{"id":19181,"title":"Guide to masters cycle racing in Belgium","description":"Have you ever fancied living the dream and racing in Flanders, the heartland of cycle racing? Even if you're on the wrong side of forty there's plenty of cycle racing to enjoy and it's easy to take part. Here's our beginner's guide.","content":"

Published in<\/strong>: COBBLES & CLASSICS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Have you ever fancied living the dream and racing in Flanders, the heartland of cycle racing? Even if you're on the wrong side of forty there's plenty of racing to enjoy. Read on to find out how easy it is to take part. \"ImageTo illustrate the simplicity of cycle racing in Belgium, we popped over the channel to take on the masters' might of Flanders. We've included some highlights and images from our trip.<\/p>

Why race bikes in Flanders?<\/h3>

If the lure of racing in the heartland of cycle racing is not enough, there are plenty of other reasons to give it a go. Firstly, cycle races in Belgium are extremely safe. Roads are closed as the peloton passes through. Each bike race has a lead car with red flags and one behind with green. This indicates when the road is open or closed to other traffic.<\/p>

\u201cCycle racing is such a part of the Flemish culture\u201d<\/strong><\/p>

Cycle racing is such a part of the Flemish culture that the locals understand what this means. Essentially, a few minutes wait until the bike race passes before they can proceed. Unlike the UK where this would almost certainly elicit vociferous complaints, Flandrians are more likely to stop and watch.<\/p>

\"Image<\/strong>A familiar sight in Flanders<\/em><\/p>

Not that the roads are busy anyway. One of the great charms of Flanders is the network of lanes that weave their way through tranquil unspoilt countryside. Even most of the towns are so quiet you'd think everyone had deserted on holiday.<\/p>

Familiar cycling surnames<\/h3>

Most riders are deeply experienced having raced on these roads since they were youngsters. Don't be surprised if some of the surnames look worryingly familiar. It's a small country so you may be racing with a brother or nephew of a more famous relation.<\/p>

\"ImageThe roads are closed as the race passes through<\/em><\/p>

I've raced against a few former professionals over the years. Martin Durant is a good example. Whilst, not a household name, he rode most of the spring classics and finished 30th at Paris-Roubaix. These riders don't suddenly lose their class when they retire from professional racing.<\/p>

What\u2019s a Belgian masters\u2019 race like?<\/h3>

Races will seem shorter compared to those in the UK. Typically between 40 and 60 kilometres dependent upon the age category. That doesn't make them any easier though.<\/p>

If you're used to riding BMCR (British Masters' Cycle Racing) events (LVRC as we used to know it), you'll find the races faster. It's not that every rider is a Superman but that the overall level is higher. It's testing but not ridiculous.<\/p>

\"Image Expect lots of bends.<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>Original image: Brecht Verstraeten<\/em><\/p>

Almost all the races take place on circuits of between five to eight kilometres with lots of bends. Don't expect many cobbles, but do expect fairly flat and sometimes quite narrow roads.<\/p>

Maybe no more than a car's width wide. Flemish riders typically ride a bit closer together than we do in the UK which can be a bit disconcerting to start with.<\/p>

Field sizes are rarely large for these races. Don't worry about riding in a bunch of 150-plus riders. It's much more likely to be closer to thirty. Since Covid and the increase in fuel prices, rider numbers in Belgium have decreased.<\/p>

\"SpectatorsSpectators are always entertained by a commentator and 70s British hits<\/em><\/p>

I think it's the law in Flanders that every bike race, no matter how lowly, must have music, a commentator and a bar somewhere nearby. I'm convinced that each cycling federation hands out a standard playlist at the beginning of the season.<\/p>

This has to include 70s British hits, some Flemish covers and ubiquitous Euro-pop. My favourite is the Flemish cover of Sweet Caroline.<\/p>

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We won't bombard you with special offers. We don't want to send you junk as much as you don't want to receive it.<\/em><\/p>

\"Image<\/u><\/a><\/p>

There won't be a huge crowd but most riders will have a small entourage with them. Often you'll see their wife rubbing their legs before the start whilst the mother-in-law is pumping the tyres.<\/p>

