Five conclusions from unscripted Gent-Wevelgem Women

WEVELGEM BELGIUM MARCH 26 LR Megan Jastrab of The United States and Team DSM on second place race winner Marlen Reusser of Switzerland and Team SD Worx and Maike Van Der Duin of The Netherlands and Team CanyonSRAM Racing on third place pose on the podium ceremony after the 12th GentWevelgem In Flanders Fields 2023 Womens Elite a 1625km one day race from Ypres to Wevelgem UCIWWT on March 26 2023 in Wevelgem Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images

It was a Gent-Wevelgem Women that broke the mould, with a solo winner in 2023 for the first time since 2016. Back then it was Chantal van der Broek who spoiled the chances for the sprinters and this year it was again an SD Worx rider who went solo, with Marlen Reusser launching at 40 kilometres to go. 

The wet weather, crashes and lack of impetus in the early chase gave Reusser an advantage that couldn’t be hauled back, even when the adept time trialist took a wrong turn on the run into the line.