We are now accepting applications for the NYS Trooper Entrance Exam! Please visit joinstatepolice.ny.gov to learn more troopers responded to a reported crash on State Route 9H north of Falls Road in the town of Ghent.  The preliminary investigation determined that a 2010 Chrysler Sebring being driven by Zachary Seyerlein when his vehicle crossed over the centerline into the southbound lane and collided with a dump truck operated by Wayne Keyes The Chrysler came to rest off the east shoulder while the dump truck stopped on the west side of the road and became engulfed in flames.  Seyerlein was pronounced deceased at the scene Keyes was able to get out of the burning dump truck and was transported to Albany Medical Center by the Valatie Rescue Squad for treatment of minor injuries The Ghent and West Ghent fire departments responded and extinguished the fire Members of the NY State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit responded to the scene The investigation into the crash is ongoing _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ State Police responded to a motor vehicle collision between a passenger vehicle and a dump truck on Route 9H at Falls Road in Ghent One person is confirmed deceased at the scene SR-9H is closed between County Route 22 and County Route 25 for the investigation.  The New York Red Bulls have transferred Belgian forward Dante Vanzeir to K.A.A “We want to wish Dante all the best in the next step of his career,” said Head of Sport Jochen Schneider “Dante played a big role in our club earning our first-ever Eastern Conference Championship last season and we appreciate all of his hard work over the last two seasons played the last two seasons with the Red Bulls where he made 63 career appearances across all competitions and recorded 11 goals and 12 assists Vanzeir made 32 MLS appearances and tallied 14 goal contributions including 10 assists which was the first time since 2018 that a Red Bulls player had recorded double-digit MLS assists in a single season The forward tallied four assists in New York’s 4-0 win over Inter Miami CF on March 23 he became the first player in franchise history to record four assists in a single match He recorded two goals and one assist during the Red Bulls’ 2024 postseason run which included a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win over rivals NYCFC in the 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals Vanzeir played with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise for three seasons where he made 92 career appearances and scored 48 goals and tallied 21 assists which led him to being named Player of the Year and winning the Golden Boot for the Challenger Pro League He helped the club gain promotion to the Juplier Pro League for the first time in 48 years Vanzeir also spent time with Beerschot V.A. Vanzeir made 27 appearances in the Challenger Pro League during the 2018-19 season TRANSACTION: The New York Red Bulls have transferred Belgian forward Dante Vanzeir to K.A.A Gent of the Jupiler Pro League on January 24 Your pass to the ultimate experience at Sports Illustrated Stadium - with all the benefits of a Red Membership - including the remaining 11 Regular Season matches Playoffs and more - starting at just $99 per month Score the highly-anticipated Eastern Conference match against Inter Miami CF plus any three -- or more -- additional matches of your choice The new cycling season is picking up momentum and some of the sport’s biggest names already are making headlines Tadej Pogacar earned a win at the Strade Bianche 2025 Matteo Jorgenson was victorious at Paris-Nice and two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard suffered a noteworthy crash the cycling world will turn its attention to the Gent-Wevelgem one of the prestigious events on the Flanders Classics schedule.  The Gent-Wevelgem – Men will be contested for the 77th time and feature a trek of 250.3 kilometers for 25 teams of seven riders The men’s race will get underway at 5:40 a.m Eastern and is expected to end at approximately 10:15 a.m the Gent-Wevelgem – Men will start under the Menin Gate in Ypres a war memorial dedicated to soldiers who were killed in Flanders Fields during World War I The first men’s Gent-Wevelgem was contested in 1934 Six riders in history have won the men’s race three times each: sprinter Biniam Girmay became the first African to win the event The reigning champion in the men’s Gent-Wevelgem is Denmark’s Mads Pedersen.  To see the complete routes and entry lists, click here The men will race first at the Gent-Wevelgem 2025 The men’s race will begin at approximately 5:40 a.m The Gent-Wevelgem – Men 2025 is streaming on FloBikes and the FloSports app for viewers in the United States, U.S. territories and Canada.  replays and breaking news will be available on both platforms.  FloBikes is the streaming home to some of the best cycling from across the globe. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more of your favorites in action. Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloBikes subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions Get the most important Cycling stories delivered straight to your inbox Follow on Instagram  Note: This summer, Less Than is moving to 806 Baldwin Ave., the former location of Eleanor’s Books. For now, the shop at 803 Shirley remains open.  In a neighborhood known for its walkability and tight-knit community, Less Than has found the perfect home. Found in Ghent, this zero-waste and refill shop is all about revolution—the kind rooted in sustainability, mindfulness and spending dollars locally. The shop celebrates its fifth anniversary this spring, and it’s not hard to see why it’s still going strong. Less Than offers everything from bulk soaps and cleaning supplies to sustainable personal care, baby items and pet goods. Each item comes in compostable, refillable or packaging-free forms. Customers can bring their own containers or pick from sanitized community-donated jars, then refill as they see fit.  Of course, Less Than sells much more than soap. The store’s philosophy is rooted in changing people’s daily habits. “The most sustainable product is the one you already have,” Simmonds says. “You don’t have to replace everything overnight. Start small. Get just a few ounces. See what works.” Inside, the store is split into intentional zones: one area offers self-care gifts like mindful games and journaling kits, while the refill station stocks everyday essentials like laundry detergent, dish soap and facial cleansers. The only thing that’s missing is synthetic fragrances and dyes. Local makers contribute to the shop’s unique inventory, too: Norfolk seamstresses provide reusable cloths, face rounds and even mop heads, keeping more dollars circulating locally. Three years ago, the shop expanded to include Ceremony, a curated non-alcoholic bottle shop that features zero-proof spirits, functional drinks with adaptogens and a variety of mixers. It’s another extension of the store’s ethos—helping people meet their needs without compromise, whether they’re sober-curious or just looking for something new. For travelers living a low-waste lifestyle, Less Than is a destination all its own. “People seek us out when they visit Norfolk,” says Simmonds, noting that vegetarians, zero-waste enthusiasts and sober travelers often arrive knowing exactly what they’re looking for—or discovering it for the first time. Ghent locals already know the place is a gem. Residents routinely drop in for quick refills, eco-friendly gifts or just to see what’s new in stock. Less Than is just that way: unassuming, warm and rooted in a bigger purpose. Less Than is open Tuesday–Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays. Delivery available within Norfolk.   Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world The Belgian city is increasingly popular with day trippers — and wary of the effect that too many tourists can have on the local housing market and quality of life.  Tourists cool off along a canal in Ghent’s historic center in 2017 The Belgian city has seen its visitor count grow in recent years.  Photographer: Romy Arroyo Fernandez/NurPhoto via Getty Images 2025 at 9:18 AM ESTBookmarkSaveTakeaways NEWWhen Olivier Jacobs opened his bar in the picturesque Belgian city of Ghent in 2012 They found the bar tucked in among a comics shop a baby products store and an organic market on a stretch of Oudberg a narrow cobblestoned street steps from the Lys River in Ghent’s historic center Jacobs estimates that tourist balance can reach 80% it’s a good thing for me that there’s tourism,” says Jacobs we were full when there was less tourism as well.” Wiebes won her second in the Belgian cycling spring classic The former world champion won the race by nearly a minute riding solo for 56km after launching his second attack of the day on the Kemmelberg Pedersen shared the podium with team-mate Jonathan Milan and Tim Merlier of Soudal Quick-Step Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes of Team SD Worx-Protime claimed a 100th career victory to defend her title in a sprint finish 🥇","event":null,"destination_url":"","entry_point_tag":"base","entry_point_type":"instory_campaign"}" data-tracking="click" href="https://www.olympics.com/en/sign-in?entry_point_type=instory_campaign&entry_point_tag=base&template=base&origin=https%3A%2F%2Folympics.com%2Fen%2Folympic-channel" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Olympic Membership - Free Live Stream Sports & Original Series - join now Become a member here We use cookies to improve your browsing experience All you need to know about the West Flandrian cobbled Classic Bridging the gap between Milan-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders Gent-Wevelgem is almost like a combination of the Italian and Belgian Monuments; the Classic on Sunday March 30 provides an opportunity for a sprinter to triumph but it can also reward the grit and endeavour of an attacker Gent-Wevelgem is a challenging race to call given the many different scenarios that can play out on the exposed roads and cobbled bergs of West Flanders Gent-Wevelgem — like many Belgian Classics — has been dominated by the home nation; it was not until 1954 that a non-Belgian won the race the top spot on the podium has had a much more international feel when Binian Girmay claimed Africa’s first ever cobbled Classic victory Last year, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) overpowered Mathieu van der Poel in a two-man sprint but this year, he won’t have to face the Dutchman or Tadej Pogačar, as they are both focusing their efforts on Flanders and Paris-Roubaix Pogačar and Wout van Aert all skipping the race on Sunday Gent-Wevelgem does not actually start in Gent but rather in the town of Ypres from which the peloton heads north-west towards the coast where the threat of crosswinds will be on the minds of all riders; the action can kick off on the exposed roads even before a single climb or cobblestone has been tackled the route turns back inland towards the southeast and towards the cobbles it is not until after 148km that the real challenges come — the Baneberg (1km at 7.6%) the Monteberg (1km at 4.9%) and the cobbled Kemmelberg (400m at 9.5%) all coming in quick succession The riders have to tackle these climbs all over again in the next 50km before the final Kemmelberg but it averages 8.5% and peaks at over 20% the peloton faces a mostly flat final 30km with some undulations on the way to the finish line in Wevelgem Apart from a DNF and 33rd place finish in his first two participations at the race Pedersen has had a number of standout performances at Gent-Wevelgem including two top 10s in addition to his wins Pedersen — as proven by his two previous victories — has the perfect attributes to win Gent-Wevelgem To have the best chance of joining the club of three-time winners at Gent-Wevelgem he will need to hope he arrives in a group without the purest of sprinters Despite a crash last Wednesday in the last kilometre at Nokere Koerse and a subsequent difficult ride at Milan-Sanremo, Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Jasper Philipsen will start as a key contender in Ypres on Sunday, thanks to his Classics and Tour de France pedigree In the last two years Philipsen has come second to his teammate Van der Poel at Paris-Roubaix proving he is not only one of the top-end sprinters but also one of the most durable an attribute he may need to rely on as he takes on the rest of the very best sprinters Jasper Philipsen at the 2024 Dwars Door Vlaanderen (Photo: Andrew Smith/SWpix) The first of Philipsen’s main rivals is former teammate Tim Merlier (Soudal–Quick-Step), who has already won six times this year, most recently at Paris-Nice where he took the opening two stages Merlier’s top-end speed and power is considered one of the best in the peloton With 30km to catch any attackers from the Kemmelberg to the finish Merlier will fancy his chances of adding Gent-Wevelgem to his palmarès the European champion came down in crash towards the end of Wednesday's Brugge-De Panne so it is not clear what condition he will be in on the start line in Ypres Tim Merlier at the 2024 Giro d'Italia (Photo: Zac Williams/SWpix) racking up six victories in 2025 — the same number as Merlier he will have to survive the potential crosswinds bergs and attacks in order to unleash a sprint for the win One aspect which may count against him is that his teammate Pedersen may be in a move up the road meaning Lidl-Trek will not chase after him if things do come together in the finish on Wevelgem we can expect a mouthwatering encounter between Milan and other sprinters like Merlier and Philipsen A race with a number of potential outcomes gives a number of different riders a chance at victory. