12 teams will battle for final victory at the 83rd Lotto Zesdaagse Vlaanderen-Gent from Tuesday 12 to Sunday 17 November. Lindsay De Vylder and Robbe Ghys are the defending champions and could write history if they were to win again. They will be challenged by the Olympic top duo Benjamin Thomas/Fabio Van den Bossche and European Champions Roger Kluge/Theo Reinhardt. Lotte Kopecky will also compete over two days in the Kuipke next week.
Never before has the same duo won the Lotto Zesdaagse Vlaanderen-Ghent three times in a row, but World Omnium Champion Lindsay De Vylder and Robbe Ghys could change that next week. Ghys, who prior to his double success with De Vylder also won twice with Kenny De Ketele, could become the first rider to win the Lotto Zesdaagse Vlaanderen-Gent five times in a row. Currently, the 27-year-old man from Limburg shares the longest winning streak with Patrick Sercu, who was dominated in the Kuipke four times in a row between 1970 and 1973, each time with a different teammate.
Who are the challengers for De Vylder/Ghys? Firstly, there’s Fabio Van den Bossche and Frenchman Benjamin Thomas, the bronze and gold medalists in the Paris Olympics Omnium. The 24-year-old from Laarne has already finished third and second in the Kuipke and is eager to climb another rung. 29-year-old Thomas who’s joining Van den Bossche is one of the most versatile and successful track cyclists of recent years. It is not a Ghent debut for Thomas, as he already finished second in the Ghent Six Days in 2017 alongside his compatriot Morgan Kneisky.
Besides Lindsay De Vylder (Omnium), two more World Champions from the past World Championships in Ballerup, Denmark, are coming to Ghent, namely German Roger Kluge (Madison) and Spaniard Sebastian Mora Vedri (Points race). Kluge forms a duo with his compatriot Theo Reinhardt, with whom he became European Madison Champion in Apeldoorn earlier this year. Next week, Mora will pilot our young compatriot Milan Van Den Haute, who two years ago won the U23 AVS Cup, the Six Days of the Future, which is also on this year’s programme each day.
This year, Ghent local and crowd favourite Jules Hesters forms a team with strong New Zealander Aaron Gate, the 2023 Points race World Champion. There are 9 Belgians in total, including the promising duo Noah Vandenbranden/Gianluca Pollefliet and debutant duo Matijs Van Strijthem/Nolan Huysmans.
Not only Belgium (9 riders), but the Netherlands (5) and France (4) are also strongly represented. This includes Yoeri Havik, who finished second in the Lotto Zesdaagse Vlaanderen-Gent the past two years. This year the Dutchman forms a team with his compatriot Vincent Hoppezak.
The 12 participating teams of the 83rd Lotto Zesdaagse Vlaanderen-Gent:
• Roger Kluge (GER)/Theo Reinhardt (GER)
• Yoeri Havik (NED)/Vincent Hoppezak (NED)
• Lindsay De Vylder (BEL)/Robbe Ghys (BEL)
• Jules Hesters (BEL)/Aaron Gate (NZE)
• Benjamin Thomas (FRA)/Fabio Van den Bossche (BEL)
• Clement Petit (FRA)/Michele Scartezzini (ITA)
• Noah Vandenbranden (BEL)/Gianluca Pollefliet (BEL)
• Milan Van Den Haute (BEL)/Sebastian Mora Vedri (SPA)
• Oscar Nilsson-Julien (FRA)/Valentin Tabellion (FRA)
• Mark Stewart (GBR)/Philip Heijnen (NED)
• Yanne Doorenbos (NED)/Jan-Willem van Schip (NED)
• Matijs Van Strijthem (BEL)/Nolan Huysmans (BEL)
Fashion For Cycling Ladies Cup & G Sport
Fashion For Cycling is the namesake of the Ladies Cup for the second year in a row, with Lotte Kopecky taking the spotlight. The programme for Friday and Saturday features the women’s individual elimination and points race at the Kuipke. Kopecky is the reigning European Champion and World silver medalist in both disciplines. She will face competition from the young guard from her own country including Hélène Hesters and Katrijn De Clercq, the European U23 Champions Madison, as well as Lani Wittevrongel and Dutch Lisa van Belle, bronze medalist in the Madison at the Olympic Games in Paris.
The Lotto Zesdaagse Vlaanderen-Gent is also pleased to offer a platform to Belgium’s best G cyclists. Wednesday sees top Paralympic athletes Ewoud Vromant, Jarno Thierens and Niels Verschaeren in action against three tough Brits. On Friday, the Kuipke forms the arena for riders with intellectual disabilities. On Sunday, double Paralympic silver medalist Ewoud Vromant will ride another pursuit against Matthew Robertson.
Party Music
Traditionally, the Six Days of Ghent also offer a musical entertainment programme. Tuesday, the opening night, Garry Hagger provides the finest musical moment. Wednesday it’s Sam Gooris’ turn, Thursday the Romeo’s, Friday Jelle Van Dael and Saturday Pauline.
Tickets
Those wanting to attend the Lotto Zesdaagse Vlaanderen-Gent between 12 and 17 November should book their seats as soon as possible. There are still a limited number of tickets available.
