Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields 2025 men’s race LIVE – Can Mads Pedersen make it three victories in Flanders Fields?

1. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) 5'30"21
2. Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quickstep) +49"
3. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) "
4. Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X) "
5. Hugo Hofstetter (Israel-PremierTech) "
6. Davide Ballerini (Astana) "
7. Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) "
8. Jenno Beckmoes (Lotto) "

9. Jordi Meeus (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe) "
10. Laurenz Rex (Intermarche-Wanty) "

I think. It was between him and Jonathan Milan, with no-one else in it. That was a long gallop.

Victory in style. His 50th race win as a professional. He's a great, no doubt about that.

Gives a little look behind.

Make no mistake, this is not how this race is usually won. We might be used to it in other races, but to do solo from 50km out on a largely straight flat race marks him out as a man of character and almighty strength.

They have four riders three from the front of the bunch. "They're laughing" says Brian Smith. It's a race for second place and, let's be honest, has been for a while now.

And holding the gap. Uno-X and Alpecin-Deceuninck trade places at the front where they do now look invested, but they do not have the strength or the numbers.

This is where he'll catch a breeze on his back. There are sprinters in this group behind and they've got team-mates who can work for them. The thing is, I can see a lot of Lidl-Trek riders and the last thing anyone wants is to carry Jonathan Milan to the line.

Under the Menin Gate in this beautiful, historic town. The gap is now 1'22. And we're starting to see more of a chase with Soudal-Quickstep taking over.

But is it falling fast enough? 1'34 Pedersen holds, and what remains of the peloton is closing in on the Campenaerts trio. The wind doesn't favour Pedersen at the moment, but it will when he turns towards town.

Mads Pedersen still has a lead of 1'50". I just don't think teams sacrifice themselves at this stage of the race, not to the extent they'll need to.

Jorgensen is further down the group this time around. Philipsen is looking very good on this rocky road. But it's surely too little too late.

This is the only time up the harder, Ossuaire side - the one I've done, FYI - which rises up to 22% in places. There will surely be moves out of the peloton. The crowd are four rows deep and they are roaring on the Dane.

37KM TO GO: ARE THEY WAITING TO THE KEMMEL TO COMMIT?

It's the only rational explanation I can think of for this dithering. Mads Pedersen has almost two minutes' advantage - where are they going to find that from?

The Decathlon rider decides to take matters in his own hands. I don't know why his team didn't just take over and commit to the chase rather than sending him off solo. Brian Smith seems to agree, but perhaps this might stir their stumps behind.

But they might need to take over sooner rather than later, because it's one and a half minutes between them and Mads Pedersen. Once he gets over the Kemmelberg for the last time the wind is going to be behind him, and it'll be all but impossible for him to be caught. Worth mentioning that Lidl-Trek are pretty visible in the peloton, in the perfect position to disrupt the chase.

He decided he didn't need the anchors and can do this all by himself. Will he prove himself correct? It looks to be Alpecin who have taken over the chase in the bunch, which has grown in number over the last half an hour or so.

Except Mads Pedersen, Haller and Livyns. He was clearly planning this one. They reach the steep section and Campenaers starts to struggle but Pedersen comes into his own just before the top. Most of these will regather. In the peloton, Matteo Jorgensen looks born for the Kemmelberg, and is on the move, while Girmay appears a few clicks off his best.

Back on the Monteberg, and he seems to want to stretch the bunch out a bit. Maybe just a show of strength. Behind the peloton Danny van Poppel (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe) says goodbye to the bunch.