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) made history as the first Eritrean to win a stage of the Tour in 2024 but it was in 2022 when he really burst into the spotlight by winning Gent-Wevelgem in doing so becoming the first African winner of a cobbled Classic He will be looking to return to the top step of the podium on Sunday Biniam Girmay at the 2022 Gent-Wevelgem (Photo: Zac Williams/SWpix) Michael Matthews’ tortured romance at Milan-Sanremo continued on the weekend with yet another top 10 placing at the race the fourth-place finish for the Team Jayco Alula rider Kooij (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) is in with a shout proving himself to be a sprinter who can handle hard days on the saddle After his canny winning move with 400m to go in Brugge-De Panne Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates XRG) will be looking to add another Classic to his palmarès in the space of a week Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe pair Laurence Pithie and Jordi Meeus the latter of whom won the sprint for third place last year with Pithie attacking and Meeus waiting for a sprint Another man who could be up there in a sprint if a group comes to the line is Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) but like Merlier he went down in a crash on Wednesday's Brugge-De Panne and so it is not clear how he will fare After impressive top 10s at Milan-Sanremo Matteo Trentin (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) and Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) will be looking to back up their results on the Ligurian coast in the Flandrian fields Fred Wright at the Tour of Flanders 2024 (Photo: Francesco Rachello / Tornanti.cc) We think Jasper Philipsen will survive the climbs to take Gent-Wevelgem victory from a bunch sprint finish Rouleur takes a look at the contenders to win the Maglia Rosa in Italy this month Alexander Vinokourov's team are making the impossible rather quite possible All the essential information about the first Grand Tour of the year While the former Olympic and World champion is relishing new ventures in retirement she is keen to ensure more support is in place for those.. From SD Worx-Protime's continued success to Canyon-SRAM's disappointment Rouleur takes a look at how each squad performed at the Spring Classics Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines Join today for exclusive content from independent journalists This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply SRAM RED XPLR has been Lidl-Trek's secret weapon during the rough-and-tumble classics Pedersen during his solo attack on the Kemmelberg Victor Campenaerts attacked throughout the cobbled sectors Pedersen and Arjen Livyns attacking from a breakaway group Merlier wins sprint for second as Pedersen launches solo attack from outside 70km to go to take a hattrick of career wins at the Belgian race Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) claimed his third career victory in Gent-Wevelgem with a stunning display of power and tenacity attacking 72 kilometres from the finish to bridge across to the day's early breakaway then pushing all of his chips in with a solo attack on the Kemmelberg with 56km to go previously shattered in the crosswinds of De Moeren could hardly make a dent in the Dane's 90-second advantage in the last hour of racing thanks to a tailwind and the work of the rest of Lidl-Trek Lidl-Trek led out Jonathan Milan in the bunch sprint for the final podium spots but Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quickstep) outpaced the Italian who hit out a bit too early I never expected to be able to do something like this," Pedersen said "It was in favour of being alone with the full tailwind in the last 20k Pedersen, who finished second behind Tour of Flanders rival Mathieu van der Poel in the E3 Saxo Classic two days previously equalled the record of Gent-Wevelgem victories of Tom Boonen and Eddy Merckx He played down what his win one week before De Ronde means with Van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar absent from today's race those two guys are still on a different level," Pedersen said And we also know Tadej is a pretty good bike rider Of course this gives some confidence for Sunday who crashed during the Classic Brugge-De Panne and had to get stitches in his knee revealed that he was opposed to starting Gent-Wevelgem today but his sports director Iljo Keisse put him on the start line 'I don't want to start today because I never can be ready' But he left me on the list and brought me over here Merlier had to fight against Milan in a full-out sprint for almost 300 metres ultimately pulling ahead just before the line Milan admitted he hit out too early in the sprint "I finished the third but I'm still happy for this podium." Clear skies and a stiff breeze greeted the peloton in Ypres for the start of the 87th edition of Gent-Wevelgem with 250.3 kilometres of cobbles Jules Hester (Flanders-Baloise) kicked off the hostilities but a counterattack from Sam Maisonobe (Cofidis) Marco Haller (Tudor) and Emīls Liepiņš (Q36.5) went clear Another attack from Victor Vercouillie (Flanders-Baloise) Samuel Leroux and Alexys Brunel (TotalEnergies) Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates XRG) emerged from the peloton and joined the first breakaway with 228km to go The leaders gained nearly four minutes before their advantage began to come down after 80 kilometres of racing Crosswinds hit the peloton after 100 kilometres of racing, with Lidl-Trek driving the pace to leave sprinters like Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quickstep) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) behind but Merlier sent his team to the front to close the gap The action brought the escapees within one minute before the first two echelons merged with 103km to go Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) attacked with Johan Jacobs (Groupama-FDJ) soon after but the Swiss rider couldn't hold the wheel of the former Hour Record holder on the Baneberg and dropped back to the peloton Campenaerts made it to the leaders before the Monteberg with 94km to go Vercouillie and Leroux lost touch while behind a probing attack from Pedersen pulled away a small group but it was closed down quickly Pedersen attacked again on the section of three plugstreets with 72km to go and was joined by Arjen Livyns (Lotto) to bridge across to the breakaway Philipsen suffered a puncture at the worst possible moment and had to fight his way back to the peloton Pedersen made his way to the remnants of the early breakaway with 63km to go Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) crashed out of the race The breakaway had a minute on the chasing peloton with 60km to go Brunel tried to make a move on the Monteberg Maisonobe was swinging at the back when the group hit the Kemmelberg 1.8km later Campenaerts lead at pace into the Kemmelberg dropping Brunel along with Walker and Maisonobe but Pedersen came over the top and blasted away solo Hallery and Livyns left in the chase group The trio couldn't hold off the charging peloton and a surge came from Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates XRG) and Philipsen It was marked by Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) but the acceleration was enough to reel the three chasers in Pedersen kept a lead of 1:25 with 15km to go despite Alpecin-Deceuninck Uno-X Mobility and Soudal-Quickstep collaborating to try to close him down Results powered by FirstCycling she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track Laura has a passion for all three disciplines When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads UCI governance and performing data analysis you will then be prompted to enter your display name how to watch Belgian cycling spring classics liveOne of the most prestigious spring classics returns on Sunday with the 77th edition of the men's race leading up to the Tour of Flanders on 6 April starting in Ypres and finishing in Wevelgem Find everything you need to know about the 2025 Gent-Wevelgem and Gent-Wevelgem Women below, including teams, key competitors, and how to watch live. At 250.3 km, this year's men's route will be 2.8 km shorter than in 2024. The course rolls through the Flanders Fields, paying homage to the victims of World War I. After an opening section highlighted by the famous Moeren, it will feature the following climbs: The women's route covers 169.1 km across two large loops and, like the men's, will feature the Kemmelberg twice—from two different sides: the slightly easier Belvedere and the steeper Ossuaire. Here’s the list of climbs featured. Over the years, the race has been traditionally affected by rain and wind conditions, and recent modifications have made the race more closely resemble the Tour of Flanders. The iconic Kemmelberg ascent could be the decisive section of the race again, with the victory often decided by bunch sprints or small breakaways. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gent-Wevelgem (@gentwevelgemofficial) All times Central European Summer Time / CEST (GMT+2) Clocks in Europe switch forward to CEST the night before the race) The 2025 Gent-Wevelgem and Gent-Wewelgem Women will be shown live around the world The races will be broadcast on ORF (Austria) Danish cyclist Mads Pedersen won Gent-Wevelgem 2025 on Sunday at the end of a 55-kilometer solo burst adding to his previous victories at the classic in 2020 and 2024 The Lidl-Trek rider finished well ahead of Belgian Tim Merlier in second with Jonathan Milan of Italy completing the podium The victory put 29-year-old Pedersen in elite company Tom Boonen and Peter Sagan on the list of three-time winners of Gent-Wevelgem "I was told this morning that if I won today so of course that's nice to be there now," Pedersen said To claim his 50th victory in a professional race Pedersen took the risky decision to make his move early to avoid a mass sprint finish The Dane first joined a group of nine attackers with 75 kilometers to go before taking the lead with 55 kilometers remaining thanks to an attack that left all his rivals on the spot on the second of the three ascents of Mont Kemmel "It was in favor of being alone with the full tailwind in the last 20k," explained Pedersen The peloton next turn their attention to the second Monument of the season with the Tour of Flanders taking place next Sunday Pedersen is not letting himself get carried away by his record-equaling performance this weekend especially with Mathieu van der Poel and three-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar set to compete those two guys are still on a different level," said the 2019 world champion "We saw it Friday with Mathieu (who won the E3 in Belgium) "Of course this gives some confidence for Sunday — All was quiet in Ghent but for the quiet pitter-patter of footsteps in the snow The footsteps became louder as dozens of Ghentians hastened toward Colley Avenue but within moments — just outside the historic Naro Expanded Cinema with the neon lights shining down — it became an all-out snowball brawl Shrieks echoed down the block as snowballs careened across the sidewalk toward their intended targets Watch: Is this snow good for building snowmen "They're gettin' me," one man yelled with fearful exasperation in his voice To the face!" another man yelled gleefully as he pelted his opponent The hard-fought battle — later dubbed 'The Great Ghent Snowball Fight of 2025' — ended as quickly as it had begun Gent-Wevelgem race overviewDateMarch 30, 2025Start locationYpresFinish locationWevelgemDistance250.3kmStart time10:40 CETFinish time16:16 CETCategoryUCI WorldTourPrevious edition2024 Gent-WevelgemPrevious WinnerMads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-TrekMads Pedersen wins Gent-Wevelgem Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) won the 2025 Gent-Wevelgem riding to the day's breakaway and then going off the front solo with more than 50km remaining The victory was a record-equalling third for the Danish rider who beat Mathieu van der Poel in 2024 and claimed his first win in Gent-Wevelgem in 2020 A tailwind and Lidl-Trek disrupting the chase meant the peloton was fighting for the final two podium spots with Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quickstep) out-pacing Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) for second and third.  Results powered by FirstCycling The 77th edition of Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields will be held on March 30, 2025, on the same day as the Gent-Wevelgem Women's race Gent-Wevelgem rolls through Flanders Fields with the race paying homage to the victims of the ‘Great War’ each year create havoc with the peloton before the finish that culminates just beyond the final climb of the lung-busting cobbled Kemmelberg Recent modifications to the course have added more climbs and made the race more closely resemble the Tour of Flanders.  Reduced bunch sprints or small breakaways tend to decide the victory Full details of the 2025 Gent-Wevelgem route The men’s race was first held in 1934, while a women’s race was added to the calendar in 2012. Six riders share the prestige of having won the race three times, the most recent addition to the list was in 2018 when Peter Sagan took his third title which was also a record with a sixth podium.  