Gallery: Vos adds Gent-Wevelgem to her incredible CV
One of Belgian's top one-day races as captured by our photographers.
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There aren’t many big races that Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) hasn’t won. Coming into this past weekend, Gent-Wevelgem was one them. By Sunday evening, the Dutchwoman had changed that.
There were several threatening moves throughout the race that looked like they could stay away, but ultimately it came down to a reduced bunch sprint where 33-year-old Vos showed she’s still got one of the fastest finishes in the world.
Photographer Joris Knapen was at the race shooting for Rhode Van Elsen, so too were several photographers snapping for the Cor Vos photo agency. What you see below is a gallery of their photos, telling the story of the 2021 women’s Gent-Wevelgem.
Riders await the start in Ypres. Beware the crack of doom … US champ Ruth Winder sets the pace. Gent-Wevelgem is best known for its cobbled climbs, but gravel features as well. Gent-Wevelgem or Strade Bianche? Eventual winner Marianne Vos warns the bunch about an upcoming turn. Women’s WorldTour leader Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) was aggressive as she has been all season. Kasia Niewiadoma ratchets up the pace. The Kemmelberg is an iconic part of the Gent-Wevelgem course. The steep climb put many riders in difficulty. Former CX world champ Ceylin Alvarado is racing on the road with newly rebranded team Plantur-Pura this season. The race splintered in the closing kilometres. Longo Borghini and Soraya Paladin (Liv) got clear with a little less than 20 km to go … … but they were caught with 300 metres to go, just as Vos started her sprint. Despite kicking early, she ended up taking the win rather convincingly. COVID-compliant elbow-bumps were the celebration of choice on the podium for Vos and runner-up Lotte Kopecky (Liv). Edible flowers? That’s another WorldTour victory to add to Marianne Vos’ already ridiculous palmares.
