Results In Flanders Fields - In Wevelgem WE 2026 | Lorena Wiebes makes it a hat-trick in attacking display
Cycling
Lorena Wiebes turned expectation on its head to win the 2026 In Flanders Fields, attacking on the Kemmelberg before finishing it off from a reduced group to secure a third consecutive victory at the race.
The Dutch rider had been marked as the clear favourite for a sprint, but instead took control on the final climb, forcing a decisive selection that ultimately shaped the outcome.
A four-rider breakaway had set the tone early after the start in Wevelgem, with Idoia Eraso, Lea Lin Teutenberg, Yonna van Dam and Heidi Antikainen building a lead that stretched to around five minutes as the peloton allowed the move space.
Early control as Plugstreets fail to split race
The advantage began to fall approaching the Plugstreets, where positioning intensified but the expected splits never came. Hill 63, Christmas Truce and The Catacombs were negotiated without major disruption among the favourites. The peloton stretched at times, but the leading contenders effectively held position, allowing the race to continue in a controlled pattern.
Attempts to animate the race did follow. UAE-ADQ and Liv-AlUla-Jayco combined to launch a counter move behind the breakaway, but with Lorena Wiebes, Elisa Balsamo and others able to bridge across, the structure of the race remained largely intact.
Crashes and mechanicals added tension rather than separation. Several riders were brought down in early incidents, while Nina Berton was caught up twice before eventually abandoning after a second fall. Arlenis Sierra and Mackenzie Coupland were among those delayed by mechanical issues.
Hill zone builds pressure without decisive split
The race began to fracture more noticeably once the climbs approached. The early breakaway was gradually reduced under pressure, while probing moves from riders such as Célia Gery and Elise Chabbey failed to gain traction as the peloton maintained control.
On the first ascent of the Kemmelberg, the expected battle never fully ignited. Instead, the key sprint contenders, including Wiebes, Balsamo and Charlotte Kool, remained firmly in position, ensuring the race stayed together over the top.
The first real selection came on the Baneberg, where UAE-ADQ lifted the tempo and reduced the front of the race to a smaller group. Balsamo briefly lost contact but managed to return, keeping the main sprint threats in contention, while earlier attackers such as Georgia Baker and Laura Molenaar were reeled in.
Crashes continued to disrupt the rhythm, with Nienke Veenhoven, Franziska Koch and Alison Jackson among those involved in incidents as the tension increased ahead of the final climb.
Wiebes in action
Wiebes flips script on decisive Kemmelberg
The race finally broke open on the final ascent of the Kemmelberg, and it was Wiebes who made the decisive move. Rather than being put under pressure, the Dutch rider surged to the front and set a pace that immediately split the group. Even riders expected to attack, including Elise Chabbey, were unable to respond as Wiebes briefly distanced the field.
Over the top, a select group formed with Wiebes joined by Chabbey, Aurela Nerlo Moors, Eleonora Gasparrini and Karlijn Swinkels, while several key contenders, including Balsamo, were left behind.
The composition of the leading group created an immediate tactical imbalance. UAE-ADQ placed multiple riders in the move, while Wiebes found herself isolated despite being the fastest finisher present. Cooperation was hesitant, with riders increasingly aware of Wiebes’ sprint threat.
That hesitation allowed the gap to grow. The leaders pushed their advantage towards 40 seconds, and with limited organisation behind, the peloton was left with too much to do in the closing kilometres.
Break holds as peloton runs out of time
Inside the final 10 kilometres, the race tilted decisively in favour of the leaders. Although teams such as Movistar, Liv-AlUla-Jayco and Canyon//SRAM attempted to organise a chase, the gap stabilised at around 45 to 50 seconds, with the peloton unable to make meaningful inroads. Any remaining chasers were absorbed, confirming that the winner would come from the front group.
In the final kilometres, the attacks came, but none were able to break the deadlock. Gasparrini launched the clearest move, but Wiebes anticipated it immediately, closing the gap without hesitation and shutting down the attempt.
Repeatedly forced to the front, Wiebes controlled the pace despite visible frustration as her rivals refused to contribute, each waiting for the sprint. That stalemate ensured the race would be decided in a reduced sprint.
Wiebes delivers again to complete hat-trick
When the sprint finally opened, Wiebes finished the job. The Dutch rider proved fastest from the select group to take victory ahead of Fleur Moors, with Karlijn Swinkels completing the podium. Elise Chabbey and Eleonora Gasparrini rounded out the top five.
After a day that never fully exploded until the final climb, it was Wiebes who forced the decisive move and then confirmed her status as the fastest finisher in the race. A third consecutive victory, delivered in a very different way.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment