63rd Gent Six Day (Belgium)

Gent, Belgium, November 18-23, 2003

Bradley Wiggins took his excellent form to his 'home' of Gent and with Matthew Gilmore, won the race he's been after -- the Gent Six. Photo by Nick Rosenthal.

Last week at Newport after winning the European Derny Championship, World Pursuit champion Bradley Wiggins said of the Gent Six Day, "That would be a fantastic way to finish the year". And so it was that after a week when he and his partner, Matthew Gilmore, crept up on the leaders, that on the final night, they applied the pressure and finished clear of the Dutch pairing of Robert Slippens/Danny Stam.

Both Gilmore and Wiggins have a strong connection to Gent and with a lot of British fans making the trip to the famous event, it was fitting that he took the victory that meant so much to him and the crowd. Wiggins now returns home to compete in Revolution 1 at Manchester. You can find out more here.

Also at Revolution 1 will be Rob Hayles, normally Wiggins partner in the Six Day races but in Gent partnering American Marthy Nothstein (pictured below). Apparently Rob had some breathing problems in the smoky atmosphere of Gent but was still able to perform well in the red hot cauldron that is the Gent 6.

RESULTS
1. Matthew Gilmore (Bel)/Bradley Wiggins (GBr) 365
2. Robert Slippens (Ned)/Danny Stam (Ned) 344
3. Bruno Risi (Swi)/Kurt Betschart (Swi) 231

11. Marty Nothstein (USA) – Robert Hayles (GBR), 227

Matthew Gilmore and Bradley Wiggins get a standing ovation from the crowd in Gent after clinching victory on the final night.

Matthew Gilmore reaches out for his partner, Bradley Wiggins, as they pile on the pressure on the final night and find that no-one is able to match their pace.

WEBSITES
Fat Nick's Coverage (Lots of photos!)
Union Internationale des Vélodromes! (Six Day News and Results)