Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Marnic De Meulemeester, former mayor and advocate for women’s cycling, received the Femmeuze Award for over twenty years of dedication to improving media representation and support for female cyclists.
Marnic De Meulemeester, a former mayor, recently received an award because, for more than 20 years, he has been a supporter of women’s cycling. His passion for this cause started when the Women’s Tour of Flanders began and ended in Oudenaarde. De Meulemeester became dedicated to this issue after having conversations with team leaders and cyclists about the challenges they face in the sport.
He mentioned he learned that there are large differences in earnings and not enough visibility for women’s cycling. While there was some coverage in newspapers and magazines, he noticed that women’s cycling did not get much attention on television. He realized that having more TV coverage was important for raising the profile of the sport.
How is Marnic De Meulemeester transforming women’s cycling?
De Meulemeester believed that women’s cycling could get the same attention as men’s cycling. He wanted more people to see the sport on TV. He noticed that female riders put in a lot of effort to succeed. They did not get much support or recognition.
De Meulemeester pushed for better media coverage and pay for women cyclists. He aimed to make the sport more appreciated. His work around events like the Tour of Flanders for women helped bring attention to cycling.
“I already felt in conversations with team leaders and riders how much they had to work for it and how low the earnings were,”
De Meulemeester explains.
According to the Belgian Cycling Federation, Marnic De Meulemeester played an important role in helping women’s cycling. He worked as a mayor and in the Flemish Parliament. He wanted women cyclists to get equal treatment.
De Meulemeester spoke with key people about the need for more media attention, especially on TV. He believed that better TV coverage would help the sport grow and attract sponsors. He argued that without enough media exposure, female cyclists would struggle to find the money they needed for their careers.
Marnic De Meulemeester aimed for them to have financial support through sponsorships and media coverage. De Meulemeester worked hard to get women’s races shown in newspapers and on TV. He wanted more people to see these events. By increasing media visibility, he hoped to help female cyclists earn more and gain recognition, creating a fairer future for the sport.
“Thanks to him, the race has been able to flourish in all its facets”
Nathalie Clauwaert
What progress has Marnic De Meulemeester made in women’s cycling?
Marnic De Meulemeester believes his efforts have been successful. He said that women’s cycling has improved over the past 5 years. Live broadcasts of races are now available. He hears that clubs and riders appreciate these efforts. The Belgian Cycling Federation gave him the Femmeuze Award.
Chairman Tom Van Damme stated that De Meulemeester deserves this trophy. He helped promote cycling events in Flanders and Oudenaarde. Tom Van Damme supported many projects for women’s cycling. General manager Nathalie Clauwaert agrees with this view. She said De Meulemeester has always cared about cycling. In Oudenaarde, cycling grew in many ways. Women’s and youth cycling were welcomed.
“We are on the right track, but more efforts should be made to train and guide the riders”
Former mayor Marnic De Meulemeester
Marnic De Meulemeester thinks that some progress has been made. He says that top riders like Lotte Kopecky and Jolien D’Hoore have helped a lot. He believes they are on the right track, but there is still more work to do.
De Meulemeester is concerned that there should be more focus on training for women cyclists. He thinks the guidance can be better, especially for younger athletes. While the top cyclists are getting better, there is still a gap between them and others. He mentioned that many of these riders do not get the rewards they deserve. De Meulemeester has many contacts at Belgian Cycling. He wants to keep helping in the future.
