Preview In Flanders Fields
Analysis written by Sergio Yustos (@sergioyustos_) and fantasy tips by Cédric Molina (@ilcapoced)
ROUTE ANALYSIS
- Schedule: 11:05 - 16:20 CET
- TV coverage: from 13:45 CET
The Gent-Wevelgem route (now under a new name) stopped trying to resemble the Tour of Flanders years ago, but that doesn’t mean it has lost any toughness or, above all, its ability to blow the race apart. It remains, in terms of prestige and start list, the third-biggest spring classic, and it has a very clear identity: the wind and the Kemmelberg.
The start is in Middelkerke, with a first completely flat section heading towards Veurne. It is just after this town that De Moeren appears, the point where the wind can begin to split the race long before the climbs and cobbled sectors come into play.
After this first major exposed area, the race heads south and the difficulties begin. This year the first climb will be the Scherpenberg, which serves as a prelude to the decisive sequence: Baneberg, Monteberg and the Kemmelberg, the most iconic ascent of the race. This circuit is tackled twice and the final passage over the Kemmelberg, located 36 kilometres from the finish, usually produces the last major selection in the race.
It should be noted that, between the two hilly zones, there will be a section of sterrato around 80 kilometres from the finish. It’s a section that could encourage long-range attacks.
From there to Wevelgem the terrain is completely flat – a finish that, on paper, favours the sprinters. If the race is already in pieces by the time it reaches the hills, attacks have a strong chance; if not, Wevelgem usually settles things with a reduced bunch sprint.
Climbs
| Climb | Altitude | Length | Average gradient | Race km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scherpenberg | 87 m | 1.4 km | 2.4% | km 134.8 |
| Baneberg | 137 m | 1.0 km | 6.9% | km 143.9 |
| Monteberg | 98 m | 1.0 km | 5.0% | km 149.8 |
| Kemmelberg (Belvedere) | 145 m | 0.4 km | 9.8% | km 151.3 |
| Monteberg | 98 m | 1.0 km | 5.0% | km 182.1 |
| Kemmelberg (Belvedere) | 145 m | 0.4 km | 9.8% | km 183.6 |
| Scherpenberg | 86 m | 2.3 km | 1.9% | km 191.1 |
| Baneberg | 137 m | 1.0 km | 7.0% | km 200.2 |
| Kemmelberg (Ossuaire) | 152 m | 0.8 km | 9.4% | km 205.4 |
Cobbled sectors
| Nº | Sector | Surface | Length | Race km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beauvoordestraat (Izenberge) | Cobbles | 500 m | km 88.8 |
| 2 | Veurnestraat (Leisele) | Cobbles | 1100 m | km 92.8 |
| 3 | Kemmelberg | Cobbles | 400 m | km 151.3 |
| 4 | Hill 63 | Sterrato | 2100 m | km 165.8 |
| 5 | Christmas Truce | Sterrato | 1300 m | km 167.9 |
| 6 | The Catacombs | Sterrato | 600 m | km 169.4 |
| 7 | Kemmelberg | Cobbles | 400 m | km 183.6 |
| 8 | Kemmelberg | Cobbles | 200 m | km 205.4 |
WEATHER
Strong winds are expected, especially in the opening part of the route, which could lead to a fast race and make it easier for splits to form. On the other hand, although the chances are low, there is a possibility of rain in the final part of the stage; we’ll keep an eye on it.
FAVOURITES FOR THE WIN
With Mathieu van der Poel, there is a clear favourite. That said, we already saw in the E3 that he can be beaten – provided, of course, that he misjudges his strategy and gives others an opening, because the numbers he produced were still spectacular. On top of that, this route does not particularly favour a long solo raid; almost an hour from the last climb to the finish is a long time to assume he is so overwhelmingly favoured that no one else has a chance.
This is where riders such as Wout van Aert – whose approach in the race we’ll have to see – Filippo Ganna or Christophe Laporte come in: three riders who also benefit from a slightly chaotic race that avoids a full bunch sprint, and who are essential if a long-range move is to succeed. Because, let’s not fool ourselves, the level of sprinters is astonishing: Jasper Philipsen, Tobias Lund Andresen, Jonathan Milan, Matthew Brennan, Paul Magnier, Arnaud De Lie or Jordi Meeus.
Having so many sprinters on the start line makes the bunch finish look like the most likely scenario, and that further reduces the chances of the first names mentioned. I wouldn’t be surprised if the winner is an Alpecin rider – and not Van der Poel.
Finally, we must not forget riders such as Søren Wærenskjold, Jasper Stuyven, Alec Segaert, Florian Vermeersch, Mathias Vacek, Matteo Trentin or my two picks for this race: Luca Mozzato and Luke Lamperti, two interesting riders to watch.
IL CAPO CED’S RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE A CAPO IN FANTASY
💥 Il capo’s stats.
We’ve had 4 consecutive seasons in which a rider who finished T3 in the E3 Saxo Classic also finished T3 in this race.
- 2022: Christophe Laporte 🥈 in E3 and 🥈 in In Flanders Fields
- 2023: Wout van Aert 🥇🥈
- 2024: Mathieu van der Poel 🥇🥈
- 2025: Mads Pedersen 🥈🥇
📂 Riders with -10% who achieved a T10.
2025: 5
2024: 2 (including 🥉)
2023: 5 (3 of them below 1%)
2022: 4 (including 🥉)
2021: 6
2020: 1
2019: 7 (including 🥇🥈)
📂 Riders costing 200 coins who achieved a T10.
2025: 4
2024: 0
2023: 5
2022: 2
2021: 2
2020: 0
2019: 2
📂 User popular vote in the app (15 most selected cyclists).
7 editions played in Fantasy (since 2019)
They got the 🥇 right: 6/7
They got the 🥈 right: 4/7
They got the 🥉 right: 4/7
They got the rest of the T10 right: 19/49
🌟 Capos to watch.
The 2019 season, when Alexander Kristoff won, was the last time we saw a bunch sprint finish. All the following editions have had one thing in common: victory by a solo rider or by a small group fighting for the win, with the peloton (sometimes 15 riders and sometimes 40–50) arriving roughly 1 minute behind.
With riders on the start list such as Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert or Filippo Ganna, we can expect something similar this time.
Even so, I recommend picking one or two sprinters who can win the bunch sprint and land a T10; that way you also have the sprint scenario covered in case the race doesn’t end up being as wild or chaotic as in recent years.
Ranked by price range, from most to least recommended:
💰 1000-1200 (6 riders):
Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Jasper Philipsen, Jonathan Milan, Biniam Girmay
💰 600-800 (16 riders):
Tobias Lund Andresen, Filippo Ganna, Matthew Brennan, Paul Magnier, Arnaud De Lie
💰 400 (23 riders):
Christophe Laporte, Matteo Trentin, Lukáš Kubiš, Luke Lamperti, Jenno Berckmoes, Jasper Stuyven
💰 200 (rest of the peloton):
Florian Vermeersch, Tim van Dijke, Matej Mohorič, Gianni Vermeersch, Alexis Renard, Laurenz Rex