Gent-Wevelgem (BEL) - 09.04.2008

Gent-Wevelgem is known as the sprinters’ classic, but Germany’s Marcus Burghardt upstaged the favourites in style in 2007, winning with a powerful lone attack after being part of the key breakaway of the race. His T-Mobile team mate Roger Hammond was decisive in Burghardt’s success by also being in the move, and then jumped away himself to take second and complete a special T-Mobile one-two. The sprinters charged over the finish line just a few seconds later but they had missed their chance to win a major UCI ProTour classic.

Tom Boonen (Quick Step), Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole), Oscar Freire (Rabobank), Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) and Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) will all be back again on April 9 this year and will be determined not to make the same mistake. However because the UCI ProTour is such an unpredictable and often tactical series, they know they will have to work hard for victory.

The route of Gent-Wevelgem in northwest Belgium suits the sprinters because it is almost completely flat, but the wind-affected section along the coast and the two climbs of the cobbled Kemmelberg always split the race and push the riders to their limits. The technically demanding descent of the Kemmelberg often causes crashes but whoever comes out as winner, be it a sprinter or attacker, will be the best rider on the day.