World champion Elisa Balsamo continues series in Gent-Wevelgem for women | Ghent-Wevelgem (women) 2022
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It has become a tradition with the women in Ghent-Wevelgem and the tradition is respected: at the end there is a sprint. World champion Elisa Balsamo sprinted faster than Marianne Vos, last year’s winner. Lotte Kopecky was fourth.
Ghent-Wevelgem in a nutshell:
Winner of the day: The curse of the rainbow jersey definitely does not apply to Elisa Balsamo. After the last passage over the Kemmelberg, the Italian was taken by her team – Trek-Segafredo – in the direction of Wevelgem and finished the job there.
Losers of the day: Marianne Vos (2nd) and Lotte Kopecky (4th) counted on their sprint after the last passage over the Kemmel. With close places of honour, that turned out to be not unwise, but should they have made no other choice with the lightning-fast Balsamo in the peloton?
Unlucky bird of the day: Lorena Wiebes, like Elisa Balsamo, was one of the big favorites to win Gent-Wevelgem, but fell after the first pass over the Kemmelberg and never returned.
Remarkable: Gent-Wevelgem is a race with a selective course, but for the women it has always turned out to be a sprint with a fairly large group in recent years. The last time things turned out differently was in 2016 when Chantal van den Broek-Blaak won solo in Wevelgem.
Watch the sprint between Balsamo, Vos and Kopecky:
Kopecky puts pressure on competition, Wiebes falls
After a series of mass sprints in Gent-Wevelgem, the organization decided to redesign the women’s course. There was another passage through the Moeren, the Plugstreets were deleted.
Still, we got to see a very traditional price trend. De Moeren did not make any problems and Van Rooijen and Chatoentseva chose the harepath, but the early flight did not get more than 3 minutes. They were caught just before the start of the live broadcast, about 65 kilometers from the finish.
In the hill zone, Lotte Kopecky immediately showed that it was all right. The Belgian champion took off on the Baneneberg with, among others, Niewiadoma. Just after the Kemmelberg the group was seized again.
Lorena Wiebes no longer had to be searched for. The Team DSM sprinter crashed into the sink of the Kemmel and shortly afterwards squeezed the brakes.
Trek-Segafredo keeps attackers within range
With the 2nd passage of the Kemmelberg in prospect – this time over the steepest side – the peloton remained calm. An attack by Van den Broek-Blaak was quickly neutralized.
On the Kemmelberg Grace Brown (FDJ) showed that she still had the best legs. The Australian climbed up the fastest, but it was not possible to make a gap. A peloton of about 40 riders quickly gathered.
Niewiadoma, Labecki, Neylan,… still tried, but their efforts never carried far enough. Trek-Segafredo -with big thanks to European champion Van Dijk- kept everything within reach. There would be a sprint and there was no measure on Elisa Balsamo. The world champion went up and over Kopecky and kept Vos off smoothly.
A third win in a row for the world champion in the World Tour. She can now confidently descend to the next top classic: the Tour of Flanders.
Balsamo: “Winning here is a dream come true”
“It’s a dream come true,” said the very happy Elisa Balsamo in the flash interview. “It was a very tough race and the last kilometer was also very hectic.”
“My team did everything perfectly. After the last passage over the Kemmel, we decided to go for the sprint. Van Anrooij, Van Dijk, Longo Borghini,… they were really that strong.”
“Ghent-Wevelgem is my favorite race. I feel really good here. Whether I’m also the big favorite for the Tour of Flanders? No idea, I’m going to rest for a while. We’ll see then.”
Kopecky: “I fell short of speed in the sprint”
For Lotte Kopecky, the sprint was prepared by her team, but Kopecky quickly came up against the wind.
“With the headwind that was there, you should not get caught up in the wind too quickly. The plan was to come back more from the back. Not to really get a lead-out.”
“I was looking for the wheel of (winner) Balsamo, but I didn’t see them at first. My start was good, but then I came up short in the sprint.”
“Where it went wrong when we drove away with a group at about 50 kilometers from the finish? If I am in the leading group, there is often no cooperation. Because I am fast, I think.”
“Now I’m putting everything on the Ronde, I’m not driving Dwars door Vlaanderen. Tuesday I have another training session on the track, Thursday I explore the Ronde and then Sunday is the day.”
Reactions after Gent-Wevelgem:
18 hours 02 match ended
Balm wint!
World Champion Elisa Balsamo hits the mark again! After the Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Brugge-De Panne, the Italian now also wins Gent-Wevelgem. She passes Lotte Kopecky in the last meters and then also holds off Marianne Vos.
6 p.m. 02.
6:01 PM Reusser starts the sprint for Kopecky. Can the Belgian champion finish it? †
Reusser starts the sprint for Kopecky. Can the Belgian champion finish it?
18 hours . It’s wringing. Balsamo won’t let Kopecky’s wheel go again. †
It’s wringing. Balsamo won’t let Kopecky’s wheel go again.
the rag. Let’s sprint! Fox, Balsamo or Kopecky? Search no more for Wiebes. † 18 hours .
the rag
Let’s sprint! Fox, Balsamo or Kopecky? Search no more for Wiebes.
