Gent-Wevelgem 2022 [FULL RACE] (ladies)

March 27, 2022

Gent-Wevelgem 2022 WE – Ypres – Wevelgem : 159 km

Gent-Wevelgem is the perfect race for the Classics specialists to hone their form and hit their cobble-conquering peak. The race has been held every year since 2012, following a very similar course to the men’s race with climbs like the Kemmelberg, Monteberg and Baneberg all featuring. These climbs serve as ideal launchpads for the opportunists and have catalysed several spectacular editions over the last nine years. The women’s race is shorter than the men’s, at just 140km, but no less difficult. Packing all the brutal climbs, narrow roads and windswept highways into a shorter distance makes for an incredibly tough race. With almost zero respite for the riders as they make their way from the start in Ypres to the finish in Wevelgem, we often see them launching attacks and trying to break the race apart early on.

Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo) has continued her winning streak, sprinting to victory in the women’s Gent-Wevelgem.

After a last breakaway attempt by Grace Brown (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) was reeled in just before the flamme rouge, the Italian world champion was the fastest in the sprint, coming off the wheel of Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx) to beat Marianne Vos (Team Jumbo-Visma), who took second, and Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ceratizit-WNT), who finished third.

“It was a very hard race, and there were a lot of attacks. We decided to go for the sprint after the last Kemmelberg, and my team did a great job closing everything down. Ellen, Elisa, and Shirin were so, so strong, I really want to thank them and the whole team,” said Balsamo.

After three victories within a week, Balsamo has to be one of the favourites for next weekend’s Tour of Flanders, but she was noncommittal, enjoying the current success.

“Gent-Wevelgem is my favourite race; it is a dream come true. I am really, really happy. Now I have a week to rest, then I will think about Flanders,” she finished.

How it unfolded
The 159-kilometre race started at the Menin Gate in Ypres. Soon after the flag was dropped, Anne van Rooijen (Parkhotel Valkenburg) and Gulnaz Khatuntseva (Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad) attacked to form the break of the day. They built an advantage of 3:30, but the peloton closed the gap as the race progressed and caught them just before the start of the live broadcast at 65km to go.

Entering the hill zone with seven climbs, including two ascents of the Kemmelberg, one each from the Belvedère and the Ossuaire sides – the latter a premiere in the women’s race – riders started to attack.

Kopecky, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), Anna Henderson (Team Jumbo-Visma), and Liane Lippert (Team DSM) rode away between the Baneberg and Monteberg and just stayed ahead on the first Kemmelberg ascent. After the downhill, they were joined by Marta Cavalli (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), Marlen Reusser (Team SD Worx), and Coryn Labecki (Team Jumbo-Visma).

A crash with 48km to go brought down Lourdes Oyarbide (Movistar Team) and pre-race favourite Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM). Although Wiebes got back up again, she eventually had to abandon the race.

Trek-Segafredo led the chase in the peloton and reeled in the front group with 44km to go. On the second time up the Baneberg, Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (Team SD Worx), Sofia Bertizzolo (UAE Team ADQ), Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo), and Julie De Wilde (Plantur-Pura) unsuccessfully tried to get away, and a large group entered the Kemmelberg, the last climb of the race.

Brown powered away on the steep, cobbled climb, and after the descent, Christine Majerus (Team SD Worx) and Longo Borghini bridged to her, with a larger group soon closing the gap, too.

The last 30 kilometres saw a flurry of attacks as especially Team SD Worx tried to spoil a bunch sprint, with Van den Broek-Blaak, Reusser, and Elena Cecchini taking turns to attack, often joined by riders from other teams. However, none of these moves lasted for longer than a few seconds as the peloton was attentive and closed them down quickly.

With 12 kilometres remaining to the line, the peloton split in two, with the first group including Cecchini, Pfeiffer Georgi (Team DSM), Ellen van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo), Marta Lach (Ceratizit-WNT), Cavalli, Susanne Andersen (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team), Labecki, Valerie Demey (Liv Racing Xstra), Niewiadoma, Rachel Neylan (Cofidis), Bertizzolo, Julie Van de Velde (Plantur-Pura), and Sara Poidevin (EF-TIBCO-SVB). Majerus managed to bridge the small gap to the front at the 10-kilometre mark, and Van Dijk was called back to the second group a little bit later to help in the chase.

The European champion brought the second group back with 7.6 km to go, and although attacks immediately started again, nobody could get away until Brown made her move 3.5km from the line. Trek-Segafredo and Team Jumbo-Visma worked hard to chase down the Australian and eventually caught her just before the flamme rouge.

In the sprint, Balsamo was unbeatable for the third time in a row, further extending her lead in the Women’s WorldTour ranking. With a 15th place, Georgi took the lead in the Women’s WorldTour U23 ranking.

Results :
1 Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo Women 3:19:15
2 Marianne Vos (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women
3 Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
4 Lotte Kopecky (Bel) SD Worx
5 Emma Norsgaard Bjerg (Den) Movistar Team Women
6 Marta Bastianelli (Ita) UAE Team ADQ
7 Susanne Andersen (Nor) Uno-X Pro Cycling Women
8 Tamara Dronova (Rus) Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad
9 Silvia Persico (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
10 Clara Copponi (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
11 Sanne Cant (Bel) Plantur-Pura
12 Arianna Fidanza (Ita) BikeExchange-Jayco Women
13 Valerie Demey (Bel) Liv Racing Xstra
14 Maaike Boogaard (Ned) UAE Team ADQ
15 Pfeiffer Georgi (GBr) Team DSM Women
16 Arlenis Sierra Canadilla (Cub) Movistar Team Women
17 Julia Borgström (Swe) NXTG by Experza
18 Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team DSM Women
19 Femke Markus (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
20 Eugénie Duval (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
21 Sofia Bertizzolo (Ita) UAE Team ADQ
22 Silke Smulders (Ned) Liv Racing Xstra
23 Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
24 Shari Bossuyt (Bel) Canyon-Sram Racing
25 Soraya Paladin (Ita) Canyon-Sram Racing
26 Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Plantur-Pura
27 Sara Poidevin (Can) EF Education-TIBCO-SVB
28 Olivia Baril (Can) Valcar-Travel & Service
29 Marta Lach (Pol) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
30 Rachel Neylan (Aus) Cofidis Women Team
31 Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-Sram Racing
32 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Canyon-Sram Racing
33 Marlen Reusser (Swi) SD Worx
34 Lonneke Uneken (Ned) SD Worx
35 Christine Majerus (Lux) SD Worx
36 Julie Van De Velde (Bel) Plantur-Pura
37 Grace Brown (Aus) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
38 Liane Lippert (Ger) Team DSM Women
39 Coryn Rivera (USA) Jumbo-Visma Women 0:00:06
40 Mischa Bredewold (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
41 Marta Cavalli (Ita) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 0:00:09
42 Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Trek-Segafredo Women 0:00:12
43 Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo Women
44 Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (Ned) SD Worx 0:00:14
45 Riejanne Markus (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women 0:00:15
46 Elena Cecchini (Ita) SD Worx
47 Anna Henderson (GBr) Jumbo-Visma Women
48 Shirin van Anrooij (Ned) Trek-Segafredo Women 0:00:41
49 Julie De Wilde (Bel) Plantur-Pura 0:05:15
50 Maike Van der Duin (Ned) Le Col Wahoo
51 Eugenia Bujak (Slo) UAE Team ADQ
52 Kylie Waterreus (Ned) Lotto Soudal Ladies
53 Kaia Schmid (USA) Human Powered Health Women
54 Fien Delbaere (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
55 Mieke Docx (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
56 Victoire Berteau (Fra) Cofidis Women Team
57 Femke Gerritse (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
58 Ilse Pluimers (Ned) NXTG by Experza
59 Lone Meertens (Bel) NXTG by Experza
60 Mareille Meijering (Ned) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
61 Charlotte Kool (Ned) Team DSM Women
62 Maria Van ‘T Geloof (Ned) Le Col Wahoo
63 Lara Vieceli (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
64 Julie Leth (Den) Uno-X Pro Cycling Women
65 Letizia Borghesi (Ita) EF Education-TIBCO-SVB
66 Alice Barnes (GBr) Canyon-Sram Racing
67 Tanja Erath (Ger) EF Education-TIBCO-SVB
68 Elizabeth Holden (GBr) Le Col Wahoo
69 Mie Bjørndal Ottestad (Nor) Uno-X Pro Cycling Women
70 Stine Borgli (Nor) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
71 Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
