Aalst (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): The Aalst bike race a 87-year tradition faces challenges due to the Tour de France’s finish in Nice affecting logistics and participation.
The bike race in Aalst on July 22 is a big deal as it’s been going on for 87 years. It’s the first race in Belgium after the Tour de France so it’s popular with top cyclists from the Tour. Biniam Girmay who’s expected to win the green jersey will be there adding to the excitement. Aalst known for its culture and called the “Onion City,” is a lively place for this race attracting fans and locals to watch the cyclists show off their skills on the streets.The Belgian cyclists who did well in the Tour de France are likely to join the race in Aalst making it even more special and popular locally. This event is not just about the race. It also brings the community together. Fans get to meet their favorite cyclists up close and enjoy the end of the Tour de France season in a fun and festive vibe.
How is the Aalst bike race facing challenges after the tour de France Shift to Nice?
This year the bike race in Aalst is facing some big challenges as mentioned by co-organizer Johny Van den Borre. The timing of the event right after the Tour de France clashes with the upcoming Olympic Games in Nice. This makes it tough to manage logistics and get all the cyclists to participate because some, like Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert are focusing on getting ready for the Olympics in Nice. These issues are making it really hard to organize this year’s race, as Van den Borre pointed out. Even with these challenges the organizers are determined to make the Aalst race a success. It’s a long-standing tradition as the first big race in Belgium after the Tour de France. People are still excited to see top cyclists and meet famous athletes.This event is important in the cycling world even with the difficulties caused by other big sports events happening at the same time.
This year the Tour de France finishes in Nice which is quite far from Aalst compared to Paris. It’s about 1100 kilometers (around 680 miles) by road which would take about 11-12 hours to drive without stopping. Because of this distance cyclists usually fly from Nice to their next location after the race ends. It’s tough for the Aalst organization not just logistically but also financially. The riders’ salaries keep rising and they have to keep the event affordable since it’s free for everyone. Negotiating with Tadej Pogacar has been ongoing since March but he wants to take a break after the Tour. They have other cyclists like Biniam Girmay, Jasper Philipsen, Oliver Naesen, and more confirmed. They’re still working on getting more Tour de France cyclists to join the race in Aalst.
