Mads Pedersen won the 86th edition of the cycling classic Gent – Wevelgem. The 28-year-old Dane prevailed in the sprint against world champion Mathieu van der Poel on Sunday. On the first of three crossings of the Kemmelberg, a small leading group formed 86 kilometers from the finish, which included Van der Poel and Pedersen. The highest peak in West Flanders ensured that the Dutchman and the Dane fought for victory with 34 kilometers to go.
Van der Poel, who won the World Tour’s E3 Classic with an impressive solo on Friday, was missing the crucial points in the last meters of the 253-kilometer race. He had to abandon his attempt to overtake his competitor shortly before the finish line. Pedersen celebrated his second success in Wevelgem after that of 2020. The field crossed the finish line 16 seconds behind the duo. The Belgian Jordi Meeus sprinted to third place, his Bora teammate Marco Haller (54th) reached the finish a minute and a half later.