Also in the three-time victory club are Belgians Robert Van Eenaeme Eddy Merckx and Tom Boonen plus Italian Mario Cipollini strong sprinters like Alexander Kristoff (2019) Mads Pedersen (2020) and Wout van Aert (2021) have emerged from front selections to score victories Girmay’s achievement gave him a place in the record books as the first African champion of the cobbled Classic Gent-Wevelgem past winners Data powered by FirstCycling Baylor students today have dozens of options to choose from when it comes to Chapel Some prefer a large-group worship setting (similar to traditional Chapel services); others a small group setting — perhaps one with friends from their residence hall or one focused on how faith plays out in their field of study One of the more unique options available this semester: Chapel with the First Gent Brad Livingstone — husband to President Linda Livingstone and a longtime high school teacher — leads a group of 16 Baylor students as they learn how to mature in their faith “This actually came through one of my quiet times — ‘Here I am God; use me.’ The main thing is relationships and really getting these students to understand that now is the time to really solidify their faith in Christ,” says the First Gent The group meets in the living room of Allbritton House home to Baylor presidents (and their families) for more than 50 years The student participants range from freshmen to seniors covering a wide variety of majors and hometowns What they have in common is a desire to grow in their faith and to walk that out in a small-group environment “I appreciate with Baylor how many different chapels there are so you can find something that really fits for you,” says freshman Shayla Curtis “I did a really big Chapel last semester; there were some really great speakers and messages but I wasn’t able to engage with it the way I wanted to I can be so engaged and really learning about God and how He acts in different people’s lives.” is to help the students answer three questions: Who is God “What I want to instill is establishing these students in their daily walk with Christ,” says Livingstone I’ve heard from a number of them that just being able to step back even for a few minutes of their crazy lives and just be with God has really been pretty cool for them So let’s lay that foundation that will help them grow in their daily walks with Christ for the rest of their lives.” The feedback from students has been incredible setting aside time just to speak with God… That’s my number one thing I’ve tried to work on really since I became a Christian,” says sophomore Gabriel Granados “Just kind of slowing down and actually getting to have that time with God I do it in the mornings; just getting to start off the day spending time with God Chapel with the First Gent is part of a rethinking of Baylor Chapel led by Rev Baylor’s Director for Chapel — moving away from a “one size fits all” approach and toward something that would better serve today’s students as they grow in their faith “Every single Chapel is grounded in spiritual formation,” says Moniz “Baylor is so rich with all of these experiences and people and ways we’re thinking about our students and their spiritual formation it’s not so much about something new as it is about finding ways for Chapel to come alongside existing programs and opportunities.” Students this fall will be able to choose from almost 70 different Chapel experiences — including Chapel with the First Gent “I actually look forward to this time every week,” says Livingstone … Everybody knows we’re all too busy But I have learned that you make time for the things that really matter Each of these cities is emerging as a European ‘tech hub’ in its own distinct way You’ll know Barcelona for its digital nomad infestation Amsterdam for its fintech all-stars and the obvious choice for global tech companies setting up their EU headquarters– just ask Netflix You’ll know it for its overhyped consumer unicorns the lingering influence of Rocket Internet and international investors frequently complaining about the bureaucratic complexities of investing in German startups (truth) How has this under-the-radar mediaeval city made the cut how is Ghent managing to punch well above its weight and be battling at the top of the table in international tech and VC funding The tech scene here isn't just another industry in town and so I know unrealised gains - and a vanity growth metric - gets you far Ghent has a startup ‘ecosystem’ valued at €34B The startup ecosystem here is so tight-knit I’d go as far to say that we now have our own Ghent “mafia” similar to the likes of the Paypal alumni in Silicon Valley or ex-Revolut execs across Europe The first generation of founders have stayed put and invested significantly in new founders Aikido alone has eight former founders on the team now - try finding that kind of founder density anywhere else in Europe which serves as the unofficial finishing school for Ghent’s tech talent exemplifying the "pay it forward" mentality that characterises Ghent's tech community It’s fitting that they also built the new temple to Ghent tech - the Wintercircus I'm not here to question anyone's work ethic but there's something to be said about a city with fewer distractions we've got our fair share of cultural activities (Ghent Fest is the second largest festival in Europe after Oktoberfest and draws in almost 2 million visitors over 10 days) the modest size of the city and the more casual unstructured nature of meetups mean there's just more focus We’re not forced to juggle a packed calendar of startup events This centrality is a strategic advantage for startups looking to scale across Europe and with that comes the opportunity to be a testing ground for pro-entrepreneurship initiatives We can potentially see very pro-tech regulations come into fruition here Think of what Estonia did as a nation - with policies like e-residency and favourable tax structures for startups - but on a city level there are challenges that come with being in a smaller city we quickly realised that the kind of services readily available in Berlin or Amsterdam are few and far between here But these are small trade-offs for the benefits we get move to New York or London." But in Ghent we’re embracing the fact that we can build global companies without feeling the need to leave Talent retention and recycling happens here at a faster rate than in other cities The tech ecosystem is more concentrated and interconnected creating a tight-knit community where experience and knowledge are quickly shared and leveraged we're showing that tech and the talent doesn't just live in the usual suspect cities It's proving that with the right ingredients - talent and a network of expertise that really wants to work together - any city can become a tech powerhouse Madeline Lawrence is the CBO of Aikido Security Madeline recently made the jump to the light side leaving her career in venture capital for an operator role.After founding a micro-fund fresh out of law school Madeline spent the past few years rising through the ranks of European VC eventually becoming a partner at a €150M fund by the age of 25 with viral pranks and a punchy critique of the industry following in her wake.She is now delivering no-nonsense security to developers worldwide as CBO of Aikido Security Aikido has raised over €25M from notable investors including Singular and Vanta co-founder Christina Cacioppo Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Mass of Christian Burial for Linda Oftedahl at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Marshall Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church Linda Kay (Boerboom) Oftedahl was born on June 8 and graduated from Central Catholic High School in Marshall Linda worked various office jobs throughout her life most recently with Oftedahl Insurance and The Travel Company Linda’s very active social calendar included starting her early mornings with a daily group phone call from her daughters on their commutes to work Then off to the “Y” to join swim aerobics Most days continued with coffee with the swim ladies and deciding which card games she wanted to get in on and no matter how much her kids wanted her to join them in living in various locations around the United States to be closer to them she refused to leave the amazing community and friends that she loved so much Her kids had to settle for visits that never seemed long enough It wasn’t ever too hard to convince Linda to get on a plane to travel the world there weren't many places she didn’t see in this world She took the diagnosis in stride and continued to feel great throughout her treatments with The Avera Cancer Institute in Marshall The aggressiveness of her myeloma was met with her determination for as long as her body allowed Linda passed peacefully with family by her side at her residence in Marshall on Saturday Her survivors include her son Dan Oftedahl (and Katherine Maruyama) of Denver Jonathan and Alex; daughter Kris (and Chad) Burt of Walcott Layton and Makenna; son Ross (and Colby Raymond) of Virginia Beach VA; daughter Wendy Oftedahl (and Darien Moya) of Washington Julian and Aria; sister Cheryl Wyffels and sister-in-law Pam Somers; special extended family of Jennifer Oftedahl and way too many relatives and friends to list She was preceded in death by her husband Duane memorials are preferred to Prairie Home Hospice Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors If you had an account with Verso prior to April 2023 you will need to register here to access your account Would you like to switch to our site to see prices and shipping options for your current location and lost mid-century dreams of a technological utopia and takes a look behind the media headlines to work out what’s really going on As well as being a writer Craig is also a researcher and the North of England Editor at Novara Media Craig will be exploring the role of algorithms in the workplace He’ll be covering the big questions - such as quietly integrated into our everyday lives Is it just an inevitable fact of the long march toward progress Or does it open a new frontier of class struggle that we need to take seriously and think about strategically In other words what happens when your boss is a robot as well as mid-century dreams of a technological utopia If you are able to, do go ahead and support Macrodose over at their Patreon. And of course don’t forget to pick up your own copy of Cyberboss: The Rise of Algorithmic Management and the New Struggle for Control at Work Be sure to subscribe to the show so you can be the first to know when season four drops - and so that you don’t miss any of the bonus content coming your way between now and then If you enjoy The Verso Podcast please consider leaving a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts - it really helps us out Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries Experience the best things to do in Ghent with this guide to the region’s top attractions with plenty to explore over one to three days And when you visit the city for the first time yourself you’ll want to return as soon as possible.  This is the power Ghent holds – once a European superpower, now an unsung treasure of a town with a strong artistic bent and a respectable student population. Today, Ghent is Begium’s third-largest city and one of the best places in Europe for culture Eccentric museums and cozy waterfront cafes go hand in hand with the medieval city center Ghent is known for And with dozens of local events happening every week along with the yearly Ghent Festivities transforming the center into a high-energy urban festival Plan your trip with this list of the best things to do in Ghent  Towering over the medieval city center is Gravensteen A journey through the heraldic culture of the 12th century is best experienced with the complementary audio guide He’ll tell you all about the complex history of the fortress Count Philip of Alsace and his entourage who lived there the Castle of the Counts gained international recognition thanks to the Ghent International Exposition of 1913 Planning tip: Get a great photo of the castle on St-Widostraat In the shadow of the Castle of the Counts, you’ll find the Graslei and Korenlei Historic facades are reflected in the river and you’ll find locals and travelers enjoying a sunny aperitif or two by the waterside Venture out a bit further and you’ll find two picture-perfect bridges looking out over the city’s medieval buildings: the poetic Grasbrug in the north and the cobbled Sint-Michielsbrug (Saint Michael’s Bridge) in the south Just watch out for the buses and trams driving over the latter while you’re taking in the sights Planning tip: Go west of Grasburg at dusk to admire the picture-perfect “medieval” scene of waterfront gabled houses With its origins in 1843, the Ghent Festivities take over Ghent’s inner city for 10 days every summer cultural gathering and large-scale feast for the masses outsiders might find that the Ghent Festivities’ appeal is not particularly easy to pinpoint it’s a way of experiencing their city in perpetual motion it’s a high-energy explosion of good vibes best of all: the event is free for everyone The main draw of this event is 13 music squares that have grown organically over the years Local favorites include Polé Polé (a sultry Latin pop feast on the historic Graslei) Emile Braunplein (a colorful Mardi Gras celebration in the shadow of Ghent’s three iconic medieval towers) and Vlasmarkt (the place where merry-makers traditionally watch the sun come up after an eventful night) a similarly free event occurs in the city center also known as the Gentse Winter-feesten (Ghent Winter Festivities) The most popular way of discovering Ghent by boat is by joining a traditional guided boat tour from one of the different tour companies These tours will take you around the city in 45 minutes to an hour showing you all the highlights with explanations from a local but the boat companies’ waterfront information booths – mostly located around the Korenlei and Graslei – will tell you everything you need to know Some of them also host night tours on the Lys or themed experiences Planning tip: Would you rather take the wheel yourself? In Ghent, anyone over 18 can be captain for a day – even if you don’t have a boating license or any maritime experience. These boats tend to fill up quickly, so book in advance online. For two of the most popular rental companies, check out Minerva Boat Company and Booot Three buildings from Ghent’s rise in the Middle Ages still survive today at just a stone’s throw from one another – St Nicholas’ Church they are located in the heart of the city and define Ghent’s skyline.  The oldest and westernmost of the three towers is Sint-Niklaaskerk (St Nicholas Church) One of the top tourist attractions in Ghent this church in its current form was constructed in Tournai blue-stone stained-glass windows and sculptures from different artistic movements Planning tip: St Nicholas’ Church is free to visit The Ghent Belfry was constructed in 1380 and is now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site serves as the guardian of the city’s historic heart The Belfry as a whole symbolizes the city’s urban prosperity and independence Climb the tower for a breathtaking – literally hold on to your hats – panoramic view of Ghent Detour: An otherwise unsuspecting building next to the Ghent Belfry is home to a small sculpture that tells the Roman Charity story of Cimon and Pero The sculpture is called Mammelokker (“breast sucker” in the local dialect) Local tip: Are you looking for a great spot to photograph all three towers at once Head west towards the Sint-Michielsbrug and look back for a picture-perfect view barrel tables and lacy lampshades that all add character the pub is famous for its requirement that you give a shoe in exchange for a glass.  an intimate jazz bar hidden behind a narrow alley.  If Belgium is an offbeat destination, Ghent has the museums to prove it. Sure, some of them are centred around modern (Stedelijk Museum voor Moderne Kunst, or SMAK) or classical art (Museum voor Schone Kunsten truly excel is at making the ordinary extraordinary – and the city has these museums to show for it The Huis van Alijn is How about seeing a 70-year-old coffee grinder or smelling laundry detergent of years gone by Every room in the exhibition is linked to a date – like New Year’s Day or some couple’s wedding day in September – showing that life Back in the north of Ghent is the Museum of Industry a number of permanent and temporary exhibits bring the building’s industrial past back to life The square in the historic center of Ghent, Vrijdagmarkt still features the Friday market it’s named after Tempting cafes sit beneath step-gabled facades surveyed by a grand statue of Jacob van Artevelde shop for fresh food and explore the surrounding alleyways and historic buildings For gourmet food and treats, explore Groentemarket square. You’ll find cuberdons, a famous local confection sold exclusively in Belgium that features a raspberry jelly covered in a hard sugar shell, and Tierenteyn mustard, a local creation that dates to 1790. The Groentenmarkt is also home to the oldest bakery in Ghent, Oud Huis Him Himschoot Near the city center, off Korentmarkt, is Werregarenstraatje (Graffiti Street) where street artists are free to express themselves ever-changing public canvas of vibrant graffiti art Local walking tours are available to learn more about how this sanctioned street art space is tied to Ghent’s free-thinking This article was adapted from Lonely Planet’s Belgium & Luxembourg guidebook published in July 2024. — A significant milestone has been reached in the development of a new Maury High School in Norfolk's Ghent neighborhood The Norfolk School Board voted 6-1 on Wednesday to approve the schematic designs for the school marking a critical step toward the school's construction and I think it will help draw more people to Norfolk." Watch previous coverage: Plans for new Maury HS building presented to Norfolk Architectural Review Board The new school will be constructed behind the current Maury High School the designs include plans to preserve the historic portion of the existing building the school board's approval comes with an understanding that discussions will continue regarding the design particularly concerning the impact on the nearby Ghent School's outdoor facilities "We’ve received a lot of feedback from parents and teachers about concern over the Ghent school," Price said Watch related coverage: Virginia Beach City Council approves school zone speed cameras Current designs indicate that Maury’s new athletic fields could potentially affect playgrounds Price emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing these issues "What we hope is that we will have the opportunity to continue to work with Norfolk Public Schools with the faculty so that we can get this right We have some ideas that are not fully there yet," she added Watch related coverage: Guidepost Montessori School in Virginia Beach to close by end of March "I have a kindergartener and a third grader at Ghent It’s incredibly important that they get their energy out," Hall noted construction on the new Maury High School could begin later this year The men's peloton tackles 250.3km from Ypres to Wevelgem Hello and welcome to the 2025 Gent-Wevelgem Just two days after Friday's battle at E3 Saxo Classic it’s time for another major cobbled classic - Gent Wevelgem Mathieu van der Poel won two days ago with yet another unstoppable long-range attack the kind of which has become so familiar in recent years but in his absence there will be a different winner today Last spring, this was the one spring cobbled Van der Poel competed in that he did not win, as Mads Pedersen pipped him to the line in Wevelgem The Dane returns to defend his title this year and is the favourite for the win leading a strong Lidl-Trek line-up that also features Jonathan Milan and Jasper Stuyven While races like E3 Saxo Classic have felt a little formulaic recently the strongest rider simply riding away from everyone early on to take the win Gent-Wevelgem remains thrillingly unpredictable Its balance of tough climbs early on and a long flat finishing straight plus the destabilising effect the weather can have here keeps multiple riders in contention for the win and it’s one of the hardest races of the spring to call - and therefore often one of the most exciting Talking of the weather - here’s what things looked like at the start in Ypres earlier this morning The riders have rolled through the unofficial start and will be racing properly soon The attacks start straight away with Jules Hesters of Team Flanders-Baloise having a go More attacks have been made but nothing's stuck yet Jasha Sütterlin (Jayco-AlUla) Marco Haller (Tudor Pro Cycling) and William Blume Levy (Uno-X Mobility) Four more riders are in pursuit of them: Max Walker That chasing four have been joined by a fifth rider - Rui Oliveira of UAE Team Emirates-XRG Both groups have some daylight between themselves and the peloton though - Ludovic Robert of Cofidis has jumped out of the peloton to try and join them The five chasers are only about 10 seconds away from the four leaders They should join them to form a big lead group soon It appears these riders should be able to stay out The five chasers have indeed joined the four riders It’s interesting to see UAE Team Emirates represented in the break with UAE Team Emirates They’re one of the few top teams whose strength today lies in their attackers rather than sprinters so may want a hard race - as evidenced by getting Oliveira into the break Juan Sebastián Molano did win Classic Brugge-De Panne on Wednesday A correction - it’s not William Blume Levy (Uno-X Mobility) who is in the break but Emīls Liepiņš (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) Lidl-Trek is the team pulling at the front of the peloton They’re embracing their status as race favourites - a rarity for them in the classics Visma-Lease a Bike and Alpecin-Deceuninck have left behind their respective star men Tadej Pogačar Lidl-Trek have brought all of their leaders.  Not only is defending champion Mads Pedersen here they also have Jonathan Milan for a sprint and Jasper Stuyven either as a wildcard or super-domestique Even the rest of their domestique line-up features the very strong Matthias Vacek and Toms Skujiņš While other teams are resting up for the Tour of Flanders The gap between the peloton and the nine riders has grown some more A first look at the nine riders up the road While Pedersen is the bookies’ favourite that status might have gone to Jasper Philipsen were it not for his involvement in a couple of crashes recently The Belgian started the classics season on fire winning Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne having the day before been one of the best on the Muur to finish third at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad but was underpar at Milan-SanRemo after hurting himself in a crash a few days before at Nokere Koerse.  We still don’t know how well he has recovered from that crash as he was prevented from sprinting at the end of Classic Brugge-De Panne after getting held up in one of the several late crashes that marred the finish of that race this is a race that’s perfect for him and the gap remains about the same as it has for a while at 3-20 There's no adverse weather to complicate matters the world’s other fastest sprinter is also here - Tim Merlier The Belgian has already won 6 times this year and has proved himself capable of dealing with this race’s climbs with a couple of top ten finishes here in the past.  But is he fully fit after hitting the deck at the end of Wednesday’s Classic Brugge-De Panne And will the effort of getting over the climbs take too much out of his finishing sprint One sprinter who might fancy his chances of winning even if up against Philipsen While he hasn’t gotten the better of them to take a win in a sprint against them this year where he survived the Poggio and Cipressa while Philipsen and Milan were dropped Such climbing superiority could give him the edge today in the event that a more select group makes it to the finish to contest for the win before we reach the cobblestones and climbs that will liven things up later Elsewhere in Europe it’s the final stage of the Volta a Catalunya, which is turning out to be a thrillingly close battle for the overall victory. You can follow along here. Although most of the favourites for the win today are sprinters Gent-Wevelgem hasn’t actually been decided by a sprint from a group larger than seven riders since 2019 So should we perhaps be looking at attackers to win the race The Belgian has been one of the strongest riders this spring campaign and making the select group behind Van der Poel He’ll also enjoy leadership status at UAE Team Emirates today There are a couple of abandonments to report - Sven Erik Bystrøm (Groupama-FDJ) and Thomas Gachignard (Total Energies) Philipsen's teammate Gianni Vermeersch has also had a flat Thankfully for him it's much too early and too calm for it to matter Things might start to wake up now as the race enters the posed De Moeren road to bring the gap to the leaders down to 3-30 with significant gaps growing between them The front peloton only has about 30 riders in it Now four riders have gone clear from the rest of that front peloton - including Mads Pedersen Pedersen is also with Huge Page (Intermarché-Wanty) Stefan Bissegger (Decatlon- AG2R La Mondiale) and Clément Russo (Groupama-FDJ) The break's lead is tumbling amid all this action Time for the first cobbled sector of the race: Beauvoordestraat Pedersen and the other three have been brought back Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe are well represented in the front peloton It seems Philipsen and Merlier are among the riders not to have made this front peloton Emilien Jeannière (TotalEnergies) has gone down in a crash the nine riders from the day's break still leads the race - albeit by a much-reduced margin of 1-40 There are about 20 seconds between the front peloton and the second peloton containing Philipsen and Merlier with the front peloton trailed by several groups Philipsen and Merlier are in the first chase group behind the peloton while Arnaud De Lie and Søren Wærenskjold are further adrift in another group The Philipsen and Merlier group have just rejoined the front peloton Philipsen's teammate Gianni Vermeersch isn't with them though - he's had a mechanical The group containing Søren Wærenskjold and Arnaud De Lie are still 1-15 behind the peloton Visma-Lease a Bike are pressing on at the front of the peloton The peloton is strained and might be about to break up again All this is seeing the gap to the leaders tumble down yet more Two separate groups have been distanced by the front peloton It seems most of the top favourites are in this front peloton - Pedersen Tim Merlier is missing though - he's in one of the trailing groups Philipsen and Merlier are about 12 seconds adrift from the group of favourites Nils Politt and Yves Lampaert are also in the Philipsen/Merlier group The race is about to get hard in a whole different way now The break has just started the Scherpenberg Panic over for Merlier and Philipsen - they're group has rejoined the front peloton Attack from Johan Jacobs out of the peloton Arnaud De Lie has given up the ghost and abandoned the race.  