World Champion Peter Sagan wins in the rainbow stripes for the first time as he clinches victory in the Belgian classic Gent-Wevelgem
![]() |
Team News: Sagan Wins Gent Wevelgem
Note: During this race, Belgian cyclist Antoine Demoitie died after a collision with a motorbike. The 25-year-old was hit by the motorbike after several riders came down in a crash as the race passed through northern France. Demoitie was taken to hospital in the French city of Lille but died some time later. RIP Antoine
TINKOFF TEAM PRESS RELEASE
A stunning victory for Peter Sagan today as he took his first win in the rainbow stripes of the UCI World Champion’s jersey at Gent-Wevelgem. In the second of the four cobblestone classics, and in a contrast to his win in 2013 which he won after a solo breakaway, Peter took the win in a four-man sprint, having escaped in a group 34km from the finish.
Speaking at the finish, a thrilled Sagan talked about his first win. “I’m very happy that I’ve won finally with this jersey. It’s an important race for me also – it’s the second time I have won here. I want to dedicate this victory to my father in law as he had a hard time yesterday and I’m very happy to have won this race for him, and for our team owner, Oleg Tinkov.â€
The 234km course was flat for the first 125km, but these more open sections of the course were exposed and windswept, sapping the energy reserves of the riders. After this, at 140km, the climbs came thick and fast – ten climbs in the space of 65km. It was on these climbs the race would be won or lost.
Peter Sagan was in the front group from early on in the race, among the other race favourites, but stayed hidden in order to save energy for the finish. A tailwind was helping the bunch along for the first half of the race, but the riders knew this would be working against them on the home stretch. Hitting the major climbs, the field was stretched out, however no major splits had formed. It was on the final climb, the Kemmelberg, that the decisive move was made and the race was on.
With 34km to go, Fabian Cancellara of Trek-Segafredo went, taking Sagan with him, and bridging the gap to Katusha’s Kuznetsov, who was further up the road. Having been joined by LottoNL-Jumbo’s Vanmarcke, the breakaway quickly built up a lead of 35 seconds on the rest of the peloton.
With 5km of the race left and a 45 second time gap, it seemed certain the break wasn’t going to be caught. The chase had fallen apart, meaning it was all down to the four riders in the breakaway, and the race was to be decided with a sprint to the line. At less than 2km to the finish, the breakaway slowed, looking at each other to see who was going to make their move. Finally after Cancellara feigned an attack, Kuznetsov went and Sagan followed, using the Russian rider to lead him out and take the win in the sprint.
From the finish, Peter described the break. “The final was very hard because we were in a breakaway. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake as before and pull until the finish. We had a gap, I started from third position, and I said I had to go behind him and he pulled me in a very good sprint.â€
At the finish, Sagan was quick to thank his teammates, who were instrumental in keeping him safe in the early stages of the race. “I am very happy for today. I have to thank my teammates as they did a lot of hard work today. From the start they were a bit on the back foot but they came again. We played a bit with the group, and it was good from them. I had a hard time yesterday but I am very happy for today. It was very hard and I want to thank my teammates. Every race is different and today was my day.â€
Peter continued, describing the final 30km of the race. “In the final it was a hard race with the strong wind and we went full gas. In the final we attacked with Fabian in the last cobblestone climb, Kemmelberg, and made the breakaway. Then I think the fans also saw the breakaway – we worked well together from the start. In the sprint the speed was very slow as we spent a lot of time on the front of the group. Today I felt very, very good and the victory is here and for that I’m very happy.â€
After two of the cobblestone classics, there remain the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. After taking his first win of the season, Peter was philosophical about the coming races. “For sure what is very important is I have good condition. Friday was a different race and today was much better for me. I am very happy and I am on good form for Flanders and Roubaix.
