Jasper Philipsen took a dramatic victory at Gent-Wevelgem (now re-named as In Flanders Fields), but only after the race’s two biggest stars—Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert—were hauled back in the final kilometer after spending much of the finale off the front.
It looked like a dream duel. It ended in a drag race.
In the end, it was the sprinter who prevailed, beating Tobias Lund Andresen in a messy, high-speed finish that capped one of the most unpredictable editions in recent memory.
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Two big changes for 2026 – the race start moved from Iepers Middelkerke on the coast, and the name changed from Gent-Wevelgem to In Flanders Fields – in honour of the thousands of people who lost their lives in the many World War I battlefields through which the race passes.
Filippo Ganna ride to the start along the coast.
From Middelkerke to Mayhem
The Classics machine barely had time to breathe after E3 before lining up again—this time in Middelkerke for the run to Wevelgem. Call it what you want, but In Flanders Fields / Gent-Wevelgem still delivers the same brutal recipe:
- The wind-swept plains of De Moeren
- The Plugstreets
- And of course… the Kemmelberg – twice
It’s a race that pretends to be one for the sprinters—until it isn’t – or it is.
The Classics ‘proper’ get started with a 240km run across the Belgian countryside
Breakaway Business as Usual
An eight-man move went up the road early, with the usual mix of strong engines and hopeful opportunists. They were given room—up to six minutes at one point—but never enough to make it stick.
The countryside and rural structures have taken on a distinctly Belgian look vs last week at Sanremo
Behind, Alpecin-Premier Tech kept things under control, clearly with one plan: bring it back for Philipsen… unless Van der Poel had other ideas.
No Wind? No Problem
The expected echelon chaos in De Moeren never quite materialized—but the race didn’t stay calm for long.
A crash in the feed zone thinned the field, and soon after, the peloton split anyway. The big names—Van der Poel, Van Aert—were where they needed to be. Others weren’t so lucky.
Still, things came back together just in time for the hills.
Kemmelberg: The Real Race Begins
As always, the Kemmelberg was the turning point.
Wout van Aert lit the fuse.
Mathieu van der Poel followed.
And just like that, the race was reduced to a handful of riders hanging on for dear life.
Only Florian Vermeersch could briefly hold the pace—but once Van der Poel turned up the pressure again, it was down to the two heavyweights.
PEZ SEz: Inside 30km ro go, the race passed through last year’s start town of Ieper – historically central in the First World War and site of the Menin Gate war memorial – which PEZ visited in September…
A Duel… Interrupted
With under 60km to go, Van der Poel and Van Aert swept up the break and drove clear.
It had all the makings of a classic: two rivals, one race, no teammates, no excuses.
But Gent-Wevelgem rarely sticks to the script.
Behind, the chase organized. Teams with sprinters smelled opportunity. The gap hovered… then shrank.
Even a heroic bridge from Alec Segaert couldn’t keep the break alive.
The Catch—and the Chaos
Inside the final kilometer, it was over.
Caught.
Swallowed.
Reset.
What had looked like a two-man war became a full-gas bunch sprint in seconds.
Philipsen Delivers
In the scramble to the line, Jasper Philipsen did what he does best—timed it perfectly.
He edged Tobias Lund Andresen in a tight sprint to take the win, delivering for Alpecin-Premier Tech after Van der Poel’s massive effort had nearly pulled off something special.
Van Aert? Empty. Van der Poel? Agonizingly close.
PEZ SEz
Gent-Wevelgem strikes again.
A race that can be won by sprinters… torn apart by the wind… or decided on the Kemmelberg—sometimes all in the same afternoon.
And just when you think you know how it ends… it changes.
Stay PEZ’d for more Classics coverage.
2026 » 88th In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem (1.UWT) Results
The post Race Report: Philipsen Wins Chaotic Gent-Wevelgem After Late Catch of Van der Poel & Van Aert appeared first on PezCycling News.