The peloton is now just 32 seconds behind the leaders with Camapanaerts and Jacobs somewhere in between It's all calmed down again in the peloton The 50 or so riders left in have all bunched together.  Here was Lidl-Trek and Visma-Lease a Bike piling the pressure on earlier.  There's been a crash in the peloton going around a corner Juan Sebastián Molano and Matteo Trentin are among the fallers.  but has just joined the peloton along with Trentin Campanaerts and Jacobs have built a decent lead They're climbing the seconds ascent of the day Campanaerts has dropped Jacobs on the climb He had been struggling to keep the Belgian's wheel Things have definitely calmed down in the peloton They've allowed the break's lead to grow back up to 1-30 Here's the echelon action earlier - always a beautiful sight for racing lovers The gap between the 10 leaders and the peloton is 1-30 as riders dropped earlier take advantage of the slowing pace to rejoin it but no team in the peloton is taking it on for now Time for Gent-Wevelgem's most famous climb - the Kemmelberg The break has just started climbing its steep cobbled gradients the first of three times they will tackle it today.  with Red Bull's Pithie on his wheel.  They ane nine other riders have a small gap but it looks like it'll come back together on the descent About 10 riders have managed to get a gap ahead of the other pelotons - Girmay Benoot and Skujiņš are present These aren't the riders who went over the Kemmelberg first but a different group that slipped clear after its descent.   Vercouillie from the day's break is about to be caught by this group having been dropped by the rest of the break on the Kemmelberg The group containing Girmay that slipped clear has just got a lot bigger The riders are approaching the Plugstreets dirt road sections homage is paid to the many soldiers who so tragically and needlessly lost their lives during World War One There appears to be around 40 or 50 riders in the peloton as they ride the first gravel road sector The break is splitting on this sector.  It's going to take a long time for his team car to get to him on this section Kooij has also had a mechanical - he's sat on the roadside waiting.  Kooij has crashed rather than had a mechanical That leaves just one rider with Pedersen - Jenno Berckmoes (Lotto) That pair are 42 seconds behind the leaders and abbout 5 or so seconds ahead of the peloton as they take on the second Plugstreet Correction - it's not Jenno Berckmoes who's with Pedersen That pair are now 15 seconds ahead of the peloton being led by Visma-Lease a Bike as they enter the third and final Plugstreet They're over 30 seconds behind Pedersen and Livyns who have caught some of those dropped from the break Philipsen is still not in the peloton - he's just managed to change bikes He's not far behind though and looks set to rejoin Here's Mads Pedersen leading the peloton over the Kemmelberg Even before his Plugstreet attack he was at the front and looking on fire.  Livyns and the dropped riders have joined the front group Olav Kooij has abandoned the race following his crash There's one minute between the leading nine and the peloton which means Pedersen will likely want to commit to it - but will he receive any help from the others There are still five more climbs to be taken on starting with the Monteberg Alpecin-Deceuninck are leading the peloton and it's not Pedersen but Brunel who is leading them That climb has reduced the lead group to 6 riders - Pedersen Meanwhile Ineos lead the peloton on the climb Jorgenson reaches the top with one other rider and a gap of only a few seconds over the following riders Emīls Liepiņš is the rider with Jorgenson Pedersen does not want to wait for the others He's built a lead of 15 seconds Pedersen has looked sensational all spring but winning from this position and holding off the peloton riding solo for the remaining 50 kilometres is a huge ask even for him Alpecin are the team leading the front peloton Pedersen is 20 seconds ahead of the three chasers and exactly one minute ahead of the front peloton Walker and Maisonobe are about to be caught by the peloton There appears to be about 60 riders present in it Pedersen’s teammates Milan and Stuyven are still in the peloton and give licence for Pedersen to go all in on this move in the knowledge that they can take over should he be caught Alpecin aren't getting any help from the other teams Lidl-Trek have placed their man Kirsch on 2nd wheel In fact there are 4 Lidl riders all swarmed behind the Alpecin rider They're letting their superior numbers be known Dries De Bondt has attacked out of the peloton Pedersen starts the day's penultimate climb Pedersen crests the climb with his lead extended up to 50 seconds on the chasing trio and 1-37 on the peloton Michael Matthews is being dropped out of the peloton on the Baneberg Madouas and Jorgenson were unable to go clear with their attacks Pedersen is about to begin the Kemmelberg for the final time This is a crucial time in the race - how big will his lead be over the top And can a select group go clear of the peloton Pedersen is still looking good as he battles up the cobbles his lead at 1-27 over the chasers and 2-02 over the peloton Bjerg leads the peloton on the steep section of the climb It should be a large group that forms after the descent There are still some small gaps in the peloton but it looks like they're about to form into a group of about 50 There’s a notable lack of cohesion in the peloton but is marked by Philipsen and a Lidl rider This is why Lidl's strength in numbers is so important - they can destabilise any attempt to chase their man Pedersen Livyns and Haller have been caught by the peloton It’d be understandable if Pedersen was tiring - not only has he put in a huge effort with his long-range move today he also went deep just two days ago to place third at E3 Saxo Classic Pedersen's retaining his lead though - it remains at 1-30 Alpecin are receiving help in the peloton now We can assume that Madis Mihkels has made it into this peloton as their other sprint option Albanese abandoned earlier.  he first went clear from the rest of the peloton on the Plugstreets, about 70km from the finish.  this will be his third career Gent-Wevelgem title - bringing him level with Tom Boonen Rik Van Looy and Robert Van Eenaeme on the all-time list His lead as he enters the final 10km is 1-25 This was the moment Pedersen went clear on the Plugstreet He did initially have Philipsen and Kooij with him before the former punctured and the latter crashed It might have been a very different race had they not suffered those misfortunes Uno-X and Soudal-QuickStep have taken the initiative over Alpecin-Deceuninck in the chase but their work isn't enough to close the gap Jorgenson moves to the front of the peloton One rider notably missing from the top ten is Jasper Philipsen His Alpecin team stopped working towards the end of the chase Perhaps he realised that he would not have the legs in the sprint Some more records: Pedersen becomes the first man since Tom Boonen in 2012 to defend his Gent-Wevelgem title He's also the first solo winner of the men's Gent-Wevelgem since Luca Paolini in 2015 you have to go all the way back to 1978 for the last time a rider won Gent-Wevelgem with a winning margin larger than Pedersen's of 49 seconds today It’s not just the size of the margin that’s so impressive He made his first attack a whole 72km from the finish then spent no less than 56km out front all on his own after attacking the penultimate time on the Kemmelberg That’s unheard of in recent years at Gent-Wevelgem It’s also the 50th win of Pedersen’s career - and arguably his best It’s not as prestigious as his Worlds title from 2019 Credit must also go to Merlier and Milan in 2nd and 3rd respectively Those are career-best results at this race for both and proof that they can survive the cobbled climbs as well as sprint fast The action is still going on in the women’s Gent-Wevelgem, which you can follow here Thanks for joining us today for what was a sensational win from Mads Pedersen We'll be back on Wednesday for Dwars door Vlaanderen before the big one on Sunday - the Tour of Flanders All the broadcast information for one of the biggest cobbled Classics on March 30 Watch Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday March 30 for one of the biggest cobbled Classics of the Spring with all the details here on live streams and TV broadcasts ► Category: UCI WorldTour / Women's WorldTour ► Free stream: Sporza (Belgium) Taking place two days after the E3 Saxo Classic and a week ahead of the Tour of Flanders Gent-Wevelgem takes us over to west Flanders for a race that very much has its own flavour Starting in Ypres, the key elements of the route are the early wind-swept passage up near the North Sea coast, the gravel 'plugstreets', and of most of all the Kemmelberg the vicious cobbled climb tackled three times The final ascent precedes a 30km run-in to the finish in Wevelgem making this a finely-poised race between sprinters and attackers the latter getting the better of it in recent years.  headlining start lists that includes the best Classics riders and a fair few sprinters so read on for all the details on how to watch Gent-Wevelgem online The 2025 edition of Gent-Wevelgem will be shown for free Australia via SBS SBS is the major cycling broadcaster in Australia, showing the Tour de France and other races, and you can watch Gent-Wevelgem for free via the SBS On Demand streaming platform but if that's where you usually watch your cycling then you can still get your access by using a VPN - more on that below If you're outside your usual country when Gent-Wevelgem is on you might think you can’t watch the race due to the geo-restrictions most streaming platforms impose But a VPN is a simple and safe way around this.  A Virtual Private Network is a piece of software that sets your IP address to make your device appear to be in any country in the world Provided it complies with your broadcaster’s T&Cs you can use a VPN to unblock your usual streaming services from anywhere in the world it helps with playback speeds and is a huge boost for your general internet security.  TechRadar love NordVPN’s super speedy connections trustworthy security and the fact it works with Android 24/7 support and it's currently available for a knockdown price Fans in the UK can watch Gent-Wevelgem on TNT Sports and Discovery+ on Sunday March 30 TV viewers will find both the men's and women's Gent-Wevelgem back-to-back on TNT Sports 4 on Sunday afternoon with three hours of the men's race preceding 90 minutes of the women's race.  Online viewers get more of the action on the Discovery+ streaming platform with an extra 20 minutes of coverage around the men's race and an extra hour for the women's race.  There's an advantage to watching online rather than on TV in this case There will be over four hours of coverage on the Discovery+ streaming platform whereas there's time for just two hours on the TV schedule on TNT Sports 1.  Canadian subscribers get most of the races on Flobikes anyway and while the US offering is more limited it has a deal for the Flanders Classics races You won't find Gent-Wevelgem on Max or Peacock.  A subscription to Flobikes will cost US$30 / CAN$39.99 a month with reductions for yearly plans at US$150 / CAN$203.88 As outlined above, fans in Australia can watch Gent-Wevelgem on SBS or via its streaming platform SBS On Demand.  Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service) Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing Patrick FletcherSocial Links NavigationPatrick is a freelance sports writer and editor He’s an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor’s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish) Patrick worked full-time at Cyclingnews for eight years between 2015 and 2023 Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) won Gent-Wevelgem Launching her sprint with 200 metres to go from the wheel of her teammate with Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) and Charlotte Kool (Picnic-PostNL) not even trying to come around her and settling for second and third Kopecky had ridden hard up the second ascent of the Kemmelberg splitting the peloton and initiating a front group of five that also included Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) and Chloé Dygert (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) But Longo Borghini was not taking any turns and they were only 15 seconds ahead of the peloton where Lidl-Trek were chasing hard Wiebes and Kopecky attacked in turns to make Longo Borghini chase and the two groups eventually merged with 27km to go Although there was no shortage of attacks on the run-in to Wevelgem and Lidl-Trek even tried to force echelons nobody got away for longer than a few seconds and when the sprinters' teams took control so the peloton came back," Wiebes described the action on the main climb of the day Kopecky expertly piloted Wiebes to the front of the peloton with 1.3km to go to set up Wiebes' sprint "We chose to do [the lead-out with] only Lotte and the other girls did an amazing job with pulling before she went really long with the lead-out so that at one point I was like I start now'," Wiebes said about the sprint The break of the day consisted of Katia Ragusa (Human Powered Health) Beatrice Caudera (BePink-Imatra-Bongioanni) They built an advantage of over four minutes before the peloton took up the chase A crash in De Moeren split the peloton and forced Nienke Veenhoven (Visma-Lease a Bike) to abandon The two groups came back together before the race was split again in a crosswind section Nienke Venhoven's bike ended up in the canal after her crashAmber Pate (Liv-Jayco-AlUla) sits on the roadside after crashingThey were up to 24 seconds ahead but were caught again atop the Baneberg 40km from the line and five kilometres from the second time up the Kemmelberg this time on the shorter but steeper west side called the Ossuaire and only Longo Borghini and Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez) could follow her at first before Wiebes and Dygert made it back to their wheels near the top and Dygert were reluctant to commit fully to the move Lotte Kopecky drives it up the KemmelbergElisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ)27km from the finish and more riders came back from behind until the peloton had grown to 85 riders at the finish Many riders tried to attack and anticipate a sprint with Lidl-Trek being particularly active for a while before the passage through Ypres and then trying to force echelons after the city and everybody prepared for the mass sprint with lead-out trains lining up across the road Kopecky brought Wiebes to the very front before the flamme rouge and after a drag race with Dygert who was leading out her teammate Chiara Consonni Wiebes went for a long sprint that left all competitors behind Results powered by FirstCycling Lukas Knöfler started working in cycling communications in 2013 and has seen the inside of the scene from many angles Having worked as press officer for teams and races and written for several online and print publications he has been Cyclingnews’ Women’s WorldTour correspondent since 2018 Scores and Stats » Blog » 2025 Gent-Wevelgem Odds Rick Rockwell Cycling Handicapping MembershipFor More Cycling Picks the 87th edition of Gent-Wevelgem gets underway at the Menin Gate in Ypres This classics race is the third of five events that make up Flemish Cycling Week The first cycling event to kick off the annual Flemish week of racing was the Classic Brugge-De Panne which ended up being a war of attrition on Wednesday there were three scary crashes that decimated the field and saw Juan Sebastian Molano edge out my predicted winner The second event of the week was the E3 Saxo Bank Classic on Friday That race saw Mathieu van der Poel do a solo breakaway for the last 30+ km and win for the second year in a row Van der Poel definitely made me look smart for picking him Mads Pedersen ended up second at the E3 in a valiant effort He’s listed as the odds-on favorite to win the 2025 Gent-Wevelgem race and Jasper Philipsen join Pedersen as the pre-race favorites The fourth event of the Flemish Cycling Week is Dwars door Vlaanderen which takes place on Wednesday it remains to be seen who will be the pre-race favorite there’s a good chance that some of the riders competing in Gent-Wevelgem will also take the starting line at Dwars door Vlaanderen as well With that said, let’s take a look at the latest cycling odds, courtesy of the top sports betting sites TNT Sports and Eurosport will cover this one-day race live from Belgium MAX is set to stream this event just like they did the E3 Saxo Classic they will start near the Menin Gate in Ypres The peloton will then race 250km across the Flanders region of Belgium and finish on Vanackerestraat in Wevelgem This edition’s route is nearly 3km shorter than last year’s route so about a little bit more than the halfway mark the peloton will face some serious crosswinds as they head towards the coast The route features the following climbs with multiple trips over the same summits: riders will see flat roads for the final 34km of the stage we’ll see a sprint at the end if there are multiple cyclists working together Mads Pedersen is listed as the top betting favorite for this weekend’s Gent-Wevelgem race Behind those two at a distance are Jasper Philipsen and Tim Merlier After Merlier, it’s a steep drop to the next group of riders in Olav Kooij, Jasper Stuyven, and Biniam Girmay.  Keep reading below to see who I predict to win this race and if it aligns with what the top handicappers are prediction Let’s take a look at the odds-on favorites for the 87th edition of Gent-Wevelgem: Mads Pedersen continued his season to date He was the only man that could hold the wheel of van der Poel in the E3 before fading to second in the last 20km It was a reversal of fortunes for Pedersen who won Gent-Wevelgem last year after out-sprinting MVDP “Pedersen’s form this season gives me confidence he can crack the Top 10 this year then I wouldn’t be surprised if the Danish rider finished on the podium.” That’s exactly what happened. He finished on the podium as the runner up. It was another solid outing for the Danish rider who has two wins on the year and a 7th at Milano-San Remo In addition to winning last year’s Gent-Wevelgem He’s aiming to become the 7th rider to win this race three times Jonathan Milan was inches away from making me look super smart and going 2-0 in the first two legs of Flemish Cycling Week he finished 2nd at Classic Brugge-De Panne that only adds to his overall solid season so far he’s won two Points Classifications as well The 24-year-old started off the seasonwith two stage wins and a second-place result for the Points Classification at the Volta a la Communitat Valenciana The Italian followed up that performance with two more victories and the green jersey at the UAE Tour He also finished in the Top 3 on four stages of this race Then, the Lidl-Trek rider won two stages and the Points Classification for the Tirreno-Adriatico It also included a 5th in the opening Time Trial which proves he has the speed to compete in any race he enters he finished 5th last year in Gent-Wevelgem which was the best result of his three previous appearances Jasper Philipsen had a poor performance in the Classic Brugge-De Panne after being one of the pre-race favorites looking to capture this race for the third time in a row he finished 47th and was caught up in one of the crashes That followed two other poor performances with a 163rd at Milan-San Remo and a DNF at Danilith Nokere Koerese after crashing out of that event Prior to those three races, the Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter had won at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuuren and was third at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on March 1 this will be his 6th appearance at Gent-Wevelgem which was a far drop off from his career-best result of 4th in 2023 Philipsen has the speed to contend with Merlier and Milan I just don’t know if he has the form to beat them Tim Merlier has been one of the best sprinters in the sport this season The Belgian started off the year with two wins and a runner-up for the Points Classification at the AiUia Tour that was just the start of good things to come because the 32-year-old then won two more stages at the UAE Tour and was third in the green jersey competition But, that’s not all! Merlier would go on to capture two stage wins at Paris-Nice as well he went into Classic Brugge-De Panne as the odds-on favorite to win it didn’t happen as he was caught up in one of the final crashes of the stage and scored a DNF Merlier didn’t compete in the E3 as he needed stitches in his knee from the crash at Brugge then you have to like the speed that he’s shown this season as this is the on classic that he has a real shot at when at peak form The following cyclists offer betting value based on their current Gent-Wevelgem odds I have been impressed with the performances by Olav Kooij this season even if they haven’t always produced victories he finished 2nd in the Points Classification but did pick up two stage wins Kooij also picked up a stage win at the Tirreno-Adriatico along with two three total Top 5 stage results and a third in the Points Classification I thought that Kooij would be one of the men to contend for the win at Brugge but he was also caught in one of the final crashes According to Visma’s Sports Director Grischa Niermann Kooij’s injuries weren’t serious enough to keep him out of this weekend’s event: The road narrowings in the final kilometres led to some risky situations but the damage seems to be limited to abrasions There are still some big goals ahead for him so we’ll have to see how he recovers from this crash.” I think that Kooij offers great betting value as he has the speed and the team to contend with the favorites look for Kooij to contend for more than just a podium finish that Biniam Girmay stormed onto the scene by winning the 2022 Gent-Wevelgem he’s become one of the sport’s most popular riders He’s one that I always hope can win a race he seems to be lacking his top form at this point in the season which was worse than his 14th at Milano-San Remo He appears to not have the support that other sprints have and he also seems to be one notch below the favorites listed above it will be at Gent-Wevelgem where he has plenty of confidence Michael Matthews (+4000) is my choice as the best longshot to win the 2025 Gent-Wevelgem He was also my longshot pick to win the E3 Saxo Classic he missed the break just like Girmay and finished 27th overall Yet let’s not overlook the fact that he was 4th at Milano-San Remo and also finished 2nd on Stage 3 of Paris-Nice Matthews will make his 6th start at Gent-Wevelgem Last year was a poor performance as he finished 62nd Matthews best chance is to mark Pedersen and follow the Dane whenever he makes a move then those final 34km of Gent-Wevelgem could be where the Australian pulls of a huge upset Merlier and Kooij all have the speed to win this race Merlier’s health is too much of a concern for me as I don’t see him being 100% after his ugly crash at Brugge Philipsen hasn’t really shown his top form yet and I doubt he has the speed to beat Milan in a sprint right now this race comes down to Milan as the fastest man I would like to see Kooij win and Milan is itching to get back on the bike and score a victory after being robbed in De Panne I’m taking Pedersen and his team to do everything they can to prevent this from being a bunch sprint Look for the pace to be hard from the beginning and Pedersen to attack on the final climbs before going on a break away to win the race Six different riders are tied for the most all-time Gent-Wevelgem wins with three apiece Denmark’s Mads Pedersen is the only active rider with two wins including the 2024 edition Belgium has a huge lead with 50 all-time victories in this race The following is a list of the recent Gent-Wevelgem winners: Kyle Buchman Dominates the MLB Leaderboard Despite the unpredictable nature of the MLB Kyle Buchman made betting look easy during this previous week of action 4 Teams Move to Conf. Semifinals, NBA Handicappers Score 91% Win Rate It’s been a wild series so far in the NBA Playoffs and four teams have advanced to the Conference Semifinals Hurricanes Move to Round 2, NHL Handicappers Keep a 75% Win Rate We’re nearing the end of the first Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Email: [email protected] ScoresAndStats (SAS) is dedicated to providing valuable insights and predictions for beginner and expert sports handicappers Our expert team analyzes various sports markets daily offering free picks and premium predictions for NFL While we strive for accuracy and reliability remember that sports betting involves risks and there are no guarantees of success Best Sportsbooks Reviews Best Pay Per Head Reviews Handicappers Site Reviews Best Handicappers Advertise with Us Work with Us Contact Us Frequently Asked Questions NFL Picks MLB Picks NHL Picks NBA Picks NCAA FB Picks NCAA BK Picks UFC Picks Soccer Picks Golf Picks Tennis Picks Nascar Picks WNBA Picks Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions The majestic Flemish city is dotted with renaissance palaces great bars and eye-catching contemporary art – yet it’s firmly off the tourist trail it is always tempting to continue on to a popular weekend destination like Bruges But this time I hop on a local train at the Brussels Gare du Midi for the 30-minute journey to Mechelen a surprisingly grand and opulent city that in the 16th century was capital of most of the Low Countries – Belgium Despite boasting an eclectic mix of medieval churches and renaissance palaces eye-catching contemporary art and culture venues restaurants and the obligatory Belgian brewery Railway buffs will know that Mechelen’s original 1835 train station was the terminus of continental Europe’s first railway Today it is being rebuilt and is part construction site But it is only a 15-minute walk through narrow cobbled streets into the heart of the historic town centre with the Unesco world heritage bell tower of Saint Rumbold’s Cathedral serving as a landmark Museum Hof van Busleyden. Photograph: AlamyInside the cathedral, the baroque high altar features a painting of Christ on the cross by Anthony van Dyck and a choir by Lucas Faydherbe But most visitors head straight for the stairs up to the belfry blissfully unaware that there are 538 of them Their reward is a vertiginous open-air walkway around the top of the tower with spectacular views The Hof van Busleyden museum is filled with priceless tapestries, baroque sculptures and Flemish old mastersTo get a feel for Mechelen’s sumptuous golden age, the next stop is the Hof van Busleyden museum a splendid redbrick palace surrounded by ornamental Renaissance gardens that welcomed princes emperors and figures such as Erasmus and Sir Thomas More the building is dedicated to the history of the city and filled with priceless tapestries baroque sculptures and Flemish old masters such as Peter Paul Rubens and David Vinckboons along with à la carte dishes such as North Sea crab smoked eel and pigeon accompanied by crunchy and its cosy brasserie is popular for local specialities such as beef