\nPLUGSTREETS<\/p>\n
The riders are on the dirt roads now.<\/p>\n
2026-03-29T12:42:48.450Z<\/p>\n
There has been another split in the peloton on the approach to the Plugstreets.<\/p>\n
2026-03-29T12:42:07.775Z<\/p>\n
The five-man group has been brought back, and the attacks in the peloton have ceased.<\/p>\n
2026-03-29T12:40:04.319Z<\/p>\n
We\u2019re approaching a new phase of the race – the Plugstreets. These dirt roads have the capacity to cause damage in the peloton – especially if anyone is struck by a mechanical on them.<\/p>\n
2026-03-29T12:38:50.539Z Ahead of all these attacks in the peloton, the break still lead the race, albeit by only about 30 seconds now.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:37:58.858Z<\/p>\n S\u00e9n\u00e9chal, Fedorov, Kluckers and De Pestel are the riders with G. Vermeersch.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:37:04.293Z<\/p>\n Now a group of five goes clear, featuring Gianni Vermeersch.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:34:51.669Z<\/p>\n They’ve been brought back, but more attacks keep coming.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:34:32.588Z<\/p>\n A group of about eight riders have clipped off the front of the peloton, with a gap of a couple of seconds.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:33:40.534Z<\/p>\n It seems Van Aert slipped a chain climbing the Kemmelberg, but wasn’t held up for long and managed to stick in the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:33:04.483Z<\/p>\n Now the Kemmelberg has been completed for the first time, the riders have a long flat section before the day’s fourth climb. That doesn’t mean there will be a cessation in the action, however, and the riders in the peloton are continuing to attack each other on this flat section.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:29:48.313Z<\/p>\n Turner has been brought back.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:29:29.764Z<\/p>\n Florian Vermeersch is leading the chase in the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:28:54.102Z<\/p>\n Turner has gone 15 seconds clear of the peloton, and just 25 seconds behind the break.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:28:12.919Z The peloton is over the Kemmelberg, with none of the favourites dropped.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:27:29.830Z<\/p>\n The concertina effect is happening in the peloton as the peloton bunches up on the climb.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:26:12.227Z<\/p>\n Attack from Turner out of the peloton on the Kemmelberg.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:25:35.646Z<\/p>\n Hesters is dropped out of the break on the lower slopes of the Kemmelberg<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:25:01.692Z For the first time today, the riders are on the big one – the Kemmelberg.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:22:11.577Z They 8 breakway riders still lead the race, and are climbing the Monteberg.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:21:01.250Z<\/p>\n There’s still another smaller group that needs to bridge up to the peloton, but they’re nearly there.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:20:29.164Z<\/p>\n The race is coming back together! The Ineos-led second peloton has joined the front peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:20:00.877Z<\/p>\n The second peloton split on the previous climb, with Ineos leading up it.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:19:22.903Z<\/p>\n The second peloton is making inroads on the front peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:18:41.858Z<\/p>\n Laporte and Vermeersch are sitting up and waiting for the rest of the group.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:17:27.732Z<\/p>\n Laporte and Gianni Vermeersch have attacked out of the front peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:15:29.640Z<\/p>\n Red Bull lead the front peloton on the climb. They have five riders in this group – Meeus, Pithie, Gianni Vermeersch and the Van Dijke brothers.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:13:10.355Z Time for the second climb of the day, the Baneberg, which climbs for 1km at 7%.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:12:11.281Z The second peloton is chasing hard, but falling further adrift. They’re 35 seconds behind the front peloton, who in turn are 50 seconds behind the leading breakaway.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:08:45.472Z<\/p>\n NSN are also joining in as their leader (and former Gent-Wevelgem winner) Biniam Girmay is also in the second peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:07:35.190Z<\/p>\n Decathlon and Ineos are chasing fiercely, and have the front peloton within 25 seconds. They\u2019re riding for their respective leaders Andresen, and Turner and Ganna.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:05:49.694Z<\/p>\n Another view of the front peloton.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:04:31.756Z<\/p>\n It seems that Jonathan Milan has missed the split.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T12:03:26.819Z Here we go, the break are climbing, as we enter the hilly phase of the race. It’s already in pieces and it’s only going to get more chaotic.