By Alex 
Gent Wevelgem is a sportive which takes place a day before the actual Wevelgem pro cycling race. It starts and ends in Wevelgem in Belgium and is organised by the company Peloton.be This is the second time that I’ve taken part in this event and I entered it both as a challenge to myself and also as a fun event. Here’s how it went.
There are a number of routes to choose from starting with 65km and going all the way up to 240km. I chose to do the 80km route because that’s generally a long ride for me but I also want it to be enjoyable without it feeling like an outright slog. The routes take you through the heart of Flanders, green fields, quiet roads and so many memorials. This is the land where World War 1 was fought and it’s a very poignant ride. Depending on the route you choose you will visit various points of interest including Plugstreet where the Christmas truce of 1914 took place. Although Belgium is mostly flat, it is noted for its cobbled climbs, the most notorious of which is included in all of these routes (except the 65km) the Kemmelberg. And there is an invisible foe in Belgium which can be challenging despite the flat routes which is the wind.
The atmosphere at the start is exciting and this year it was great to see a lot more women doing this sportive. Although the routes change every year generally you have some very picturesque riding by the canal and through the beautiful fields. This year the sun was shining and despite a chill in the air to start with, it was brilliant weather. One of the highlights of this ride is coming through the Menin Gate into Ypres.
It’s a very well organised event and the signage is excellent. There are feed stations along the way and of course you can stop as often as you like to explore the historical sites if you want to. For me it’s not about doing it in the quickest time possible, I want to soak in the sights and the atmosphere.
It gets very busy on the routes and it can be a little intimidating when there are large groups of cyclists moving past quickly but as long as you remember to stay on the right hand side and be aware of your surroundings it isn’t an issue.
I really enjoyed this ride, more than I did last year. I felt strong and it felt challenging without feeling like I’d taken on too much. I had a plan for refuelling along the way which I stuck to except for just before the last 20 km I should have eaten again but wanted to push on to the finish. I stopped a few times to take pictures as well and as you can see they have professional photographers along the route taking photo’s which you can purchase after the event if you want to.
The last 5 km always feels like it goes on forever but once you cross the finish line you can go back into the cyclist village and hand your number back which you can then swap for a t-shirt or a medal. They have food and drink stands which you can refill some calories or enjoy a Belgian beer and some banging music on full volume for a proper party atmosphere. They have a very good system of bike parking where you have a numbered band for your bike and a matching one for your wrist and this is checked on exit to make sure you aren’t stealing someone else’s bike!
I’d rate this sportive a 4 out of 5 stars. Will I do it again next year, watch this space…
All images in this post © Sportograf