Gent - Wevelgem 2022: Girmay wins four-up sprint

image: Cor VosChristophe Laporte, Jasper Stuyven, Biniam Girmay and Dries Van Gestel attack inside the last 25 kilometres. The four hold off the chasing peloton before Girmay outguns Laporte and Van Gestel on the line. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Gent-Wevelgem 2022

1. Biniam Girmay (eri)
2. Christophe Laporte (fra) s.t.
3. Dries Van Gestel (bel) s.t.
4. Jasper Stuyven (bel) z.t
5. Søren Kragh Andersen (den) + 0.08
6. Tim Merlier (bel) z.t
7. Mads Pedersen (den) s.t.
8. Iván García (spa) s.t.
9. Matej Mohoric (slo) s.t.
10. Arnaud Démare (fra) s.t.

Race report
Attacks are flying from the start, but it takes 35 kilometres for the breakaway to hold. Jelle Wallays, Johan Jacobs, Alexander Konychev, Nikias Arndt, Ludovic Robeet, Lindsay de Vylder and Lars Saugstad open up a 6 minutes gap.

The gap has fallen to 1 minute after the first series of hills when a group of 18 riders escapes from the peloton. On board are Teunissen, Van Hooydonck, De Lie, Campenaerts, Beullens, Asgreen, Pasqualon, Girmay, Van Avermaet, Dewulf, Le Gac, Mohoric, Turner, Van Baarle, Theuns, Kirsch, Vergaerde, and Dillier.

The peloton is bunched again with 58 kilometres remaining.

Wout van Aert is the fastest rider in the last ascent of the Kemmelberg. He pushes on alone before Mohoric, Asgreen, Laporte, Benoot, Van Baarle, Pedersen and Kragh Andersen make it across. A group with Philipsen, García, Van Gestel, Van Avermaet, Démare, Laporte, Stuyven, Turgis, Kristoff and Girmay regains contact inside the last 25 kilometres.

While Laporte, Stuyven, Girmay and Van Gestel escape just before Ypres, a another group with sprinters makes it across to Van Aert et al.

The four open a 35 seconds gap, which is enough to sprint for the win. Girmay opens and finishes it off ahead of Laporte and Van Gestel.

Other interesting reads: route and start list 2022 Gent-Wevelgem.