“I thought the race was done for me” – Filippo Ganna turns chaos into victory after denying Wout van Aert at Dwars door Vlaanderen

Filippo Ganna turned a day that looked lost into one of the biggest wins of his already illustrious career, denying Wout van Aert in the final metres of Dwars door Vlaanderen after a race defined by setbacks, patience and precise timing.

The INEOS Grenadiers rider had appeared out of contention earlier in the race following multiple mechanical issues, but fought his way back into position before delivering a perfectly judged chase and finish to overhaul Van Aert inside the final kilometre in Waregem.

Speaking to Cycling Pro Net after the finish, Ganna said, “I thought the race was done for me. But I never gave up. I tried to fight until the end.”

Ganna’s victory was built on resilience as much as strength. His race was disrupted twice at key moments, first by a broken front wheel and later by a handlebar issue, forcing two bike changes that threatened to end his chances before the finale had even begun.

“All day we were a bit unlucky,” he said in his post-race winner’s interview. “After the first hill, I broke my front wheel and had to change my bike for the first time. And then I broke my handlebars. After the second bike change, I thought the race was done for me. But I never gave up.”

Crucially, INEOS Grenadiers kept him in the race. The team controlled key phases, covered attacks and ensured Ganna remained within reach as the race fractured over the climbs.

“I had an amazing team,” he added. “They managed to cover the attacks and keep me in position on every climb. They did an amazing job, so I can just say thank you to them.”

The defining phase came when Van Aert launched his long-range move on the Eikenberg, committing to a solo effort that quickly opened up a significant gap. While others hesitated, Ganna made a calculated decision not to wait for a sprint finish.

Speaking to Cycling Pro Net, he explained that recent experience had shaped that call. “It has happened before. In E3, when Mathieu was solo, the group almost came back to catch him,” he recalled. “We know how strong Van Aert is and what kind of engine he has, so I preferred to fight and try to catch him before the sprint. In the end, it was the best solution.”

Even so, the task was far from straightforward. “Wout made an impressive effort. To catch him was not easy.”

As the race entered the closing kilometres, Ganna’s sustained effort began to tell. With Van Aert still holding a narrow advantage, the Italian drove the chase, gradually bringing the gap down before making contact in the final moments.

Yet even then, he did not allow himself to believe victory was certain. “I didn’t believe I could win until maybe the final corner,” he said. “The bunch had brought moves back before.”

Only once he saw the line within reach did the situation become clear, as he surged past Van Aert to complete a dramatic turnaround. The win carries added significance for Ganna as he continues to establish himself in the cobbled Classics. “I think it’s one of the most important, especially in the ‘University’ of cycling,” he said. “It’s really nice for me.”

From mechanical setbacks to a perfectly timed finish, Ganna’s victory was as much about judgment as it was about power, a race won not just with strength, but with timing and belief.