​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishJUSTICE, ELECTIONSProxy voting fraud investigations in nine Flemish municipalities11 February 2025 Belgian authorities are conducting criminal investigations into alleged proxy vote fraud in nine municipalities across Flanders following the 2024 local elections Flemish Interior minister Hilde Crevits told parliament on Tuesday based on seized proxy voting documents and recommendations from public prosecutors the appointed mayor is under investigation which could affect their official confirmation Crevits said she would carefully assess each case but would not delay decisions unnecessarily She emphasised that soliciting proxy votes was a criminal offence and that legal consequences would depend on the outcome of ongoing investigations but it’s too early to assess the full extent of the issue,” the minister said mayoral appointments will proceed as normal The issue of possible misuse of proxy votes - where one person votes on behalf of another - first gained attention after reports of irregularities in Ninove where large numbers of proxy votes were seized There were concerns that fraudulent medical certificates may have been used to justify them A separate case in Veurne involves former mayor Peter Roose #FlandersNewsService | A voting booth at a polling station in Ostend during Belgium’s local elections © BELGA PHOTO KURT DESPLENTER Copy linkGet updates in your mailboxYour email addressSubscribeBy clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy rapid and high-quality information 24 hours a day from Belgium and abroad to all Belgian media not to mention entertainment and lifestyle our journalists and press photographers produce hundreds of photos and news stories Since the end of March 2022 English has been added as a language businesses and various organisations that need reliable information Belga News Agency also offers a comprehensive range of corporate services to meet all their communication needs www.belganewsagency.eu Jasper Philipsen third in Ninove after dramatic finale but after all that it came down to a bunch sprint with Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) taking a surprise win ahead of Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck).  Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) looked as though he had stolen a march when he attacked away from the peloton after the Bosberg and was allowed to build a gap of over 15 seconds as more teams came back after the key cobbled climbs were completed and he battled with a strong headwind in the run for home he was eventually pulled back inside the final kilometre.  it was Ineos Grenadiers who were best positioned coming into the final bend launching away from a fading Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) but Wærenskjold and Magnier came with a lot of speed on either side of the Belgian and beat him The Norwegian was unsure of the result as he crossed the line with a desperate bike throw the photo finish revealed that he had a bigger winning gap than he realised He celebrated with his teammates once he was informed over the radio of the biggest victory of his career so far.  the 80th men’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad set off on a 197km route taking on eleven cobbled sectors as the riders headed to the finish in Ninove.  The racing kicked off with the usual plethora of attacks Six riders got an early gap with one chaser eventually forming a seven-man group.  Hartthijs De Vries (Unibet Tietema Rockets) Giosuè Epis (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and Siebe Deweirdt (Flander-Baloise) Getting a maximum gap of 7:40 on the peloton.  There were multiple reports of early crashes but nothing to say that anyone was injured or abandoning the race as the riders took on the first cobbled sections of the Classics season.  With 92km to go on the third cobbled sector UAE Team Emirates-XRG attacked the peloton along with Tudor catching Visma-Lease a Bike out as they sat at the back After that acceleration the pace remained high in the peloton as various teams battled to keep their leaders in the best position possible through the narrow streets around the various Belgian villages that litter the landscape.  Just before the Haaghoek cobbled section of the race Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Ryan Mullen (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) were involved Belgian national champion Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) had a mechanical and needed a bike change with around 70km to go It took him almost 15km to make his way back onto the rear of the peloton.  there was an attack by the youngest rider in the race 19-year-old Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) along with Vito Braet (Intermarche-Wanty) and Tim van Dijke (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) but a counter move by Kim Heiduk (Ineos Grenadiers) saw it come back together again.  there was an attack by British time trial champion Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) who rode away solo from the peloton.  