carbonnade a hearty stew slow-cooked in their signature Gouden Carolus beer or Mechelen’s famous koekouek (cuckoo chicken) A slow stroll back through the town centre brings me to my lodgings, Martin’s Patershof an imposing neo-Gothic church that has again changed with the times Several rooms have original stained-glass windows and arched vaults while the breakfast hall is dominated by an imposing altar and religious paintings an immense 19th-century butcher’s market that has been reborn as a vibrant emporium for cosmopolitan food stalls and is a firm favourite with locals for a tasty The conviviality of market day is in marked contrast to an afternoon spent at Kazerne Dossin a holocaust museum dedicated to Mechelen’s transit camp for the deportation of Jews Gypsies and homosexuals to Nazi concentration camps The building is an austere concrete pentagon with four floors dedicated to the victims of wartime antisemitism in Belgium as well as temporary exhibitions about contemporary human rights abuses across the globe a tapas restaurant in Norfolk’s Ghent business district earlier this month has prompted some community support causing significant damage and forcing the restaurant to close its doors Some businesses in the same complex also had to close their doors for some time Watch previous coverage: Fire breaks out at Crudo Nudo tapas restaurant; multiple businesses impacted who has operated Crudo Nudo for seven years Though the front of the restaurant appears unscathed from a distance a closer look reveals its true condition: charred furniture and residual smoke scents permeating the air Nelson showed News 3's Jay Greene the destruction Watch: Fire official update on Crudo Nudo fire non-kitchen equipment related—something [fire investigators] assume in the ceiling They just say that’s where they believe the origin was and it basically spread throughout the backside of the kitchen and then started to jump over in through the ceiling and it shared a wall with next door," Nelson said no one was present at the restaurant for lunch when the fire broke out As Nelson navigates the complex insurance process Businesses in the Norfolk area are stepping up to offer support shared that the community has reached out to Crudo Nudo employees to help them find temporary jobs during its rebuilding phase Watch related coverage: Smoke fills Norfolk sky as cars go up in flames in Ghent parking lot Additionally, ILO is holding fundraisers this week “We have to keep looking out for each other,” Rigney emphasized Nelson remains determined to rebuild his restaurant hopefully we'll come back fresh and new and have something exciting for everybody to experience again,” he said “We're Norfolk people; this is what we like A Go Fund Me page has also been set up to help the business. Antony has scored in back-to-back games for Real Betis Antony scored on his European debut for Real Betis as they put themselves in a commanding position to reach the last 16 of the Conference League with a 3-0 victory over Belgium's Gent The Manchester United loanee opened the scoring for the Spanish side with a brilliant low curling strike from the edge of the box The 24-year-old Brazil winger was also involved in Betis' second goal passing to Isco who then set up Cedric Bakambu to fire home from close range Sergi Altimira slotted in at the back post to complete the win with six minutes remaining as Manuel Pellegrini's side secured a healthy lead before the return fixture in Seville next week Antony opened his league account for Betis on Saturday in a 3-2 defeat at Celta Vigo in only his second game for the club He became the second most expensive player in Manchester United's history behind Paul Pogba when he signed from Ajax in August 2022 for £81.3m his performances have not lived up to expectations and he has scored just once in the Premier League since April 2023 Betis are one of four teams who could face league phase winners Chelsea in the next stage of the competition along with Gent Denmark's Copenhagen or German side Heidenheim To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made substituted for Ángel Ortiz at 90 minutesNumber 21 substituted for Sergi Altimira at 81 minutesNumber 20 substituted for Mateo Flores at 90 minutesNumber 10 Ávila Match OfficialsReferee: Horatiu FesnicVideo Assistant Referee: Catalin PopaAssistant Referee 1: Valentin AvramAssistant Referee 2: Alexandru CereiFourth Official: Rares George VidicanAssistant VAR Official: Sebastian ColtescuMatch StatsKey Abde Ezzalzouli (Real Betis) wins a free kick on the left wing Cédric Bakambu (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half Tibe De Vlieger (KAA Gent) wins a free kick in the defensive half Natan (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half Abde Ezzalzouli (Real Betis) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time Bi Goore (KAA Gent) right footed shot from outside the box is close Bi Goore (KAA Gent) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked Romain Perraud (Real Betis) wins a free kick on the left wing I may have uncovered Europe’s next long weekend hot spot – the Belgian city of Ghent One reason is the untouched beauty of this medieval town Another is that Ghent passed my KGH test (Keep the Grandkids Happy) Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience The first voting round of the Rector and Vice-Rector elections at Ghent University ended at 12:00 on Wednesday 30 April 2025 The candidate duo Petra De Sutter and Herwig Reynaert obtained a majority in all electoral groups This means that they will be nominated for appointment as Rector and Vice-Rector to the board of governors meeting at 17:00 today two candidate duos emerged: Petra De Sutter and Herwig Reynaert Four electoral groups at Ghent University were entitled to vote: ZAP (professors) ATP (administrative and technical staff) and students you had to be at least 50% appointed or contracted (or registered as student) Voting was completely electronic and anonymous via a secured voting platform Petra De Sutter and Herwig Reynaert start their mandate as the new rectorial team on 1 October 2025:  Join us at the Akustika Fair at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre from April 4-6 Meet The Strad team at stand F08 and pick up a free copy of the magazine The Strad Directory Jobs The cellist outlines her practice regime in the run up to her debut recording for the Royal Academy of Music’s Bicentenary Series, Voice Cellist Hadewych van Gent © Andrew Cotterill Discover more Featured Stories  like this in The Strad Playing Hub The week before the recording I started with playing a run through for a few close friends I find this very helpful because they create a pressurised atmosphere Their comments helped me to determine my priorities in practice for this last stage It becomes a challenge to know what to focus on and what to trust when playing and practising Doing run-throughs helps me to find a middle ground.  For the preparation I was lucky to have time and space to practice in a house that I shared with other wonderful musicians Knowing that there was someone else working on their music gave me motivation and perspective I enjoyed living in my musical bubble where all I would do was practise I liked to start my practice in the morning with a good stretching session really allowing myself to do whatever motion would feel best Then I would move on to warming up my voice as I sing as well as play the cello on the album Singing is a great way to connect to your body make silly noises and experiment; in other words I would recommend any musician to corporate this into their practice I would warm up on the cello doing things such as open strings If I was feeling disconnected to the instrument for whatever reason I would put on some of my favourite music and improvise over it This exercise would help me to connect physically to the instrument and creatively warm up Improvising makes you map the instrument in a different I find that just as useful as playing scales (I make sure I still practise my scales of course) I was studying for my Advanced Diploma at the Royal Academy of Music which gave me the freedom to focus my time on preparation for the recording This included making checklists of repertoire I needed to keep up repertoire I still needed to practise thoroughly and repertoire I needed to perform to either myself or a friend Some things I kept on the list for daily practice and some things changed according to how the last practice session went The things I wrote on the list were things that I definitely had to go through I often find it challenging to stick to a schedule as I indulge for too long on particular passages But I made sure I practised everything on the list and then I added what felt necessary that day The list ensured that there was a solid structure to my practice • 15 minutes of ’virtuosic passage’ in the second movement with a metronome • 30/40 minutes of ’virtuosic passages’ in the third movement • Perform the first movement to myself up to three times  • Arpeggios: find flow and create different sounds • Improvisation part: try out different sounds and lengths (play to people) with chord solution or without chord solution?  required a particular preparation process because I was arranging it The original music was not written down and I had all of these different ideas to choose from At this stage the most important choices were made but there were little choices that could still change the piece significantly I was confronted with questions such as: Where and in which octave should I add the voice What is the story and the arc of the piece Is something actually functioning within the story or is it merely based on a feeling but each tiny change would make a big impact Because this piece has a very improvised feel it was essential for me to work out how I feel about the music I made sure I played both my separate ideas and the entire piece to friends or teachers My choices had to feel intuitively right.  I trained myself to listen as honestly as I can It is important to get used to your own sound and to know when you are just doing something in your head or actually drawing it out of the instrument Since this was my debut album it was hard to know what to expect in the recording process I spoke to people who recorded and even though they gave me good advice you can only truly gain insight by experiencing it.  I had two days to record the full programme I learnt a lot about shifting between and connecting the mindsets when playing with absolute decisive precision and being in the moment giving a heartfelt performance I learnt a tremendous amount about my own playing I experienced a unique type of focus which gave me insight into deeply listening and that one has to be extra conscious of every musical choice made and exaggerate those ideas in the practice room I feel confident about how to work for the next recording Hadewych van Gent and pianist Yupeng He’s album Voice will be released on 26 July 2024 as part of the Royal Academy of Music Bicentenary Series on Linn Records Vasks and Reijseger, Hadewych van Gent explores different voices of composers that have helped her to gain an insight into her own voice combining singing with cello playing in an authentic form of expression Read: Practice Diary: cellist Hannah Roberts Read: The road to Wigmore: cellist Sterling Elliott’s practice diary Read more Featured Stories like this in The Strad Playing Hub In The Best of Technique you’ll discover the top playing tips of the world’s leading string players and teachers It’s packed full of exercises for students plus examples from the standard repertoire to show you how to integrate the technique into your playing The Strad’s Masterclass series brings together the finest string players with some of the greatest string works ever written Masterclass has been an invaluable aid to aspiring soloists chamber musicians and string teachers since the 1990s Fulton amassed one of the 20th century’s finest collections of stringed instruments This year’s calendar pays tribute to some of these priceless treasures including Yehudi Menuhin’s celebrated ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri the Carlo Bergonzi once played by Fritz Kreisler and four instruments by Antonio Stradivari How do you prepare for your Washington DC and New York City debuts Violinist Oliver Neubauer highlights the importance of recording ahead of his Young Concert Artists debuts on 22 and 29 April Cellist and researcher Joanna Latała shares why it’s important not only to practise but to practise performing - and how implementing this in your routine can help you gain confidence on stage As part of a Royal Academy of Music SIDE-BY-SIDE scheme the Zenith Quartet were given the chance to tour with the Czech orchestra and Semyon Bychkov Violinist Chloe Bowers-Soriano chronicles her experience during the tour’s Prague portion Artists sometimes use multiple instruments on an album Violinist Nancy Zhou shares details about the three different bows employed on her upcoming album of solo works What has Hans Christian Aavik been up to since winning the Carl Nielsen Competition in 2022 The Estonian violinist speaks about his new album release of two contrasting concertos which comprised part of his competition victory package 18 duos for violin and viola make up Melia Watras’s latest project Site powered by Webvision Cloud SAVE THE DATE!The FAO Liaison Office in Brussels and the World Food Forum are excited to present Students4Food: a unique opportunity for students (MSc and PhD level) from various Belgian Universities to present their most innovative ideas research and insights on how we can ensure and contribute to the theme of “Good food for all The event, which will be open to the public, is part of the 2024 World Food Forum a global youth-led initiative that aims to mobilize young people to transform agrifood systems sustainably.Join the Students4Food talks and be inspired by the next generation of innovators who are shaping the future of food a global youth-led initiative that aims to mobilize young people to transform agrifood systems sustainably Around 733 million people faced hunger in 2023 and around 2.33 billion people globally faced moderate or severe food insecurity As access to adequate food remains elusive for billions the global efforts for the transformation of our agrifood systems are more critical than ever.   