Aalst (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Cyclist Tara Gins from Erpe-Mere is urging Natourcriterium Aalst organizers to include a women’s race, calling for equal opportunities in pro cycling.
Tonight’s event is the men’s Natourcriterium. However, Gins laments that Aalst still lacks a women’s Natourcriterium now that the women’s Tour de France has started. The organizer claims that it is not financially viable.
“Aalst is the biggest Natour criterium in our country,”
says Tara Gins.
“And yet they still lag behind in terms of equality.”
“I used to ride a lot of Natourcriteriums, but I always had to drive much further. I was always very disappointed that, as someone who lives right next to Aalst, I had to drive to West Flanders for a Natourcriterium, because there isn’t one in Aalst.”
“I think it’s a missed opportunity for Aalst. If you look at the viewing figures for the women’s Tour de France, you see that there’s a lot of interest in it.”
But according to the organizer of the Natourcriterium in Aalst, it is not financially feasible to add a women’s stage to the program.
“We currently pay €5,000 in organizing fees for the men’s Natour criterium,”
explains organizer Renno Roelandt.
“If we also have to pay €5,000 for a women’s race, that would bring us to €10,000, and we simply can’t afford that.”
The issue is that we are not permitted to charge an admission fee by the city council of Aalst. They suggest everyone should continue to attend it as a social event. Additionally, that makes it financially challenging for us to plan a post-tour criteria for women.
Although they would certainly welcome a women’s Natour criterium.
“Why not? The women’s race is popular, and they’re also great races,”
Roelandt explains.
But cyclist Tara Gins calls that explanation a lame excuse.
“Top female cyclists only ask for a tenth of what their male counterparts charge in compensation. So, it’s a lame excuse that a Post-Tour criterium for women is financially impossible. Many female cyclists even ride Post-Tour criteriums for free.”
At the Natourcriterium in Roosendaal, the Netherlands, the organizers might want to pay attention to their colleagues. There, they have a criterium for ladies in addition to a Natourcriterium for men. There is a sort of bike village there, and admission is fee-based.
What has been the response from local sponsors and fans to the suggestion of a women’s Naturocriterium?
Local sponsors and fans have shown mixed responses to the suggestion of adding a women’s race to the Natourcriterium in Aalst. While the idea generally receives support in principle as part of the broader push for equality and increased visibility for women’s cycling, the event organizer has stated that organizing a women’s race is currently not financially viable.
This financial concern mainly stems from the additional costs involved—such as logistics, prize money, security, and road closures—versus uncertain sponsorship and ticket sale revenue.
Fans and advocates, including cyclists like Tara Gins, express disappointment at the lack of opportunities and call for greater inclusion, reflecting a growing demand among the cycling community and public for more women’s events.