The Molenberg saw the usual splits in the peloton despite not really having much acceleration De Lie and defending champion Jan Tratnik (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) all missed the split.  A group of big favourites got a gap with Alpecin-Deceuninck bossing the group with both Philipsen and Kaden Groves following the wheels of their two teammates.  Tarling was caught by the Alpecin-Deceuninck-led group as well as the break getting caught on the Berendries but Visma were closing things but were still not quite able to close the final gap.  Tiesj Benoot (Visma-Lease a Bike) did one massive turn which dragged the likes of De Lie Van Aert was taking longer to get there before eventually making the split De Lie was the next rider to get dropped after several huge efforts the race had its most settled moment for a long time as the team of Philipsen led the way as they headed to the Muur Van Geraardsbergen  defending champion Jan Tratnik had an untimely rear wheel puncture that saw his chances of defending his title go up in smoke.  it was Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) on the front accelerating with Matthias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) taking over with Sam Watson (Ineos Grenadiers) Philipsen and the rest struggling to follow the wheel.  it was still quite a large group all together over the top of the Kapelmuur as Van Aert tried a move over the top to attempt to split the race further.  The next move to go was Matteo Jorgenson of Visma-Lease a Bike but everyone was alive to the danger once again Nothing was being allowed to get away with 15km to go and one cobbled ascent to go on the Bosberg and it was Vacek who led over the top of the climb with Morgado Teuns (Cofidis) and Pidcock all trying to bridge to the leading group.  but none could get to the Swiss rider's wheel Two groups came together behind as several teammates came back to work for their leaders Küng held on until just over a kilometre to go when the leadouts began and Ineos Grenadiers took it up for  Watson But it was Uno-X Mobility’s Wærenskjold who beat Magnier and Philipsen on the line and the Norwegian Wærenskjold took the win in a tight run to the line Resuts powered by FirstCycling you will then be prompted to enter your display name Be one of the first to try our new activity feed Young Norwegian Wærenskjold outsprints Magnier and Philipsen to the line Claes beats Nerlo after day-long breakaway in women's race Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) took a brilliant sprint victory at the end of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Saturday beating a host of household names at the end of the classic-season opener The 24 year old Norwegian defeated Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in the gallop to the line Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) took a flier with 10km go to taking advantage of a stall after the summit of the Bosberg He used his time trial skills to fine effect holding a gap of 17 seconds with five kilometers to go The Visma-Lease a Bike team of Wout van Aert and Matteo Jorgenson were chasing hard behind helped by EF Education First and Alpecin-Deceuninck He was caught just before the 1km to go banner with Visma-Lease a Bike and Soudal Quick-Step setting up the sprint Jasper Philipsen looked good in the center of the road but was beaten by both Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) and Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) inside the final 200 meters Meanwhile the women’s race had an even more unexpected outcome with the winning move going inside the first 10km of the race Lotte Claes (Arkea B&B Hotels Women) and Aurela Nerlo (Winspace Orange Seal) were two riders in that five woman break and helped it gain over 14 minutes on the bunch The duo pushed ahead on the climb of the Muur and fended off a furious but belated pursuit by Demi Vollering (FDJ Suez) and Puck Pieterse (Fenix Deceuninck) Nerlo jumped with a kilometer to go but Claes gradually reeled her in and then won the sprint underlining what was a totally unexpected outcome Both Wærenskjold and women’s winner Claes were in shock at the finish “I actually shouldn’t have raced until Sunday,” the men’s victor said after the race “Tomorrow it will be more of a sprint race but today it also became a sprint due to the headwind especially with all these big names in the peloton This is a big step for me in the right direction.” Claes is 31 and last year was runner up on a stage of the Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées “It’s fantastic! I really never expected this,” she said, according to Het Nieuwsblad. “Normally I’m not the fastest in a sprint, but after a tough race I often have something left. My opponent started quickly, but that played to my advantage, because I’m not that explosive. She can really start quickly, but then she falls silent. “With my big engine I can then give an extra push. I just thought: keep going. My body hurt