All change. Skilled biking has seen rising curiosity from the Center-East, particularly Saudi Arabia. Now this has gone from tentative handshakes and aspect sponsorships to a takeover with the information that the Tour of Flanders has been purchased by Saudi buyers. The race is to be rebranded because the “Flanders Tour offered by Al Lua” and transfer to the desert.
The race will use a six kilometre loop to be tackled 40 occasions. “The circuit system is right as we will have extra of the important VIP tents” says Al Lua occasions director Sheikh Kadabat Al Abrila. “These tents will probably be very snug with air-con, haute delicacies eating and have cabaret-style acts and drone shows to maintain friends entertained.”
Confronted with criticism that the race gained’t be the identical, Al Abrila says “the race stopped touring most of Flanders way back and was doing the identical circuit repeatedly with a end in the course of nowhere so this isn’t that a lot of a leap” and knowingly including “with the sand it may nearly be Koksijde or De Panne, no?”
Innovation is the watchword and the plan is to make the race extra energetic with common sprints to forestall lulls within the motion. Each lap there will probably be 31-23-19-17-13-11-7-5-3-2 factors obtainable for the primary ten riders throughout the road. Factors will probably be doubled each seven laps. The winner of the competitors sponsored by Microsoft Excel will accumulate two million Riyals, about €500,000. That’s greater than the Tour de France winner’s prize making it the most important prize within the sport, a positive signal that that is now essentially the most worthwhile race on the planet.
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The brand new homeowners are eager to embrace traditions and promise to construct two steep climbs. The Huaweiberg will probably be 800m lengthy at 10% whereas the Pepsiberg will characteristic a 20% ramp together with genuine Flemish cobbles that will probably be stripped from the Koppenburg and flown over to be put in by Kashmiri artisans. “Our employees will do a a lot better job at setting the stones than these West Flemish builders” boasts Al Abrila. Improved security is a dedication too and it needs to be a smoother race due to dry roads and few spectators to get in the way in which.
The plan appears to be happening effectively in Saudi Arabia. At present’s Riyadh Gazette newspaper hails “a visionary grasp stroke by his Excellency” and the Saudi Instances can be giving it the thumbs up, declaring it to be “a visionary grasp stroke by his Excellency”, whereas Al Deawa proclaims it to be “a visionary grasp stroke by his Excellency”.
Again in provincial Belgium a protest in Geraardsbergen yesterday noticed the mayor lead a march the place mourning followers carried a symbolic coffin however they’re described by officers near the brand new mission as “petty dinosaurs” against reform.
Talking poolside from a newly-acquired villa in Saudi, one biking official mentioned “it’s nice to see the game turn into extra skilled” whereas a rider mentioned “[Dries – insert enthusiastic attributed quote here]”.
A spokesman for the Saudi buyers behind the deal mentioned they realised they may purchase soccer golf equipment in Europe however this doesn’t assure victory. Right here they may purchase the occasion outright and even invite who they wish to participate.
Unique journey packages and the VIP eating expertise for 2025 will go on sale shortly.
The put up Tour of Flanders Acquired by Saudi Traders first appeared on The Internal Ring.
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