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:59:14.130Z The front peloton is 1:40 behind the leading 8-man break, and 30 seconds ahead of the trailing peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:58:22.399Z<\/p>\n In the second peloton, EF, Ineos and Decathlon are doing most of the chasing at the front.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:57:23.141Z<\/p>\n Red Bull are well represented in the front peloton, with Pithie and the Van Dijk brothers both here.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:56:26.451Z<\/p>\n One rider who has missed the split is Van Aert’s teammate Matthew Brennan.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:54:57.368Z<\/p>\n As well as Van der Poel, Van Aert and Philipsen, De Lie, Magnier, Trentin, Florian Vermeersch are all present in the front group.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:53:49.706Z<\/p>\n Here’s the front peloton. Visma-Lease a Bike’s Affini leads, so we assume Van Aert is there too.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:51:27.213Z The gap between the two pelotons continues to hover at about 50 seconds, while the increase in pace has seen the lead group come back to within three minutes of the first peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:48:31.621Z<\/p>\n Alpecin are leading the first peloton, indicating that their men Van der Poel and Philipsen have made the split.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:45:38.829Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:39:36.324Z<\/p>\n The front peloton is evidently working hard, and want this move to stick.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:38:54.343Z<\/p>\n Meanwhile the second peloton is 45 seconds adrift of the first. The race is very much on!<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:37:53.599Z The pace is greatly up, and the break is now only 3:30 ahead of the front peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:37:05.648Z<\/p>\n There’s been a development – it\u2019s unclear how exactly, but there\u2019s been a split in the peloton, with about 40 riders clear of the rest.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:32:53.461Z<\/p>\n Van der Poel, safely in the peloton.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:30:30.956Z<\/p>\n A reminder that the final stage of Volta a Catalunya is taking place, and it\u2019s all kicking off.<\/p>\n Volta a Catalunya stage 7 LIVE: Remco Evenepoel lights up the race on third ascent of Montju\u00efc<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:27:38.710Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:24:09.371Z<\/p>\n Kanter has also abandoned after being involved in the same crash as Rex.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:22:48.198Z It’s calm again, and the break’s lead has grown back to 5:20.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:18:48.322Z<\/p>\n Laurenz Rex has abandoned the race, following his fall earlier.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:18:03.902Z<\/p>\n Everyone is over the cobblestones, and the peloton remains together. The next obstacle the riders will be up against is the Scherpenberg, the first of four climbs in quick succession coming up in about 35km.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:14:08.666Z<\/p>\n The peloton passing through Moeren, were the race did not break apart.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:09:53.534Z Now the race has calmed down again, the pelotn have allowed the break’s lead to grow back to just over five minutes.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:08:52.475Z<\/p>\n The exposed section might be done, but now the riders have a couple of cobblestone sectors to contend with.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:07:24.440Z<\/p>\n Enjoying our live race coverage? Subscribe to Cyclingnews for an all-access pass to our unrivalled reporting of WorldTour racing, bike tech and exclusive in-depth features. Plus, access to the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on-the-go! Find out more.<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:04:01.175Z<\/p>\n The riders are through De Moeren, where it wasn\u2019t windy enough to burst the race to life as it has in previous editions.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:02:47.531Z<\/p>\n The pace is slow enough in the peloton for Tratnik and Drizners to make their way back into it.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T11:01:45.047Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:59:00.915Z<\/p>\n Tratnik and Drizners burnt themselves out working for Red Bull leading into the De Moeren, and have been dropped.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:57:47.989Z<\/p>\n No signs any echelons forming yet.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:55:17.483Z The peloton are at De Moeren now, their defecit to the break having been reduced for the first time all day, to about 4:30.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:54:11.789Z<\/p>\n Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe are leading a much-sped up peloton as they ride towards De Moeren.