E3 was a different race and you can see the end of the race was different. Everybody knows I was tired – I worked a lot on Friday. In life there are more important things than placings – I’m riding for passion, not for ambition.â€
Race Result
1. Peter Sagan (SVK) Tinkoff Team 05:55:12
2. Sep Vanmarcke (BEL) LottoNl-Jumbo
3. Viacheslav Kuznetsov (RUS) Team Katusha
4. Fabian Cancellara (SWI) Trek-Segafredo
5. Arnaud Demare (FRA) FDJ +00:00:11
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: Kent CA 10m Time Trial
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU 25m TT
- HC Result: Elevate RT Hill Climb
- Result: Welsh Road Race Championships 2024
- Result: Will Houghton Circuit Race (Hillingdon)
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- TT Result: Barnesbury CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Rutland CC 10m Time Trial
- TT Result: VC Glasgow South 22m TT
- BMCR Result: E/F/G/H/W Stallard Finale (Darley Moor)
- Crit Result: Melton Olympic CC Summer Crit 4
- Youth Result: The ‘Back to School’ Youth Races
- HC Result: Dursley Road Club Hill Climb
- TT Report: VTTA 100 Mile Championship
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- RR Result: Nick Clayton Memorial RR
- RR Result: Jef Schils Memorial Road Race (Nat B)
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- Crit Result: YBC & No Nonsense Circuit races
- RTTC 10 Mile Time Trial Championship (Women)
- RTTC 10 mile Time Trial Championships (Youth/Junior)
- RTTC 10 Mile Time Trial Championship
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- REPORT: Victor Berlemont Trophy Race
- RR Result: Junior Tour of Wales
- BMCR RESULT: Dulwich Paragon Road Race
- BMCR Result: Dinosaurs at the Palace
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Crit Result: Mountbatten Summer Circuit Series #10
- Crit Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series #25
- RR Result: Victor Berlemont Trophy Road Race
- Youth Results: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League 19
- Youth Result: 360 Cycling North West Youth Tour (Girls)
- Youth Result: 360 Cycling North West Youth Tour (Boys)
- Crit Result: 360 Cycling Open Circuit Race
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TT Result: Sussex CA 25m TT
- TT Result: Coalville Wheelers 19.8m TT
- Crit Result: Cliff Pratt Deca Community Crits 9
- Youth Result: Scottish National Youth Circuit Series 4
Other News on VeloUK
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TOM PIDCOCK CONFIRMED FOR LLOYDS BANK TOUR OF BRITAIN MEN
- Startlist: 42nd Junior Tour of Wales
- Startlist: 360 North West Youth Tour
- Tour of Britain: Evenepoel/Alaphilippe To Race National Tour
- GB Juniors for Track Worlds in China
- THIS WEEKEND: CYCLOCROSS (Leicestershire)
- Startlist: Men’s National B (Worcestershire)
- Startlists: Fenwicks Tour of Mendip 2024
- Startlists: 19th Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix Road Races
- Men’s Tour of Britain News: Teams for 2024 Race
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Revealed (Stages 5 & 6)
- NEWS: Women’s UCI Drops Team to Close
- Startlist: Youth and Junior Track Championships 2024
- Startlist: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Women/JuniorsYouth)
- Startlists: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Men)
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024
- Ribble Redefines Road with launch of Allroad
- BMCR: National Road Bike Time Trial Championship
- SUNDAY: Bath Road Club Junior National Series Road Race
- TLI CYCLING FEATURE: SUPER4SERIES
- NATIONAL CIRCUIT SERIES UPDATE 2024
- News: Josh Tarling Extends Contract at Ineos
- Tour of Britain for Men 2024
- News: Connor Swift Extends Contract with Ineos
- Updated GB Olympic Team News
- Sunday: 2024 Youth Circuit Race Championships (Cyclopark)
- ROBBED BY THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY – National Highways
- Startlist: BMCR National Road Championships E/F/G/H
- OLYMPIC NEWS – Team GB Announces First Riders for Olympics
- News: Alex Richardson Retires
- New Releases from Shutt Velo Rapide
- STARTLIST: Men’s British Road Race Championships