Yes, it really is a world apart. There are women's races but they all ride together, although Ellen van Loy once rode one of the men's events and finished third.<\/p>

Where to race in Belgium?<\/h3>

The first thing to do if you are planning a trip is to check the race calendars. The equivalent of British Cycling is Cycling Vlaanderen which is the UCI-recognised organisation.<\/p>

\"ImageMasters' races are organised by non-UCI federations. Original image: Brecht Verstraeten<\/em><\/p>

Unless you fancy riding 100 kilometres against elites zonder contract (the top-level below professional), you need to look for one of the independent federations. Elite zonder contract races are like British elite category races, except faster, harder and with constant jumping out of corners.<\/p>

\"Gifts<\/u><\/a>There are at least four Flemish independent cycling federations that operate rather like BMCR or TLI in the UK. Each runs to its own rules with different age categories but the principles are the same. Work out where the races are, turn up and simply enter on the line.<\/p>

You might wonder why I've not included Wallonia in this guide. The reality is that if you want to go road racing head to Flanders but if you want mountain biking, go to Wallonia.<\/p>

Given that most people will be travelling over via Calais it makes sense to look for races in West Flanders which means the majority of races are within about 90 minutes.<\/p>

Non-UCI Belgian cycling federations<\/h3>

The OVWF<\/strong><\/a> (Onafhankelijke Vlaamse Wieler Federatie - Independent Flemish Cycling Federation) runs races in West Flanders.<\/p>

LWU<\/strong><\/a> (Landelijke Wieler Unie - National Cycling Union, although Landelijke also translates as rural) operates in both West and East Flanders.<\/p>

VWV<\/strong><\/a> (Vlaamse Wielrijders Vereniging - Flemish Cycling Association) organises races in East Flanders.<\/p>

\"ImageBelgian Masters' Champion Mario Lammens was riding. Original image: Brecht Verstraeten<\/em><\/p>

Between these federations, you can usually race at least twice a week between March and September. Flanders is geographically small compared to the UK so it doesn't usually take long to travel between one place and another. Belgians would baulk at the distances British riders often travel.<\/p>

\"VisualREAD MORE<\/strong>: Whether you want to watch cycling on TV improve at cyclocross, race in Belgium or ride a sportive, Rijden has a range of <\/span><\/em>free cycling guides<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/a> to help.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

\"Rijden's<\/u><\/a><\/p>

Accommodation in Flanders<\/h3>

My primary reason for travelling to Flanders was to spectate at the Belgian National Road Race Championships<\/strong><\/a> in Middelkerke. As I was likely to be staying near there, this dictated where I would choose to race.<\/p>

I chose to ride an LWU race at Zevergem just south of Ghent. Having made that choice I needed to book my Eurotunnel and somewhere to stay. I've visited quite a few B&Bs, hotels and self-catering accommodation sites in Flanders.<\/p>

The vast majority are adequate and most are good. All I really ask for is somewhere that is spotlessly clean, is quiet, I can store my bikes safely, serves a decent breakfast, and has decent WiFi. I'm not fussy.<\/p>

\u201cI dressed for bed in cycling clothing\u201d<\/strong><\/p>

I do recall staying near Ieper one November. The guest house was bitingly cold and the gas heater gave off worrying smells so I switched it off. In the end, I dressed for bed in cycling clothing to have a fighting chance of combating the frigid temperature.<\/p>

I usually book through Booking.com if I'm looking for somewhere new. It's idleness really rather than an endorsement for them. You do have to read the small print through. One place I nearly booked for self-catering wanted a large Euro deposit in cash.<\/p>

B&B Lora Langemark<\/h3>

I plumped for the B&B Lora in Langemark<\/strong><\/a>, approximately seven kilometres north of Ieper in the heart of In Flanders Fields country. It's really good for cyclists and ticks all my boxes. Immaculately clean, super-fast internet, an enormous breakfast, peaceful with secure bike storage and off-road parking.<\/p>

