The 2015 edition of Gent-Wevelgem was particularly difficult because of the strong wind and rain that dominated the 240 km route. The conditions did not help two of the Lampre-Merida riders who had arrived in Belgium last Thursday with good ambitions.

Filippo Pozzato, struggling with a gastrointestinal virus that kept him out of E3 Harelbeke, and Niccolo Bonifazio who crashed in that race, were both forced to accept a harsh reality.

None of them had the chance to evaluate their health in Gent-Wevelgem as the race got hard right from the beginning. Pozzato, still not fully recovered, stopped aft 70km and a little later Bonifazio surrendered to the pain in his right elbow.

The rest of the Lampre-Merida riders tried to stay in contact with the best but echelons took them out of contention and none of them finished the race.