Human Powered Health is gearing up for the crosswinds and cobbles of Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields on March 30, a race prone to some of the most exciting and demanding racing of the spring season.
A strong six will take to the start line under the Menin Gate in Ypres. Lily Williams and Romy Kasper provide expertise in the wind and are joined by powerhouses Giada Borghesi, Maëlle Grossetête, Katia Ragusa, and Marit Raaijmkers on the 168.9km parcours to Wevelgem.
The epicenter of the race, the Kemmelberg, is an iconic cobbled hill that the athletes will crest twice from different directions. Beyond towering over the parcours, it has always been a theater of history.
The Den Engel op de Kemmelberg monument marks a site with a long and storied past. Since the Neolithic era, the hill has served as a vantage point, later named after Camulos, the Celtic god of war.
In April 1918, it became the stage for one of the Great War’s bloodiest chapters – the Fourth Battle of Ypres. Over four days of relentless bombardment and brutal combat, 7,000 Allied soldiers lay down their lives as the line was broken. It was then reclaimed five months later.
Today, their sacrifice is honored in nearby cemeteries and memorials that the race passes, including the Kemmel American Monument. Once a battleground, the Kemmelberg is now a legendary climb, lined with fervent fans standing shoulder to shoulder as riders battle their way to the summit.
How to watch
USA and Canada
FloBikes and Max with via the B/R Sports Add-On | from 11:00 am ET / 10:00 am CT / 9:00 am MT / 8:00 am PT
Belgium
Sporza/RTBF | from 16:00 CET
Europe
Eurosport/Discovery+ | from 16:00 CET
UK
TNT Sports/Discovery+ online | from 15:00 GMT
Katia Ragusa lines up at her eighth Gent-Wevelgem and is no stranger to the Kemmelberg.
“The Kemmelberg is a legendary climb,” says Ragusa. “The second time you climb the Kemmelberg it is from the steeper, harder side so you have to push always. For me, I just focus on getting over it as fast as possible and giving it all my effort. Pushing while seated is important because if you don’t, it is harder to get the power.”
The question on everyone’s lips before each edition of Gent-Wevelgem is, ‘Will the wind have a big impact?’ Romy Kasper will bring her considerable expertise to these moments.
“I’m excited to see how the wind will play a role ahead of the two laps up the Kemmelberg,” Kasper says. “It’s a long race, and I like that, so let’s see how it plays out.”
Kasper will make double figures tomorrow, with this being her tenth edition.
“I think experience is important in all these Belgian classics to know when it will be crucial to position yourself well and where wind could play a role,” she explains. “If there is enough wind from the right direction, De Moeren could split up the bunch into small groups, which could be interesting before the laps. Depending on how big the gaps are, it’s possible that some favorites could miss the split, and that is their race over.”
Key points
De Moeren
On paper, De Moeren is simply just a panflat 4.5 km dead-straight road in the Flemish countryside, but if only it were so easy. Spoken about in hushed tones as if it were a lingering monster, crosswinds batter this featureless, unprotected stretch of road. Coming before the TV goes live, the fierce winds could already make a selection and blow the peloton to sunder.
Kemmelberg (Belvedere)
The first ascent of the Kemmelberg is 156 meters long, with an average gradient of just over 9%. This is where a vital whittling down of the group will happen. But it’s not just the cobbles. Before them is a short, steep road climb, and just after is a notorious narrow stretch of road that drops off Flanders’ highest point like a stone. All three points could be decisive.
Kemmelberg (Ossuaire)
The second ascent is a straight stretch of cobbles up to the angel monument with a ramp of 20% towards the top. Its peak comes with 35 km to go, but the legacy of the climb will still sting the legs before the finale.
