On March 30, 2025, Lorena Wiebes of SD Worx claimed victory at Gent-Wevelgem for the second consecutive year, solidifying her status as one of the top cyclists in the women's peloton. Wiebes, the reigning European champion, outpaced Elisa Balsamo of Lidl-Trek to secure her 100th professional win, a remarkable milestone that speaks volumes about her talent and determination.
The race unfolded with a tense atmosphere as an early breakaway formed, featuring seven riders including Cleo Kiekens from DD Group. As the peloton approached the notorious Moeren, the pace quickened dramatically, causing significant splits among the riders. Marthe Truyen of Fenix-Deceuninck unfortunately crashed, adding to the chaos as the race intensified.
As the competition headed towards the Kemmelberg, Lotte Kopecky, the world champion and also a member of SD Worx, took charge. Kopecky attempted to break away, but the lack of cooperation from Elisa Longo Borghini and Chloé Dygert made it difficult for her to gain a significant advantage. Kopecky explained, "It was quickly clear that Elisa Longo Borghini didn't want to ride fully, and Chloé Dygert was hesitant too. When there's no immediate teamwork, you know it's going to be tough." Nevertheless, Kopecky selflessly committed to supporting Wiebes throughout the race.
Wiebes reflected on the dynamics of the race, stating, "After the Kemmelberg, we were in a small group, but the collaboration wasn't great, which allowed the larger group to catch up. We expected that no one would want to ride with me to the finish." Despite these challenges, Wiebes knew she could rely on her teammate. "I knew Lotte was with me in the finale. We decided to let her lead the sprint after the other girls had done fantastic work earlier. The lead-out lasted almost a kilometer, which was quite long, but I trusted Lotte completely," she added.
The final kilometers saw Kopecky ramping up the pace, perfectly positioning Wiebes for the sprint finish. As the race neared its conclusion, Wiebes had a solid lead-out from Kopecky, who executed a near-perfect strategy by keeping the tempo high and allowing Wiebes to conserve energy for the final push. Kopecky described the chaotic finish: "It was very chaotic towards the end. I wasn't comfortable and just tried to keep the pace as high as possible. I hoped that Lorena wouldn't have to go too early."
As the sprint commenced, Wiebes displayed her explosive speed, crossing the finish line ahead of Balsamo, who finished second, and Kool, who took third place. Wiebes expressed her gratitude towards Kopecky, saying, "Lotte did a lead-out of almost a kilometer. I thought it was very early, but I know how strong she is and how to execute this strategy. I trust her completely." This victory marked Wiebes' third consecutive WorldTour win, a testament to her growing dominance in the sport.
Looking ahead, Wiebes is set to compete in the upcoming Ronde van Vlaanderen on April 6, 2025. She aims to support her team while also hoping to perform well herself. Wiebes remarked, "I hope to support the team as best as I can. The expectations aren't high for myself yet, but with Lotte showing such strength, it's nice to have more cards to play in the finale."
As the dust settles on Gent-Wevelgem, the cycling world is abuzz with excitement for what lies ahead. With Wiebes continuing to break records and Kopecky proving to be an invaluable teammate, the duo's chemistry could lead to even more victories in the future.
