Oudenaarde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Flanders’ Finest drew 12,500 cyclists from 67 countries. Most races started and ended in Oudenaarde. Gert Van Goolen called it a dream ride with iconic climbs, crowds, and music.
Thousands of cyclists from all over the world came to Flanders to take part in Flanders’ Finest, a cycling race for amateur riders. The race offered 4 different distances, ranging from 80 km to 229 km. All the races started in Oudenaarde except for the 229 km race, which started in Bruges. All the riders finished in the same place as the professional cyclists, in Oudenaarde.
Amateur riders were said to be able to face the same difficulty as the professionals, pedaling up the well-known cobbled hills such as the Koppenberg and Paterberg. They added that the shorter races were not as difficult. The 229 km race took the same route as the professional event, with riders able to see the well-known climbs and views of the Tour of Flanders.
How did 12,500 cyclists from 67 countries experience Flanders’ Finest?
Flanders’ Finest, a big cycling race in Europe, had about 12,500 riders. Organizers expected 15,000 riders, but that was still a lot of people. Most of the riders came from other countries. About 10,000 riders were from 67 different countries. Two-thirds of the riders were not from Belgium. Many riders came from the Netherlands, France, the UK, and Germany. People from all over the world like the Tour of Flanders.
According to Gert Van Goolen, a spokesman for the race organisers, many riders from other countries like to ride in the Tour of Flanders. They view the race only on television, and they desire to have it for themselves. The Tour of Flanders is renowned for hills and scenery.
Van Goolen said that to these riders, the race means more than a challenge. It’s something they want to do before they die. They want to be part of the story of Flemish cycling. Even the hard hills, which some people think are scary, are part of the fun.
The organizers have also put music stands along the course. Some live bands and DJs play music for the riders. They mentioned that this helps the riders feel good and makes the race feel like a party.
