Gent Wevelgem 2023
25th March
See our flexible bookings information. View Details.
Why Book This Trip?
Watch 2 pro races and ride your own Sportive this weekend. E3 Harelbeke is on Friday, Gent Wevelgem Sportive on Saturday and Gent Wevelgem for the Pros is on Sunday. Gent Wevelgem is one of our favourite Sportives of the year and an event that experienced sportive riders love to come back to every year. The event is much smaller than the Tour of Flanders and most of the peloton are locals. The Sportive route is mostly flat over exposed lowlands of Western Flanders. The route goes past many WW1 battlefields & cemeteries with some sections on the unpaved Plugstreets close to the trenches. The main climb in the race is the very steep Kemmelberg but by far the biggest challenge is the fight against headwinds.
Spread your payments: Our payment plan is an interest-free payment method where you will have the opportunity to spread payment for your booking.
Guided Warm Up Ride on Friday: Join us from 2pm as we lead a 50km guided ride with a few cobbles. We ride the last part of E3 Harelbeke just before the pros and watch the sprint finish.
Mechanic at the Hotel: On Friday & Saturday morning our expert mechanics are on hand to make sure your bike is in perfect condition, or rent one of our bikes.
Private Feedstop :50km before the finish we have a private feed stop with mechanical assistance. Drop off a day bag in the morning so you can collect at the feed & enjoy some proper, savoury food as well as OTE nutrition.
What's Included?
Accommodation
2 or 3 nights in 3* hotel in Kortrijk
Meals Included
Breakfasts
Guided Warm Up Rides
50km E3 ride on Friday
Sportive Entry
Delivered to the hotel
Mechanic
On hand Friday & Saturday
Private Food Stops
With savoury food, energy products & mechanic
Bike Rental
Available as an extra. Own bikes can be kept in room.
Itinerary
Day To Day
● Arrive in Kortrijk in time for lunch.
● Enjoy a 50km coffee spin where we will see parts of the E3 Harelbeke (including a cobbled section and a climb). Last year one of the riders in the pro peloton left the race half way through the figure of eight route and rode back to the finish line with our riders!!
● We will check out the E3 finish line before heading back to the hotel.
● In the evening we hand out day bags for tomorrow and your sportive entry.
Airport Transfers
Most people drive to Gent Wevelgem – Kortrijk is a short 1hr30 drive from Calais. Private transfers available from Brussels (BRU). Contact us for details, private collections.
● Early breakfast at the hotel
● Mechanic support before riding the short distance to the start line
● Starting times are open from 07:00 and 10:00 depending on your chosen route.
● Private feed stop 50km before the finish
● Social post ride beers in the hotel bar.
Sportive Options
All Sportive distances start and finish in Wevelgem, at just 6km from Kortrijk where we are staying. Choose from 5 distance options. During the ride you will discover monuments of the First World War such as the Menin Gate. There are also gravel sections called Plugstreets and of course cobbled climbs such as the Kemmelberg.
| Distance | Elevation | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Route | 68km | 231m | 1/5 |
| Short Route | 94km | 462m | 1/5 |
| Medium Route | 119km | 734 | 2/5 |
| Medium Route | 141km | 948m | 2/5 |
| Long Route | 226km | 1116m | 4/5 |
● A variety of options are available, depending on how you would like to spend your day.
● The starting line is in Ypres and guarantees a lively atmosphere.
● Our race day package includes watching the start of the race before cycling a route that offers fantastic views from three vantage points. We end the cycle at the finish line and celebrate with a picnic lunch and beer.
After breakfast, please check out of the hotel and depart.
More About the Event
One of the best cycling weekend’s of the year, Gent Wevelgem is the start of Flanders week & a more intimate sportive than the much bigger Tour of Flanders. Most of the peloton are locals so you will get a lesson in how to ride in the wind and on the few cobbled sectors. In recent years the race has included the gravel Plugstreets – famous WW1 roads going through battlefields.
Each year sees the race change slightly, so there is always something new to discover. The next edition’s sportive will start and end in Wevelgem but the pro race will start in Ypres rather than Deinze. However, the famous mid-section is still part of the race; promising tough climbs, off-road riding and a battle against strong headwinds. In March it’s again time for your classic springtime ride through the fields of Flanders. Gent-Wevelgem is a race unique in its kind.
What is the Gent Wevelgem?
Since 1934, Gent Wevelgem is frequently referred to as a ‘sprinters classic’, stemming from the flat terrain at the end of the race allowing for a final push to the finish line. However, wind and rain, along with multiple climbs and cobbled roads, means that this event is not for the faint-hearted.
On the sportive there are multiple race routes so that cyclists of all experience levels can take part in the gruelling yet satisfying race. The long route drops into France on an undulating route. All three options include the Kemmelberg as the main climb on a route that features headwinds, cobbles, a couple of climbs & some gravel sections. The main challenge is battling the winds, this is a sportive to use your brain as well as your legs and share the work in groups – getting stick on your own in the wind can be a lonely ordeal.
Bike rental information?
We provide three different bike rental options for are customers on the Gent Wevelgem sportive, from a top of the range Giant TCR Advanced carbon with Shimano Ultegra Di2 to a more affordable options such as Giant TCR Advanced carbon with Shimano mechanical Ultegra and Giant Contend SL 1 aluminium frame with Shimano.
| Giant TCR Advanced carbon with Shimano Ultegra Di2 | £265 |
| Giant TCR Advanced carbon with Shimano mechanical Ultegra | £210 |
| Giant Contend SL 1 aluminium frame with Shimano | £150 |
You're in safe hands
We have a team of highly experienced professionals who have been organising cycling trips for over 25 years. We are members of ABTA and ATOL so book with confidence.
Plenty to choose from
Did you know we offer the biggest selection of European Gran Fondo and Cyclo-Sportive events.
Spread your payments
Our payment plan is an interest-free payment method where you will have the opportunity to spread payment for your booking. *Selected products. Terms and Conditions apply
Logistics covered
We know the routes, we know the roads. We know how the event works and the best hotels for the start and finish. We organise everything for you; transfers, bike transport, additional feed stops, rep support and more.
