Iljo Keisse talks about the magic behind Ghent Six Day: "Time has stopped here. This is a mix of sports and entertainment"

Seven-time Ghent Six Day champion Iljo Keisse lives through quite a new experience at the traditional festival of track racing, spectating the race from outside the center of action for the first time in years. In an interview with Sporza, Keisse admits he doesn't necessarily miss the suffering, but still gets goosebumps in 't Kuipke.

"It's different to be back here," muses Keisse on the opening evening of the Ghent Six Days. "I have been able to entertain the public for years, I hope the riders will now do that for me."

Keisse is a child of 't Kuipke, but he also cannot escape the laws of a former rider. "I wanted to enter the press zone without a pass, but security wouldn't let me in. I said I had to give the starting shot, but that was not enough. Oh well, those people are just doing their job. Although it would have been a shame if they no longer recognized me," he laughs.

Keisse explains the Ghent success formula simply: "Time has stopped here. This is a mix of sports and entertainment, a tradition. Some come here and don't see a single rider, others stay in the same place for 6 days. It's folklore, a bit like the Ghent Festivities in winter."