Bruges counts down to Tour of Flanders with 10-day cycling festival
A 10-day cycling festival will take place in Bruges ahead of the Tour of Flanders, one of the most legendary races in cycling, which starts in the city this year.
Referring to the Flemish slang for cycling, the festival is called Op Koers and runs until 6 April, when the race is held. It will celebrate both the history of cycling and contemporary cycling with an exhibition, panel discussions and other activities. There will be cycle rides, a pump track and musical performances.
Op Koers will also host several famous cycling personalities who will share their insights. These include physiotherapist Lieven Maesschalk, former Quick-Step team manager Patrick Lefevere and former national team manager Sven Vanthourenhout, who led Belgium to several world championship titles.
On the day before the race, cycling fans can ride the route of the Tour of Flanders for themselves. The 242km amateur route runs from Bruges in West Flanders to the finish in Oudenaarde in East Flanders. The actual route is slightly longer at 268.9km.
While Belgium will be rooting for Wout Van Aert to win his first Tour of Flanders, he will have some serious competition. Slovenian Tadej Pogacar will be looking for his second Tour of Flanders win after a spectacular solo finish in 2023.
Mathieu van der Poel is the other obvious candidate for victory. The Dutchman has won three of the five previous editions and could become the first rider to win the race four times in his career.
Op Koers is organised by the Province of West Flanders, the KOERS Museum and the City of Bruges.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS
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