100 days to go

Thursday 10 June was a key moment: 100 days until the start of the 2021 UCI Road World Championships. A date that did not go unnoticed! In each host city, a screen with a countdown clock was unveiled by the mayors and aldermen of sport. Cycling fans could also go in search of 100 mini World Championships mascots and win fantastic prizes. A look back.

The countdown clock is ticking

Antwerp

Only happy faces were to be seen in the host cities of Bruges, Knokke-Heist, Antwerp and Leuven, where the countdown of the last 100 days was started in the presence of World Championships mascots Leon and Leontien. At the touch of a button, the countdown to the World Cycling Championships in Flanders, the culmination of a terrific sports summer, could begin. In Antwerp, you can admire the clock on the Ferris wheel on Steenplein. Mayor Bart De Wever and Alderman for Sport Peter Wouters pressed the start button, as did mascot Leontien!

Leuven

In Leuven, Mayor Ridouani and Alderman for Sport Geleyns got on their bikes to start the interactive and sustainable countdown clock on the Grote Markt. Mascot Leontien also got on her bike to set a good example to the residents and visitors of Leuven who will have to power the clock in the coming days so that it can continue to count down to 18 September.

Knokke-Heist

In the host cities of the time trials, giant screens in the city are also counting down to the start of the 2021 UCI Road World Championships. In Knokke-Heist (the starting point of all time trials) the countdown took place on the corner of Lippenslaan and Dumortierlaan. Mayor Piet De Groote and Alderman for Sport Jan Morbee, accompanied by mascot Leon, proudly showed the countdown clock that is getting ever closer to 18 September.

Bruges

Finally, the clock was also revealed in Bruges. On the spot where all the time trials finish, ’t Zand, there is a mobile countdown screen that can be used in various places in the city. Mayor Dirk De Fauw presented it together with Alderman of Sport Franky Demon in the presence of mascot Leon.

Search and you shall find

So that “100 days to go” does not go by unnoticed and in order to increase World Championships fever, we called on cycling fans via our Flanders 2021 channels to take part in a major search. Everyone was able to make Thursday 10 June a great day. Spread out along the World Championships course, no fewer than 100 World Championships mascots were hidden. Finders of a mascot won one of the 100 prizes of the World Championships partners.

The Flemish cycling fans showed themselves to be excellent hunters! The prizes won included five VIP tickets for the World Championships, a city trip in Leuven and even a Trek Domane SL5. We can look back on an extremely successful start to the countdown to the 2021 UCI Road World Championships from 18 to 26 September!