Following the start in historic Yper the route runs through Flanders’ flat fields to the first section of climbs. After approximately 50 kilometres the short and sharp Baneberg appears. Almost 5 kilometres later the riders hit the Kemmelberg – 3 kilometres at 4% and peaking out at 17% – before the route continues to Monteberg. The 1.3 kilometres hill slopes at 7.1%.
The Baneberg/Kemmelberg/Monteberg combo is included within an 11 kilometres frame and now the route travels on the flat to the so-called ‘plugstreets’. Two sections of dirt road follow in rapid succession – the first one is slightly uphill and the second one runs through a forest. After the last plugstreet there are 62.5 kilometres left to race.
With 90 kilometres done the trio of climbs returns, also in the same order. So firstly Baneberg and then the Kemmelberg and Monteberg combo. At the top of Monteberg the riders face 34 flat kilometres on wide and open roads.
Marta Bastianelli is title holder. Last year, she outsprinted Jolien D’Hoore and Lisa Klein. D’Hoore must be dying to win this race, as she was runner-up in 2017 too.
Other interesting reads: results/race report and start list of Gent-Wevelgem 2019 for women.
Gent – Wevelgem for women 2019: route, profile, more
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