Dates 27 March 2016 Distance 115 km (71.46 mi) Winner Chantal Blaak (NED) | Stages 1 Winning time 2h 56' 00" Second Lisa Brennauer (GER) | |
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The 2016 Gent–Wevelgem Women's race (also known as, Gent-Wevelgem In Flanders Fields) was the fifth edition of a one-day women's cycle race held in Belgium on Sunday 27 March 2016. After being an women's international 1.2 UCI category race it became a UCI World Tour race in 2016 and was the fourth race of the 2016 UCI Women's World Tour season.
It was the first race of Ellen van Dijk after she had broken her rib in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Kemmelberg
The Kemmelberg is the emotional centrepiece of the race. This edition, the second ascent of the Kemmelberg was addressed via its steepest road. The first ascent was via the traditional route with a maximum gradient of 17%, but the second was addressed via this steeper road, which has a maximum gradient of 23% near the top. Race director Hans De Clercq stated that it is a tribute to the historical significance of the Kemmelberg, as it is that road being used the first time the Kemmelberg was included in the men's race, in 1955. According to COTACOL, a Belgian standard work that has examined and graded every climb in the country, the "new" Kemmelberg ascent is the toughest climb in all Flemish races. They have given it an overall score of 183 points, which is more than the Koppenberg, the Muur van Geraardsbergen or the traditional Kemmelberg road.