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:51:40.146Z<\/p>\n The breakaway riders are at De Moeren, and the peloton will be there in a few minutes. The wind is not especially strong, but could still be enough for echelons on such an exposed section.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:47:15.662Z<\/p>\n Crash in the peloton, and some significant names are involved – sprinters Max Kanter and Laurenz Rex, plus Timo Kielich and Ferre Geeraerts.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:44:39.745Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:42:25.760Z Still the break’s lead gets bigger and bigger, now up to a huge 5:45.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:37:42.431Z<\/p>\n The race remains calm for now, but that will all change once they approach the De Moeren section, where this race more often than not blows to pieces in the wind.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:33:04.966Z<\/p>\n The eight riders in the break, who have built one of the biggest leads we’ve seen all season.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:30:49.153Z<\/p>\n Today sees the resumption of the rivalry between Van der Poel and Van Aert, for the second time this season following Milan-Sanremo. But whereas they were overshadowed by Tadej Poga\u010dar that day, his absence means they are the two favourites for the victory today.<\/p>\n ‘I want to put up a fight’ – Wout van Aert in upbeat mood for In Flanders Fields<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:25:00.202Z 5:15 is the break’s lead now. There’s no urgency in the peloton yet to bring it back.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:18:42.887Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:17:23.786Z<\/p>\n Still the break’s lead grows, now up to 4:50 with 185km left to ride.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:16:48.938Z<\/p>\n As well as this race, it\u2019s also the final stage of Volta a Catalunya today. Be sure to have another tab open to follow all the action with us there too!<\/p>\n Volta a Catalunya stage 7 LIVE: Race finale on the traditional Montju\u00efc circuit<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:07:58.310Z<\/p>\n One rider missing from the start today who had been set to ride is deafening champion Mads Pederen, who, despite being back in action following his early season crash, has been struck ill. As a three-time winner, Pedersen loves this race, and it\u2019s the only one in which he\u2019s had the beating both Wout van Aert and Van der Poel in recent years.<\/p>\n Defending champion Mads Pedersen, ill, will not start In Flanders Fields, loses chance to take record-breaking fourth win<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:02:58.947Z The break’s lead is still growing, and is now up to 4:20.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:57:15.290Z<\/p>\n It\u2019s not exactly warm in Flanders today, but the sky is blue and there\u2019s no sign of any rain.<\/p>\n Neither is it especially windy, but even a gentle breeze can cause damage on the notorious De Moeren section coming up later.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:53:36.154Z<\/p>\n A reminder of the eight riders in the break;<\/p>\n Dries De Bondt (Jayco-AlUla)<\/p>\n Julius Johansen (UAE Team Emirates – XRG)<\/p>\n Frits Biesterbos (Picnic PostNL)<\/p>\n Camille Charret (Cofidis)<\/p>\n Victor Vercouillie (Flanders – Baloise)<\/p>\n Jules Hesters (Flanders – Baloise)<\/p>\n Wessel Mouris (Unibet Rose Rockets)<\/p>\n Hartthijs de Vries (Unibet Rose Rockets)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:50:16.753Z The break’s lead has gone up, to 3:50. There’s a lot of road from no until the first cobbled sections for the peloton to allow them leeway while keeping them controlled.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:49:01.883Z<\/p>\n The breakaway in full, after the two groups came together.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:47:23.208Z<\/p>\n The four original breakaway riders, before they were joined by the other four.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:39:45.821Z<\/p>\n Jonas Rickaert has taken over at the front of the peloton and is riding tempo. His Alpecin team didn\u2019t want the gap to grow much more beyond the 3:15 it had already reached.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:35:44.761Z<\/p>\n The two groups have indeed come together, so we now have eight riders leading the race.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:34:39.660Z The first two groups will be together soon, while the peloton has sat up and is three minutes behind.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:33:27.953Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:31:20.670Z<\/p>\n And the four pursuers should be joining the four leaders before long – they\u2019ve only 15 seconds to make up.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:30:39.971Z<\/p>\n The peloton looks as though it’s happy to let all of these riders go. They’ve allowed the front group 1:20 already.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:28:35.417Z<\/p>\n Dries De Bondt, Frits Biesterbos, Hartthijs de Vries and Jules Hesters are the four pursuing riders.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:26:44.241Z<\/p>\n A new group of four has also formed ahead of the peloton and is chasing the four leaders.