Van Aert Confirmed for Declercq‘s hooglede-Gits Farewell Criterium
Hooglede-Gits,belgium -โ Wout van Aert will compete this โweekend at a special farewell criterium honoring retiring cyclist Tim Declercq,organizers confirmed today. The event, taking place Saturday, November 1st, starting at 1 p.m.in Hooglede’s Markt square, has โคdrawn a remarkable field of professionalโ cyclistsโฃ eager to โคcelebrateโค Declercq’s career.
Declercq’s influence extends โฃbeyond his professional achievements, having successfully attracted aโ stellar lineup of riders โฃto his hometown for โคthis celebratory event. โAlongside Van Aert, โfellow Visma | Lease a Bike riderโ tiesj Benoot will participate, as โwill Oliver โขNaesen of Decathlon AG2R.The criteriumโฃ will also feature โขa reunion ofโ Declercq’s former teammates โฃincluding Tim Merlier, Maury Vansevenant, Jordi warlop, Louis Vervaeke, Yves Lampaert, Bert Van Lerberghe, and โPieter Serry, all nowโข riding โforโฃ Lidl-Trek. Timโฃ Torn Teutenbergโฃ and Daan โHoole, also ofโค Lidl-Trek, are confirmed โฃattendees, โas โฃisโ former โprofessional Philippe โGilbert, a past Belgianโ champion crowned inโ Gits.
The raceโฃ itself will consist of 35 laps of a 1.6 km course through the streets of Hooglede,structured as an elimination race withโค intermediate sprints for โฃTim’s family/friends,promising young riders,and ultimately,theโข professionals. โคFollowing the โขrace, winners of โthe children’s race, sprint stages, and the criterium will be honored. The โคday will culminate in a โขceremony recognizing Declercq as an โคhonoraryโ citizen and ambassador ofโ Hooglede.