This first-ever Students4Food event hopes to create a platform for young bright students to present their ideas and research on the most pressing food and nutrition challenges.   A call for speakers was issued among selected Belgian universities A jury will pick five students to speak at the event who will also receive a certificate of participation from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Forum recognizing their contributions and commitment to advancing sustainable agrifood systems.   TV channel: The game will be shown live by TNT Sports in the UK, and is available via local UEFA Conference League rights holders in other countries Chelsea's own Matchday Live show will be following the game from five minutes before kick-off on this website and the Official Chelsea App Highlights: You can watch the best of the action after the game from midnight on the official Chelsea website and app Press conference live: Enzo Maresca and one of his players will take part in the pre-match press conference for our game against Gent which will be streamed live on the official Chelsea website and app from 1pm on Wednesday 2 October and can be seen in full on demand after that time Home fixture: Chelsea vs Gent That's all from us tonight as Larne finish their Uefa Conference League campaign in style after a 1-0 win over Gent at Windsor Park You can read Richard Petrie's match report from the match here. 40Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 22:29 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202422:29 GMT 19 December 2024FT: Larne 1-0 Gent It's a quick turnaround for Larne and their attention will turn back to the Irish Premiership as they face Dungannon Swifts on Monday night at Stangmore Park We will have live text coverage from that game and in-play clips 20Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 22:24 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202422:24 GMT 19 December 2024FT: Larne 1-0 Gent Do you think Larne manager Gary Haveron was happy when the full-time whistle went 90Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 22:16 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202422:16 GMT 19 December 2024FT: Larne 1-0 Gent It was announced earlier today that Tomas Cosgrove 60Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'It will live long in the memory'published at 22:13 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202422:13 GMT 19 December 2024FT: Larne 1-0 Gent Goalscorer Tomas Cosgrove speaking on TNT Sports: I said earlier everything just seems to be written in the stars for me at Larne "I said to the boys at half-time that this could be our last time here and we have them and I just happen to get the goal It will be something that will live long in the memory "It's important to get points on the board you don't want to be the team with zero To do it is massive for the club and you can see the fans were brilliant tonight 160Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 22:10 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202422:10 GMT 19 December 2024FT: Larne 1-0 Gent Stay tuned with us as we get reaction after the historic result 140Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCelebrating in stylepublished at 22:07 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202422:07 GMT 19 December 2024FT: Larne 1-0 Gent Tomas Cosgrove celebrating with his teammates after his goal 331Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 22:05 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202422:05 GMT 19 December 2024FT: Larne 1-0 Gent The result means that Gent finish the league phase of the Europa Conference League 17th which means they will enter the play-offs unseeded 210Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 22:02 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202422:02 GMT 19 December 2024FT: Larne 1-0 Gent The players are on the pitch celebrating with manager Gary Haveron 613Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFULL-TIMEpublished at 21:59 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202421:59 GMT 19 December 2024Larne 1-0 Gent Larne make more history as they become the first team from Northern Ireland to win a game in a European competition's group stage 22611Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:59 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202421:59 GMT 19 December 2024Larne 1-0 Gent Joe Thomson is receiving treatment for a head injury It looks like Larne will play the final seconds with 10 men 108Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:57 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202421:57 GMT 19 December 2024Larne 1-0 Gent The ball is bouncing in the box with no one in a blue shirt able to control the danger I'm sure this eight minutes has felt like a lifetime for them 272Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:54 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202421:54 GMT 19 December 2024Larne 1-0 Gent We have played half of the eight minutes of additional time It won't surprise anyone that Gent are throwing the kitchen sink at this but they haven't created any noteworthy chances so far in added time 323Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:52 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202421:52 GMT 19 December 2024Larne 1-0 Gent We're into eight minutes of additional time 409Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingSUBSTITUTIONSpublished at 21:51 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202421:51 GMT 19 December 2024Larne 1-0 Gent Larne freshen things up and introduce Conor McKendry 174Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:50 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202421:50 GMT 19 December 2024Larne 1-0 Gent There's a scramble in the box with the ball falling to Omri Gandelman but substitute Joe Thomson throws himself at the danger and gets a foot on it 201Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:47 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202421:47 GMT 19 December 2024Larne 1-0 Gent This time he leaps to try deny Omri Gandelman from connecting with a looping delivery into the box Both players are now down receiving treatment 181Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:45 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202421:45 GMT 19 December 2024Larne 1-0 Gent Mathias Delorge's delivery is headed out of play by Sam Todd Todd has been impressive in defence tonight 203Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:44 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202421:44 GMT 19 December 2024Larne 1-0 Gent Gent now have a free-kick just outside the box after a clumsy tackle by Andy Ryan 38Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingYELLOW CARDpublished at 21:43 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 202421:43 GMT 19 December 2024Larne 1-0 Gent Sean Graham becomes the second Larne player to be cautioned 310Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingprevious pagePage 1 of 4123…4next pageImage source Larne's Andy Ryan rises for a high ball during the first half at Windsor Park Tomas Cosgrove's second-half goal helped Larne finish their Uefa Conference League campaign on a high by securing a historic 1-0 win over Gent at Windsor Park Having lost their previous five matches in the league stage of the competition the Irish Premiership champions defied their underdog tag to deservedly claim the scalp of their Belgian opponents and pick up their first points Cosgrove beat his marker and drilled home a low shot past goalkeeper Davy Roef in the 74th minute after Andy Ryan had flicked the ball into the path of Sean Graham Having made history by becoming the first Irish League club to make the league or group stage of a major European competition the victory marked another significant milestone for the east Antrim club and the Irish Premiership Larne also collected the 400,000 euros (£330,252) on offer for clinching a win at the league stage and move off the bottom of the league The success came against a backdrop of significant change for the Invermen long-serving manager Tiernan Lynch left his role midway through the campaign to take over as boss of Derry City then his successor Nathan Rooney was last week replaced as head coach by his assistant Gary Haveron after the former Bruno's Magpies chief was found not to possess the necessary Uefa Pro Licence to manage in European competition Gent dropped to 17th in the league standings and now face an away fixture in the play-off stages in March 'Special night' was 'no smash and grab' - Haveron Larne began the game brightly and could have gone ahead in the opening minutes but Sam Todd was unable to get his head on Mark Randall's inviting delivery Archie Brown fired wide and then home goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson palmed away Omri Gandelman's header There was further danger in the penalty area for the hosts when Andri Gudjohnsen's header from a Sven Kums corner was deflected by Gandelman before the ball took a further deflection off a Larne player en route to safety The best chance of the opening period fell to Stefan Mitrovic when his header cannoned off the bar from another Kums corner Matty Lusty was particularly lively for a well-organised Larne side but they were unable to fashion enough clearcut chances They carved out their best opportunity after the resumption however as Lusty played the ball back for Andy Ryan whose low strike was well saved by Gent stopper Roef Gent began to impose themselves more on the game and substitute Momodou Sonko just failed to get a touch on fellow substitute Max Dean's delivery to the back post It was Larne who eventually broke the deadlock however as Cosgrove's well-executed strike saw them take a deserved and historic triumph Haveron's charges will hope to use the result as a platform to improve their indifferent league form and inspire them towards retaining their Premiership crown as well as contend for glory in cup competitions on the domestic front McKendry at 91 minutesSubstituteshome team McKendry at 91 minutesSubstitutesNumber 31 Torunarigha Match OfficialsReferee: Sigurd Smehus KringstadVideo Assistant Referee: Tom HagenAssistant Referee 1: Runar LangsethAssistant Referee 2: Ole Andreas HaukåsenFourth Official: Daniel HigraffAssistant VAR Official: Kristoffer HagenesMatch StatsKey your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt Step right up to the greatest show in the heart of the city of Ghent! The Wintercircus is a former 19th century stone circus and one-time motor garage. Now, after years of intensive renovation, partially financed by the EU this legendary building has reopens its doors as a vibrant tech hub: music with technology and innovation," says Louis Jonckheere CEO of Wintercircus: "We want to create a place in Europe that is unique in bringing those worlds together” is now a public square woven into the fabric of the city: Jonckheere aims to recapture the former spirit of the space "We want to be a place where the magic happens by bringing together diverse people and to collaborate around entrepreneurship and collaborations to deliver better solutions that our society needs in the world of tomorrow," he says The goal is to bring back the magic through a 15,000-square metre building that houses a glass auditorium, co-working spaces, a music club and fancy bars and restaurants. The renovation’s challenge was to keep the layers of history visible integrating a contemporary programme and sustainability elements: It goes on high level techniques," says Jolien de Baets an interior design architect with OYO Architects "So it's the geothermal bore holes that we use the warmth from the earth to heat and cool the building but also on another level of interior finishes where we're trying to reuse materials and re-implement second-hand furniture The project cost almost 31 million euros (30,8M). About 1.4 (€ 1.352.317,5 M) of that came from the European Cohesion Policy Around 21.6 million € (€ 21.647.682,5 M) was financed by the Government of Flanders and the City of Ghent and a further 8 million from private investment Wintercircus gives a stage to creators and tech innovators. 40 cutting-edge startups work in this inspiring space. Among them is Say IT Labs an award-winning tech company using AI to bring speech therapy into homes through innovative video games "We have a shared space of artificial intelligence or anything that's related to cutting-edge technology," says Erich Reiter CEO and co-founder SayIT Lab.* "This is the type of space that offers very free idea sharing That's something that you can't always buy Being part of this ecosystem really offers major added value because you can learn so much from your neighbour." Wintercircus preserves the playful spirit of the past but instead of acrobats and jugglers the space juggles technology and AI to deliver a unique spectacle