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:25:35.057Z These four riders look like they might be getting away. They’re about 30 seconds ahead of the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:23:35.472Z<\/p>\n A Picnic-PostNL tried tried to join them but is back in the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:20:56.403Z<\/p>\n Wessel Mouris and Camille Charret are the other two riders with them.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:20:12.210Z<\/p>\n Four riders, including Victor Vercouillie and Julius Johansen, are the latest to give it a go.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:16:35.234Z<\/p>\n A group of seven tried to go clear, but have not be allowed to by the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:13:31.962Z<\/p>\n Attacks are flying out of the peloton right from the off.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:12:46.638Z And they’re off!<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:06:50.576Z<\/p>\n Wout van Aert is here today, and ready to take on his great rival Mathieu van der Poel once again.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:05:04.919Z<\/p>\n The riders are in the neutralised section and will be racing any moment now.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:03:26.957Z<\/p>\n Mathieu van der Poel at the start, seeking his third consecutive cobbled classic viceroy this spring.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T08:58:39.016Z<\/p>\n Despite these changes, the character of the race remains very much the same. There will be eight climbs including three ascents of the Kemmelberg, and a 35km flat run-in to the finish for the sprinters to try and get back in contention for a bunch finish.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T08:56:18.892Z<\/p>\n As well as the name, the race has also changed its start location, with the riders currently in waiting to start not in Ypres as they have in recent years, nor, as the former title suggests, Gent, but rather Middelkerke.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T08:51:33.667Z<\/p>\n For those who don\u2019t know, and are confused as to what today’s race is, \u2018In Flanders Fields\u2019 is the new name given to Gent-Wevelgem, which has been rebranded this year.<\/p>\n
\n80KM TO GO<\/p>\n
\n90KM TO GO<\/p>\n
\nKEMMELBERG<\/p>\n
\nMONTEBERG<\/p>\n
\nBANEBERG<\/p>\n
\n100KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"Belgian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5H2rQVBnEDjT88cL52UThU.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nSCHERPENBERG<\/p>\n
\n110KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"Italian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WidMoPSFuSJtzs8nis7wjh.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\n120KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"WEVELGEM,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/EWv6cLHDmzzAi7JvMvitPd.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\n130KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"Alpecin-Premier](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BLdMvxkM5CHUoeENyvdQV.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"WEVELGEM,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/zZSwXEjzFkSL6Dya8tT4VE.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\n140KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/85tGnrLbR7iRjAVi97T6mK.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\n150KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"WEVELGEM,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jSedJfmxAbVe5rHiEBFqvX.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\n160KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"WEVELGEM,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/tp6Jhf2sJxPu6eQXFJUiTf.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\n170KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"Dutch](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/S47BvJ5MxQKQRzYgSXmdSW.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\n180KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/brVWDBKAvf6HN49imZ8ETX.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\n200KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"MIDDELKERKE,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/NN3qcZjfFmAfAJQfNqmctW.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\n210KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"WEVELGEM,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSSbYzMGT4aMATSHVhphkQ.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"WEVELGEM,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4cuFhpXEon8KXMJrixPnY7.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\n220KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"MIDDELKERKE,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dhWPxwMw723ecvuo5bsXrG.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\n230KM TO GO<\/p>\n
\nOFFICIAL START<\/p>\n![\"Belgian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dkPWB5eENZYRE5gyjRA3NT.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"Dutch](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7cZHn64DUq8U5itRQmrUn7.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n