5 p.m. 59. No, it looked equally good for Brown but with the support of Jumbo-Visma everything is coming together again. †
No, it looked equally good for Brown but with the support of Jumbo-Visma everything is coming together again.
5 p.m. 59. If anyone can do it, it’s Grace Brown. † Ine Beyen on Sporza.
If anyone can do it, it’s Grace Brown.
Ine Beyen on Sporza
5 p.m. 58. Brown with her last strength. The best rider on the Kemmelberg has one last cartouche ready and makes a nice breach. Can FDJ’s Australian surprise the sprinter? Van Dijk is being looked at again. †
Brown with her last strength
The best rider on the Kemmelberg has one last cartouche ready and makes a nice breach. Can FDJ’s Australian surprise the sprinter? Van Dijk is being looked at again.
17 hours 55. The finish is eerily close and that with a peloton of about 30 riders. Shirin van Anrooij (Trek-Segafredo) is in the back of the pack, but has had a strong race. The Dutch is only 20. .
The finish comes eerily close and that with a peloton of about 30 riders. Shirin van Anrooij (Trek-Segafredo) is in the back of the pack, but has had a strong race. The Dutch is only 20.
5 p.m. 52. Another 7 km. The demarrages are not long-lasting. Lonneke Uneken – another teammate of Kopecky – tries, but the gaps never get bigger than about 100 meters. †
7 km to go
The demarrages are not long-lasting. Lonneke Uneken – another teammate of Kopecky – tries, but the gaps never get bigger than about 100 meters.
17h50. Striking! Ellen van Dijk is not allowed to ride with the front runners and must bring the group with Balsamo back to the front of the race. She succeeds in this without any problems. †
Remarkable! Ellen van Dijk is not allowed to ride with the front runners and must bring the group with Balsamo back to the front of the race. She succeeds in this without any problems.
5 p.m. 49. Valerie Demey. Will we still get a break? We certainly recognize Ellen van Dijk and Valerie Demey (Liv Racing). It’s all bridgeable. †
Valerie Demey
Will we still get a break? We certainly recognize Ellen van Dijk and Valerie Demey (Liv Racing). It’s all bridgeable.
17h45. We cycle into Wervik. 12 kilometers to go, all still together. It rains attack attempts, but there is always too little to make definitive holes. †
We cycle into Wervik. Another 12 kilometers, everything still together. It rains attack attempts, but there is always too little to make definitive holes.
17h 40. And a new phase. The barrel at Van den Broek-Blaak seems empty and her Italian teammate Cecchini takes over. Head lady Kopecky of SD Worx would of course like to see it happen. †
And a new phase. The barrel at Van den Broek-Blaak seems empty and her Italian teammate Cecchini takes over. Head lady Kopecky of SD Worx would of course like to see it happen.
17h40. Demarrage Labecki. Coryn Labecki -formerly Rivera- persevere! Marianne Vos’ teammate gets Marta Lach (Ceratizit-WNT) and once again Van den Broek-Blaak along. It’s all in vain. †
Start Labecki
Coryn Labecki -formerly Rivera- persevere! Marianne Vos’ teammate gets Marta Lach (Ceratizit-WNT) and once again Van den Broek-Blaak along. It’s all in vain.
17h 38. Top favorites Kopecky, Vos and Balsamo are completely aloof. They’re not going to waste any energy at this stage of the match. †
Top favorites Kopecky, Vos and Balsamo are completely aloof. They’re not going to waste any energy at this stage of the match.
17h37. We get another fireworks display in the front. Niewiadoma and again Van den Broek-Blaak try to make a gap, but with such a large platoon it seems impossible. †
We get some fireworks up front. Niewiadoma and again Van den Broek-Blaak try to make a gap, but with such a large platoon it seems impossible.
17h 36. 3 in a row for Balsamo? In the Women’s World Tour, the past matches went to Elisa Balsamo. The world champion won the Trofeo Alfredo Binda and last Thursday Brugge-De Panne. †
3 in a row for Balsamo?
In the Women’s World Tour, the past matches went to Elisa Balsamo. The world champion won the Trofeo Alfredo Binda and last Thursday Brugge-De Panne.
17h 33. Large group. In retrospect, the last passage of the Kemmelberg was not decisive. We actually recognize Sanne Cant in the first group. Is there a nice place of honor for the 3-time world champion in the field? †
Large group
In retrospect, the last passage of the Kemmelberg was not decisive. We actually recognize Sanne Cant in the first group. Is there a nice place of honor for the 3-time world champion in the field?
5:30 PM. With Wiebes’ withdrawal, the fastest of the pack has dropped out. That opens up opportunities for many others. † Ruben Van Gucht on Sporza.
With the retirement of Wiebes, the fastest of the pack has disappeared. That opens up opportunities for many others.
