Knokke-Heist and Bruges prepare for time trials

Flanders is counting down to the 2021 UCI Road World Championships, which will be organised from 18 to 26 September 2021. With the unveiling of the route of the time trials between Knokke-Heist and Bruges, the next World cycling championship has officially started.

During the World cycling championship 2018 in Innsbruck, the UCI has allocated the World cycling championship 2021 to Flanders. Exactly 100 years after the very first World Championship was organised, the event comes 'home' to Flanders, the cradle of cycling.

Course for real time trialists, from the beach to 't Zand

The time trials (from Sunday 19 until Wednesday 22 September) between Knokke-Heist and Bruges will be ridden on a course that is extremely suitable for men and women who can push high wattages. The start will be on a platform on the beach of Knokke-Heist, near the Casino, with the North Sea as a backdrop. The riders ride over the dike, through the centre of Knokke-Heist and then through open plains, where the wind will definitely play its role, along canals and polders, towards the picturesque town of Damme. In Bruges a passage through the historic city centre awaits them before finishing on 't Zand.

"Knokke-Heist is delighted that, as host of the World cycling championship, we can put our municipality in the spotlight", says mayor Count Leopold Lippens. "The start of the time trial on the beach is unique and the beautiful images will go around the world. Sportive and recreational cycling suits Knokke-Heist and you can perfectly combine it with our other assets such as art, gastronomy and shopping! Everyone who wants to discover our fantastic nature and our exceptional offer for themselves is welcome.

"With the current generation of riders, there is a good chance that on day 1, the Men Elite individual Time Trial, we can already honour a first Belgian world champion at 't Zand", mayor of Bruges Dirk De fauw looks ahead. "We are used to receiving international visitors in a stylish way in Bruges. We have a historical connection with cycling and have pronounced ambitions in the field of cycling policy. Today marks the start of a sporting highlight, the 100th anniversary of the World cycling championship. Together with our residents, we are going to celebrate it appropriately". Alderman of Sport Franky Demon adds: "We are already getting a lot of enthusiastic reactions from associations and residents of Bruges who want to participate in the World Cup. So there is a lot of inspiration to make it a memorable event. We are going to encourage and support these initiatives from the city.

Both Knokke-Heist and Bruges are enthusiastically getting ready for the time trials at the 2021 UCI Road World Championships. We know the first world champion in Flanders on 19 September, after the Men Elite individual Time Trial.

Pictures: © Photonews

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