72 Chiara Consonni (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
73 Laura Süßemilch (Ger) Plantur-Pura
74 Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
75 Romy Kasper (Ger) Jumbo-Visma Women
76 Lea Lin Teutenberg (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
77 Alexandra Manly (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco Women
78 Ilaria Sanguineti (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
79 Alison Jackson (Can) Liv Racing Xstra
80 Aude Biannic (Fra) Movistar Team Women
DNF Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Trek-Segafredo Women
DNF Marit Raaijmakers (Ned) Human Powered Health Women
DNF Rachele Barbieri (Ita) Liv Racing Xstra
DNF Eri Yonamine (Jpn) Human Powered Health Women
DNF Chloe Hosking (Aus) Trek-Segafredo Women
DNF Evy Kuijpers (Ned) Human Powered Health Women
DNF Nina Buijsman (Ned) Human Powered Health Women
DNF Emilia Fahlin (Swe) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
DNF Elizabeth Banks (GBr) EF Education-TIBCO-SVB
DNF Justine Ghekiere (Bel) Plantur-Pura
DNF Clara Honsinger (USA) EF Education-TIBCO-SVB
DNF Kathrin Hammes (Ger) EF Education-TIBCO-SVB
DNF Mylene de Zoete (Ned) NXTG by Experza
DNF Amber van der Hulst (Ned) Liv Racing Xstra
DNF Mikayla Harvey (NZl) Canyon-Sram Racing
DNF Jip van den Bos (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women
DNF Minke Bakker (Ned) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire-Van Eyck Sport
DNF Franziska Brauße (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
DNF Eluned King (GBr) Le Col Wahoo
DNF Gladys Verhulst (Fra) Le Col Wahoo
DNF Belle de Gast (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
DNF Anne Van Rooijen (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
DNF Pien Limpens (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
DNF Danique Braam (Ned) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire-Van Eyck Sport
DNF Naomi De Roeck (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire-Van Eyck Sport
DNF Caren Commissaris (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire-Van Eyck Sport
DNF Georgia Baker (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco Women
DNF Olha Kulynych (Ukr) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire-Van Eyck Sport
DNF Wilma Olausson (Swe) Uno-X Pro Cycling Women
DNF Martina Alzini (Ita) Cofidis Women Team
DNF Alana Castrique (Bel) Cofidis Women Team
DNF Valentine Fortin (Fra) Cofidis Women Team
DNF Pernille Mathiesen (Den) Cofidis Women Team
DNF Kristyna Burlová (Cze) Lotto Soudal Ladies
DNF Katrijn De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
DNF Sterre Vervloet (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
DNF Eefje Brandt (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
DNF Maria Martins (Por) Le Col Wahoo
DNF Claudia Jongerius (Ned) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire-Van Eyck Sport
DNF Teniel Campbell (TTo) BikeExchange-Jayco Women
DNF Gaia Masetti (Ita) NXTG by Experza
DNF Alicia Gonzalez Blanco (Spa) Movistar Team Women
DNF Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Movistar Team Women
DNF Maud Rijnbeek (Ned) NXTG by Experza
DNF Lourdes Oyarbide Jimenez (Spa) Movistar Team Women
DNF Hannah Buch (Ger) Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad
DNF Gulnaz Khatuntseva (Rus) Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad
DNF Diana Klimova (Rus) Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad
DNF Hannah Ludwig (Ger) Uno-X Pro Cycling Women
DNF Megan Jastrab (USA) Team DSM Women
DNF Rebecca Koerner (Den) Uno-X Pro Cycling Women
DNF Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco Women
DNF Jessica Allen (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco Women
DNF Lorena Wiebes (Ned) Team DSM Women
DNF Céline van Houtum (Ned) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
DNF Elisa Serné (Ned) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
DNF Bente Van Teeseling (Ned) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
DNF Willemijn Prins Ned) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
DNF Anna Trevisi (Ita) UAE Team ADQ
DNF Linda Zanetti (Swi) UAE Team ADQ
DNF Katia Ragusa (Ita) Liv Racing Xstra
DNF Léa Stern (Swi) Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad
DNS Lily Williams (USA) Human Powered Health Women