\"ImageB&B Lora - A breakfast fit for an old master<\/em><\/p>

What's even better is that they have a microwave, fridge and even washing machine that they're happy for you to use. The room included a coffee machine but I never really mastered that. At least I didn't fuse the electrics as I had earlier in the year on my trip to watch Het Nieusblad<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>

I'm used to B&Bs being run by fairly elderly men or couples so it was a pleasant surprise that my hosts were a friendly young couple who spoke excellent English. It's no surprise that they are rated highly on all booking sites.<\/p>

Signing-on<\/h3>

Experience dictates that it's a good idea to allow plenty of time to find the race HQ. The race calendar will list this as \"inschrijving\" (registration). It's usually a bar, a school or a sports centre although once it was literally a barn full of grimy agricultural equipment. Often they're located some distance from the actual circuit.<\/p>

\"ImageGetting ready for the day's action at Zevergem<\/em><\/p>

At Zevergem the signing-on point was in a building located on the finish line which made it easy to find. LWU races operate categories from A (19 to 35 years old), B (36 to 44), C (45 to 54), D (55 to 62), E (63+), F (15 to 18) and G (19 to 54). The latter category is I believe for people who don't race seriously.<\/p>

\u201cDon't forget your safety pins\u201d<\/strong><\/p>

You don't need a licence to ride. It costs 15 Euro but you get four back when you hand your number in at the end. Don't forget your safety pins. These are never handed out in Belgium. It's a schoolboy error to have forgotten them.<\/p>

There's always someone on hand who speaks English well enough to confirm when and where you start, how many laps and which side to pin your number. Once you have your number, that's it, you're now ready to take on the might of Flanders.<\/p>

Warm-up<\/h3>

Make sure you warm up prior to the start. Belgian races go from the gun and this one was no exception. Bang off we went. I could feel myself breathing heavily, especially after I was forced to close the gaps left by riders after each bend.<\/p>

\u201cYou can't go with every move\u201d<\/strong><\/p>

Ideally, stay near but not on the front, thus reducing the elastic effect after each corner. Belgian-style racing is very different. There are lots of attacks that just seem chaotic. There aren't any 'bunch engines' towing the race along at a nice steady pace. You can't go with every move but you'll quickly work out who are the fancied runners based on the reaction of others.<\/p>

Belgian champion<\/h3>

As one of the riders was wearing the strip of LWU Belgian champion, there was a fair bet he'd be quite good. It was fun but fast and I started to feel more comfortable.<\/p>

Riders would ping off up the road at a rate of knots and then seemingly die and be caught. If you thought that was the last you'd see of them you'd be mistaken. A few minutes later and they are on the attack again.<\/p>

\"ImageMario Lammens just beat Ashley Holding. Original image: Brecht Verstraeten<\/em><\/p>

None of the moves looked like succeeding until just after half distance when the Belgian champion broke clear with three others. Suddenly everyone else seemed to stop and look at one another.<\/p>

\u201cMy legs burned as I clawed them back\u201d<\/strong><\/p>

In an instant, a seemingly insurmountable gap had opened. Realising that I was going to have to do it the hard way, I put in a huge effort. Perched on the nose of my saddle, my legs burned as I clawed them back just making contact before they gave out.<\/p>

That was it, the five of us worked well together and we all knew we'd stay away. I was happy with fourth in the sprint with victory taken by Belgian Champion Mario Lammens. He's a former World Masters' Cyclocross Champion and winner of the Koppenbergcross.<\/p>

It's worth noting that each federation has its own National Championships and some have regional ones too with their own jerseys. There are even competing independent international federations that hand out World Championship jerseys.<\/p>

Reward<\/h3>

The LWU doesn't hand out cash prizes on the day. The top three received tubs of energy drink but the real prizes are handed out for a season-long competition. I handed back my race number and duly received four euros. It was enough for a glass of Westmalle Tripel in the bar. It felt like 11 euros well spent.<\/p>

