry, a native of Wevelgem, who was one of the stars of cycling in Belgium in the 1930s.
The first edition was run on 9 September 1934 as an amateur race on a flat, 120 km route. The race only had Belgian participants and was won by Gustave Van Belle. In 1936 the race distance was increased to 168 km and Robert Van Eenaeme was the first professional winner.
The event had its only interruptions during World War II, and was subsequently organized again as a professional event in 1945. Gaston Rebry, by then president of bike club "Het Vliegend Wiel", was the new race director. Robert Van Eenaeme was declared winner of the first post-War edition, surprisingly ten days after the race was over, after officials had closer inspected the photo finish.
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