Gent-Wevelgem – In Flanders Fields 2022

The iconic Menin Gate Memorial provided the backdrop to the start of the 84th edition of Gent-Wevelgem In Flanders Fields by lead organizer Flanders Classics.

A guaranteed sign of spring in Flanders is the start of the one day cycling races’ season in February. Gent-Wevelgem – In Flanders Fields is one of these spring road cycling classics that attract the attention of cycling fans home and abroad in the last weekend of March.

Since 2020 the city of Ieper hosts this beautiful cycling race, with the symbolic start of the race taking place under the CWGC’s Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. The race passes many significant locations with links to the First World War, including many CWGC cemeteries. Such as Ploegsteert Memorial, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Hooge Crater Cemetery and many more. The annual live broadcast of the entire race by Belgian national television VRT Sporza shows incredible aerial views of the sites.

Each year, the competition has a theme: this year is Australia. In addition to the official competition trophy, each of the seven Gent-Wevelgem – In Flanders Fields winners also receive a themed commemorative trophy.

Local artist and CWGC craftsman, Yves Delplace designed and produced the trophy, depicting an Australian soldier blending with the 5th Australian Division Memorial at CWGC Buttes New British Cemetery.

The Gent-Wevelgem Cycling Race Trophy made by Yves Delplace pictured at Buttes New British Australian Memorial. Photo: Dirk Debleu

Over the course of the war, more than 410,000 Australians served with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), of whom over 324,000 served overseas. Over 60,000 members of the Australian forces were killed in the First World War. In Belgium, the CWGC commemorates over 12,700 Australian war dead of the First World War, of whom over 6,100 have no known grave. They are commemorated by name on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

One of the CWGC cemeteries on the route - Tyne Cot as seen from the air.

There are several sites of importance along or near to the route that are of special interest to the Australians. They include Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial, Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery and Toronto Avenue Cemetery. Wevelgem Communal Cemetery is located just a stone's throw away from the finish in the centre of Wevelgem. There are over 60 Commonwealth casualties of both world wars buried in this cemetery, nine of whom are Australians.

Australia is one of the six member countries participating in the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the others being Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Aerial view of Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood

Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery

Left: Toronto Avenue Cemetery, Right: Wevelgem Communal Cemetery at the finish line.