Gent-Wevelgem

26 March, 1.WT, Belgium

The race used to be known as the sprinters' Classic, but in its current iteration it’s too hard for the bunch !inishers to get a look-in – only the most durable of sprinters stand a chance. Flanders Classics have made it even harder this year by adding in three sections of graded roads around Ploegsteert to commemorate the 1914 Christmas truce when English and German soldiers left their trenches to play football. Two of these sections are slightly uphill and over exposed farmland. Early recces suggest they won’t produce the winner, just sharpen the winnowing process in the critical third quarter of the race. The crux remains the second and !inal ascent of the Kemmelberg, via the harder western approach past the French Ossuary. This year organisers will be commemorating the death of Antoine Demoitié who was hit by a race motorbike following a crash. His race number, 192, has been retired and there will be a commemorative charity sprint at the 192km mark.