\u201cEnjoy the Euro-pop\u201d<\/strong><\/p>

It was time to catch up with fellow Brits Ashley 'Ash' Holding and Nigel Carpenter who'd been in the break with me, soak up the atmosphere of the next race and enjoy Euro-pop. Ashley and Nigel were off to race the next day but I had the Belgian Championships<\/strong><\/a> in mind. Nigel and Ash have been popping over to race in Belgium quite frequently without competing in the UK.<\/p>

Watch your language<\/h3>

As well as inschrijving (signing-on) there are a few other words worth knowing.<\/p>

Laatste ronde<\/strong> - last lap. Flemish races often don't show a lap board until the last few laps but they always have a bell and the commentator will continually shout \"Laatste ronde\". Flemish words ending in \"e\" will generally sound like \"er\". Lart-ster ron-der is my best phonetic translation.<\/p>

Aankmost <\/strong>- literally the arrival, but in a race, it means the finish. Ann-comst.<\/p>

Uitslagen <\/strong>- Results. Outs-lar-hur.<\/p>

Reglement <\/strong>- Rules. Ray-hler-ment.<\/p>

Kleedkamers <\/strong>- Changing rooms. If they are provided you are expected to use them, but these independent federations tend to rely upon changing in your car. Watch what others are doing to establish the correct etiquette. Kleed-car-merz.<\/p>

Zaterdag <\/strong>- Saturday. Zart-er-daah. Note that 'g' is quite a difficult pronunciation for most English speakers. The g is pronounced like an h with flem in the mouth.<\/p>

Zondag <\/strong>- Sonday. Zun-daah.<\/p>

Tot ziens<\/strong> - Surprise supermarket staff with \"bye\". They'll have concluded at the checkout that you are a typical Brit who only speaks English. Give them a friendly tot-zeens as you go.<\/p>

Alstublieft <\/strong>- Means please but also \"here you are\", so you tend to hear it quite a bit in supermarkets. Al-stew-bleeft.<\/p>

What else can you do in Flanders?<\/h3>

Other than racing in Flanders, what else is there to do? There's actually plenty to do other than just racing. It's a pleasure just to ride on quiet roads where the drivers don't consider you an irritant who doesn't pay \"road tax\".<\/p>

There are so many iconic climbs in Flanders such as the Koppenberg which are fun to discover if not necessarily ride.<\/p>

\"TheTry out some cobbles like the Koppenberg<\/em><\/p>

With so many breweries, no matter where you stay there's almost bound to be one you can visit nearby. A pilgrimage to the Abbey at Westvleteren and its world-famous beer<\/strong><\/a> is not to be turned down.<\/p>

If you are interested in the Great War (First World War), a visit to Ieper, the Menin Gate and the many memorials is a must. Over half of the visitors to Ieper's In Flanders Fields Museum are English.<\/p>

Mention must also be made of Brugge (Bruges) which is a cultural gem. Known as the Venice of the North. Ghent and Antwerp are also worth visiting for their cultural and architectural gems both old and new. As well as having a lot of bars with a wide range of beers to try.<\/p>

\"Antwerp'sAntwerp's iconic architecture. Image credit: <\/em>Dylan Calluy<\/em><\/a><\/p>

Whatever you do, don't put off racing in Flanders. You'll regret it if you never give it a go.<\/p>

Logistics and insurance<\/h3>

I strongly recommend that you take out insurance that covers you for racing. It's not expensive and if the worst happens and you are not insured then it could cost you tens of thousands. Like many people, I have annual travel insurance for trips to Europe.<\/p>

I just use top insurance for the specific days I am racing. As long as you have general travel insurance, you can buy extra racing cover for individual days. I used Sports Cover Direct<\/strong><\/a> this time but I always shop around. It's about \u00a310 per racing day.<\/p>

\"Rijden's<\/u><\/a>The easiest way to get to Europe for most people is via Eurotunnel from the Folkestone terminal. Going out never seems to be a problem it's nearly always the return trip that takes so long to check-in. It doesn't seem to have become any worse since Brexit given the UK was never part of the Schengen Area.<\/p>

Disclaimer<\/h3>

We don't have any professional connections with any of the organisations mentioned.<\/p>

Last updated 14 May 2024, Tim Costello.<\/em><\/p>

\"Rijden<\/p>

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