Preview: Gent-Wevelgem. Sprinters and classics riders clash in Flandres

On the 27th of March the peloton will have another round of cobbles in Flandres as they prepare for Gent-Wevelgem, one of the longest races of the season and one where many riders will be ambitioning a big win, right before reaching the cobbled monuments.

Most of the race is flat, not a hard profile which is the reason why in most years it is a reduced group sprint fighting it out for the win. The race is flat except for a hilly section which is based on three ascents of the Kemmelberg. It will be ridden three times via two different roads, the first of which may see attacks with 85 kilometers to go as some teams attempt to split the race. The plugstreets follow, gravel sectors with just over 4 kilometers distance in total, that have it's end with 66 kilometers to go.

The second time up the Kemmelberg via Ossuaire will be with 52 kilometers to go and in this time up attacks are certain as the classics riders will want to push on the pace to definitely drop the fast men, and make a definitive difference, it comes with 34.5 kilometers to go. From there on though there will be relief as much of the approach to Wevelgem is mostly flat. There will be time to reorganize, put on a chase for both smaller and bigger groups. The race has a very interesting dynamic where the specialists and the sprinters try to balance the race towards their preferred direction, and it’s a race that usually sees different types of scenarios that lead to the win.

The final startlist includes Greg van Avermaet, Oliver Naesen, Matej Mohoric, Rasmus Tiller, Sep Vanmarcke, Mads Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven, Tim Merlier, Jasper Philipsen, Dylan Groenewegen, Timothy Dupont, Taco van der Hoorn, Alexander Kristoff, Dylan van Baarle, Jhonatan Narváez, Sam Bennett, Nils Politt, Stefan Bissegger, Michael Valgren, Soren Kragh Andersen, Cees Bol, Arnaud de Lie, Florian Vermeersch, Wout van Aert, Tiesj Benoot, Christophe Laporte, Kasper Asgreen, Davide Ballerini, Fabio Jakobsen, Yves Lampaert, Florian Sénéchal, Pascal Ackermann, Matteo Trentin, Stefan Küng, Alex Aranburu, Iván Cortina, Peter Sagan and Anthony Turgis.

You will be able to keep up with the race here on CyclingUpToDate as we bring you the race report and interviews surrounding Gent-Wevelgem.