Unlike Kuurne a few days ago, it's a sunny day for this year's Gent-Wevelgem. We do have some wind though maybe that becomes a factor at some point during the race.
Early stages of the race now as we are waiting to see what the breakaway composition is like. The front of the race is currently occupied by:
Persico Predatsch Korosec Minami
Another group of 8 riders make it to the front of the race, but behind the team that is not happy about this is Kraftwerk and they are committed to bringing this group back. The new additions are:
Guavita Pringle Castellon Gautherat Wang Wai Chu Hayashibara Buck-Gramcko
Kraftwerk were using 4 riders in the chase, but they were outnumbered by the breakaway so they eventually had to give up the chase. The one casualty was Wai Chu who is now back in the peloton.
We thought about rejoining the coverage until we start the Kemmelberg for the first time, but Nielsen decided to attack on one of the asphalt climbs with 115 km to go. Forbes is trying to join him. Meanwhile the breakaway is only another 2 minutes ahead.
Nielsen and Forbes are close to the original breakaway now on the Kemmelberg.
The Kemmelberg obliterated the breakaway group. Korosec is the lone rider up front. Here we see Nielsen trying to make use of teammate Gautherat as much as possible.
The race is also heating up behind as we see a group of four featuring Vermeersch, Ariesen, De Witte and Roosen ahead of the peloton.
2nd time on the Kemmelberg and we see Nielsen and Forbes are paying for the earlier effort. The other four pre race favourites are now at the front with Korosec also not being able to follow.
The four don't stay together for long. Roosen is dropped meanwhile Ariesen goes on the attack.
Around 2 minutes behind the front of the race is what's the remainder of the peloton. 40 riders are here and apart from Nielsen who completely ran out of gas, the bigger favourites are all here.
Roosen is back in the peloton as Podium Ambition and Bralirwa are the two teams in control at the front.
Before the 3rd time up the Kemmelberg we have an attack from Del Grosso, Doull and Kaislavuo who quickly catch up to Vermeersch and De Witte.
The peloton swallows up everyone on the climb so it's all together here with 68 km and two Kemmelberg left to go.
Campbell goes on the attack soon after. Venturini is trying to follow.
Sanogo is the next to try his luck. Dewulf is trying to mark him, but we also see a bigger response from the favourites behind.
The 4 riders are able to join up. This the 2nd time in the race Duvel has had two riders up the road. Can this group make it over the Kemmelberg ahead of the other favourites?
Dewulf is the sole survivor of the Kemmelberg, he's the only one to stay ahead.
Campbell and Vermeersch are struggling to make it back to the main group.
As everyone else before him Dewulf now has a hard time on the last Kemmelberg ascent. The coverage team is also happy this is the last climb so we leave this loop that features lots of lapped riders.
We are now less than 40 km from the finish line. There is a lead group of 14 riders, trying to get back to that group are Sanogo, the Duvel trio of Venturini, Del Grosso and Dewulf, Gayral and Kaislavuo. Further back we also have riders like Hennis and Harrison.
Let's list the front group also that's currently being lead by two Lotto riders:
Sanogo is riding his tempo, but can't quite make the junction as of now.
21 km left and Teggart attacks! Basso is with him.
Van Lerberghe feels like he can't let those two go and attacks as well.
There is some cooperation in the group behind, but they're clearly not matching the tempo of the front three who are already nearly a minute ahead.
The front three are working well together and with 8 km to go it seems that the winner and entire podium will be decided between these riders.
Monk makes a desperate effort, but it gets him nowhere.
Flamme rouge. Teggart is at the front followed by Van Lerberghe then Basso.
Teggart launches with about 600 m to go.
Basso gains ground as they have 300 m left.
Leonardo Basso is the strongest! He edges out Teggart, Van Lerberghe didn't have the legs at the end and had to settle for 3rd.
The battle for 4th now as Manamalage looks to lead out the sprint.
The sprint for 4th place is a tight one, but it goes to Yechezkel ahead of Hansen, Livyns, Manamalage and Mestric. Finishing also in the top 10 are Monk and Insausti.
Leonardo Basso continues Bianchi's strong season by winning the 2025 edition of Gent-Wevelgem.
Gent-Wevelgem 
