Gent - Wevelgem 2016: First Sagan win in rainbow jersey

Gent - Wevelgem 2016 features 241.3 kilometres and nine hills. At the last one, Kemmelberg, Sagan, Cancellara and Vanmarcke attack and they join lone leader Kutznetsov. It boils down to a sprint of four with Peter Sagan outperforming the competion. Vanmarcke second, Kuznetsov third, Cancellara fourth. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Gent-Wevelgem

1. Peter Sagan (svk)
2. Sep Vanmarcke (bel) s.t.
3. Vyacheslav Kuznetsov (rus) s.t.
4. Fabian Cancellara (swi) s.t.
5. Arnaud Démare (fra) + 0.11
6. Fernando Gaviria (col) s.t.
7. Jurgen Roelandts (bel) s.t.
8. Jacopo Guarnieri (ita) s.t.
9. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
10. Michael Morkov (den) s.t.

Race report
3 kms into the race and Pavel Brutt, Lieuwe Westra, Jonas Rickaert and Josef Cerny give it a go. Simon Pellaud bridges the gap after a long chase. The leaders race to a maximum advantage of 11 minutes.

After two hours in the saddle strong winds tear the peloton apart. Sep Vanmarcke and Lars Boom are in the second peloton, while all other favourites are in the first group. Halfway the race they gobble up the leaders.

With 90 kms left the second peloton hooks up with the front of the race, while at Monteberg Trentin attacks with Benoot, Oss, Brutt and Nizzolo on his wheel. Approaching the Kemmelberg for the second time their adventure is history. Kuznetsov is next and he races to a 1 minute lead at the top of Baneberg.

At the last hill, Kemmelberg, Sagan, Cancellara, Vanmarcke escape and they join Kuznetsov. The quartet races to the line to sprint for victory.

After hanging on in the last wheel for the last 35 kms Kuznetsov is the first to jump, but a strong Sagan shatters the Russian’s dream. In the dying metres Vanmarcke catches Kuznetsov also.