Protestor’s threatened to throw nails on Tour of Flanders route
One of the oldest cycling races, Tour of Flanders is in danger of being jeopardized after the organisers received anonymous letter threats.
The protestors have warned to strew nails on the track of the Tour of Flanders.
Tour of Flanders is the eighth World Tour race of the season scheduled on the 1st of April, 2012.
The race started way back in 1913, and is amongst the monuments of the UCI European professional calendar.
The race, also termed as the Vlaanderens mooiste, is the most important race in Flanders and is organised in Belgium every year.
It is believed that the main reason behind the protests is the new route announced by the management for the 2012 version of the race.
Marnic De Meulemeester told the Gazet van Antwerpen, “Three simple lines. From the font it looks to have been typed on an old typewriter. From someone who loves the Tour”.
“That is what they say, anyway. A person who is not at peace with the change in route. The threat? Nails on the road,” he concluded.
The famous climb of Muur van Geraardsbergen is not included at the 2012 version of the race.
The organisers have announced a new ending for the race this year and the race will conclude at Oudenaarde instead of Meerbeke.
It will be the first time since 1973 that the race will have a different ending, which is believed to be the main reason behind the protests.
The local and the national police stated that they will “take the threat seriously as you never know”.
The organisers will be “extra vigilant” during the race, “but it is impossible to place an agent or steward on every inch of the road”.
A total number of 17 climbs are in the coming version of the race. They are, Nokereberg, Taaienberg, Eikenberg, Molenberg, Rekelberg, Berendries and Valkenberg and Oude Kwaremont.
Cyclists will also go through the climbs of Paterberg, Koppenberg, Steenbeekdries, Nieuwe Kruisberg, Oude Kwaremont, Paterberg, Hoogberg-Hotond, Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg.
Paul Deman won the first edition of the race while Nick Nuyens of Team Saxo Bank dominated during Tour of Flanders 2011.
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