Karl @Vannieuwkerke schrijft een brief naar burgemeester Francis Benoit nadat Kortrijk de startplek wordt voor Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne: “Met dit idee zal de aandacht voor Kuurne nooit groter geweest zijn” kw.be/nieuws/opinie/…
"In order to continue to compete with the other spring classics, something had to change" - KBK chairman justifies change of starting city
CyclingFriday, 10 November 2023 at 07:00
Last Monday the news came out that Kuurne won't host the start of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne for the next three years. That honor will be reserved for Kortrijk from 2024. This city has signed an agreement with the organization. Francis Benoit, the mayor of Kuurne, speaks of a 'black day for our municipality.'
According to the Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, Kortrijk has paid a lot of money in recent years to have the city imaged by helicopter during the race. That amount will now gradually increase, from 75,000 euros in 2024 to 85,000 euros in 2025 and 90,000 euros in 2026.
"In order to continue to compete with the other spring classics, something had to change. The new starting location should make it possible to organize a stronger VIP operation, eventually add an international women's race to the program and create a greater experience. It will also only improve the image of the race and also increase its financial strength," KBK chairman Geert Penez says.
Benoit also sounds the alarm in a post on LinkedIn, calling on the region to invest. "So that these spring classics such as Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne do not disappear from the region. Because the places on the international calendar are getting smaller and smaller. If we want to hold an opening classic, we have to work together in various areas."
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