Gent-Wevelgem Podium History | 2014 Edition | 2016 Edition | Photos | Race map |

Deinze - Wevelgem, 239 km

The Climbs:

• Km 120: Casselberg
• Km 126: Casselberg
• Km 143: Catsberg
• Km 152: Baneberg
• Km 160: Kemmelberg
• Km 164: Monteberg
• Km 193: Baneberg
• Km 201: Kemmelberg
• Km 205: Monteberg

Luca Paolini won a wet and windy Gent-Wevelgem

The Race: The weather was perfect for a tough Belgian classic, wind and rain lashed the riders who rode a race of survival. The wind was so strong some riders were simply blown off the road or became victims of a crash.

With about 16 kilometers to go, Niki Terpstra initiated the day's big move when he took off from a seriously reduced front group. He was soon joined by others, while the rest of the peloton basically gave up.

From that group, with about five kilometers to go, the old man of the peloton, 38-year old Luca Paolini, took off. And that was the race. Paolini soloed across the line, 11 seconds ahead of Niki Terpstra and Geraint Thomas.

Only 39 riders were classified finishers. Tough day on the road.

Complete Results:

239 km raced at an average speed of 37.646 km/hr

1	PAOLINI Luca	Katusha	6hr 20min 55sec
2	TERPSTRA Niki	Etixx-Quick Step	@ 11sec
3	THOMAS Geraint	Sky	s.t.
4	VANDENBERGH Stijn	Etixx-Quick Step	0:00:18
5	DEBUSSCHERE Jens	Lotto-Soudal	0:00:26
6	VANMARCKE Sep	LottoNL-Jumbo	0:00:40
7	ROELANDTS Jurgen	Lotto-Soudal	@ 1min 51sec
8	OSS Daniel	BMC	0:04:15
9	KRISTOFF Alexander	Katusha	0:06:54
10	SAGAN Peter	Tinkoff-Saxo	s.t.
11	THEUNS Edward	Topsport Vlaanderen	s.t.
12	TSATEVITCH Alexey	Katusha	s.t.
13	LOBATO Juan Jose	Movistar	s.t.
14	WAEYTENS Zico	Giant-Alpecin	s.t.
15	DEMARE Arnaud	FDJ	s.t.
16	DRUCKER Jean Pierre	BMC	s.t.
17	THWAITES Scott	Bora-Argon 18	s.t.
18	HAYMAN Mathew	Orica-GreenEdge	s.t.
19	SENECHAL Florian	Cofidis	s.t.
20	CHAVANEL Sylvain	IAM Cycling	s.t.
21	LEUKEMANS Björn	Wanty-Groupe Gobert	s.t.
22	DE VREESE Laurens	Astana	s.t.
23	ZHUPA Eugert	Southeast	s.t.
24	RAST Grégory	Trek	s.t.
25	CIOLEK Gerald	MTN-Qhubeka	s.t.
26	VAN ASBROECK Tom	LottoNL-Jumbo	s.t.
27	MARCATO Marco	Wanty-Groupe Gobert	s.t.
28	TRENTIN Matteo	Etixx-Quick Step	s.t.
29	KNEES Christian	Sky	s.t.
30	GRIVKO Andriy	Astana	s.t.
31	QUINZIATO Manuel	BMC	s.t.
32	NAESEN Oliver	Topsport Vlaanderen	s.t.
33	MAES Nikolas	Etixx-Quick Step	0:06:54
34	KEUKELEIRE Jens	Orica-GreenEdge	0:07:00
35	TANKINK Bram	LottoNL-Jumbo	0:07:03
36	VAN AVERMAET Greg	BMC	0:07:03
37	WALLAYS Jelle	Topsport Vlaanderen	0:07:06
38	STYBAR Zdenek	Etixx-Quick Step	s.t.
39	TJALLINGII Maarten	LottoNL-Jumbo	s.t.

Race pictures by Fotoreporter Sirotti:

Riders form echelons to fight the wind. Bettini photo.

There were more than a few crashes at this year's Gent-Wevelgem.

Luca Paolini attacks

Luca Paolini gets a spumante shower. He doesn't seem to mind.

The 2015 Gent-Wevelgem podium, from left: Niki Terpstra, Luca Paolini and Geraint Thomas

Race Map: