Ganna’s Grit & A Sticky Bottle: Italian Snatches Dwars door Vlaanderen Victory
Filippo Ganna of Ineos Grenadiers delivered a stunning upset at Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday, surging past a frustrated Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the final 150 meters in Waregem. The victory, however, wasn’t without its complications – Ganna was also handed a CHF 200 fine by race officials.
The Italian’s win was a testament to resilience, requiring him to overcome not one, but two mechanical issues mid-race. Ganna was forced to change bikes first due to a broken front wheel with 48km remaining before the Eikenberg climb, and then again when an overly tightened brake lever clamp fractured his handlebar. He repeatedly fought his way back to contention, ultimately launching a decisive attack to reel in a visibly exhausted van Aert.
But the drama didn’t end with the finish line. Race officials flagged an incident during Ganna’s first bike change, determining he received an illegal “sticky bottle” assist from his team car. Sporza first reported the infraction, noting that whereas the assistance wasn’t deemed race-decisive, it still warranted a penalty. Ganna received a CHF 200 fine, and his team was additionally fined CHF 500.
The use of team car assistance, particularly the “sticky bottle” tactic – where riders briefly hold onto the car for a quick burst of speed – has become a point of contention in professional cycling. While a brief hold is penalized with a fine or yellow card, prolonged assistance, such as being actively towed, results in harsher consequences, as recently demonstrated by Visma-Lease a Bike’s Axel Zingle, who was disqualified from E3 Saxo Bank last week for a similar infraction.
Ganna’s victory marks his first professional win in a one-day race, adding to a palmarès previously dominated by stage race and time trial successes. It also extends Belgium’s winless streak in Dwars door Vlaanderen to eight editions.
Context: Dwars door Vlaanderen & The Spring Classics
Dwars door Vlaanderen, meaning “Across Flanders,” is a challenging one-day race known for its hilly terrain and cobblestone sections, serving as a key warm-up event for the more prestigious Spring Classics like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. The race typically attracts a strong field of riders vying for early-season glory.
The incident with Ganna raises questions about the fine line between legitimate team support and illegal assistance. Will the UCI tighten regulations further, and how will teams adapt their strategies in response?
Will this victory signal a shift in Ganna’s focus towards the cobbled classics, or will he return to his strengths in time trials and stage racing?