everywhere.” The day’s breakaway formed inside the first 10km, with Elmar Reinders (Team Jayco AlUla), Hartthijs de Vries (Unibet Tietema Rockets), Julius van den Berg (Team Picnic PostNL) and Victor Vercouillie (Team Flanders – Baloise) clipping away and being joined soon afterwards by Siebe Deweirdt (Team Flanders – Baloise), Enzo Leijnse (Team Picnic PostNL) and Giosuè Epis (Arkéa – B&B Hotels). The group had almost eight minutes with 110km remaining but hard chasing by UAE Team Emirates-XRG brought that down. The break was four and a half minutes ahead with 80km left but had just 2.42 when the bunch hit the Eikenberg inside 55km from the finish. Josh Tarling showed good form at the UAE Tour, including winning the stage 2 time trial, and aimed to make an impression at the classics. He forged clear on the Holleweg sector and had 40 seconds on the peloton heading onto the Molenberg climb. The Ineos-Grenadiers rider was just 53 seconds behind the break there and was making good inroads into their lead. There was chaos on the Molenberg with many riders coming to a complete halt, including Alberto Bettiol (XDS Astana Team). Pre-race favorite Wout van Aert (Visma Lease a Bike) was also delayed and found himself in a chasing group behind an Alpecin Deceuninck-led peloton. There were about two dozen riders present when they hit the climb of Leberg, including team leaders Matteo Jorgenson (Visma Lease a Bike), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team). Out front Tarling was getting closer and closer to the leaders and was just 23 seconds back with 33km to go. However the whole race was tightening up, and he was mopped up very soon afterwards by the first part of the peloton. The break itself was also caught. Meanwhile Van Aert’s Visma-Lease a Bike team was in hot pursuit, with the Belgian and his teammate Tiesj Benoot helping bring the two bunches back together with 28km remaining. The riders powered onwards towards the Muur, one of the most famous short climbs in cycling. Defending champion Jan Tratnik (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) punctured just before the foot of that ramp and lost any chance of victory. The big names all lurked at the front, with Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) then driving the pace on the lower slopes before being overtaken by Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek). A dozen or so riders went with them, holding a gap after the summit. Van Aert and Jorgenson were there, as was Philipsen. Other riders gradually bridged, with Jorgenson trying to go clear but then switching to ride at the front after his recapture. Vacek looked very strong again on the Bosberg, dragging the group up the climb, but nobody was able to push ahead. A stall at the summit saw Küng take flight with 10km to go. Soon afterwards a second group containing Pidcock and others bridged to the Van Aert bunch, but their chances looked very uncertain. Küng was flying and had 17 seconds with 5km to go but Visma-Lease a Bike were chasing hard. Jorgenson put in a big stint and with 3km left Küng had just 11 seconds. He kept hammering but was finally caught just before the kite. The sprinters pushed forward and all eyes were on Milan-San Remo champion Philipsen. However Wærenskjold proved best, stunning the field with the biggest victory of his career. “I didn’t think this was possible, but it worked out,” he said. “I was behind a fall on the Molenberg. I then tried to close the gap, but didn’t have the legs. That’s why I tried to save as much energy as possible. I also tried not to go all out on the climbs, but in the end I still had to go almost all out. “The pace was so fast. It was tough, but I had the legs to do a good sprint in the end.” The women’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was run off over 137.9km, with the early break going inside the first 10km. Claes and Nerlo were there, along with Julie Stockman (DD Group Pro Cycling Team), Elena Pirrone (Roland) and Mieke Docx (Lotto Ladies). They built a staggering advantage of 14 minutes and still had over nine minutes on the peloton inside 60km to go. Stockman cracked with 50km to go, leaving four out front heading towards the Molenberg. Various riders were pulling behind in the peloton, with triple world TT champion Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) putting in a big stint with 32km to go. However the gap was far too big and the break still had over six minutes in hand with 20km remaining. The four leaders sped onwards towards the Muur, with Claes and Nerlo dropping Pirrone and Docx on the lower slopes and going over the summit together. The peloton was visibly quicker on the climb, desperately trying to make inroads into the lead. Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM Zondacrypto) were prominent on the steepest slopes, with Vollering and Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) then dropping the rest to cross the top together. Claes and Nerlo were hurting after being out front all day. They drove up the Bosberg and had 4:50 with 10km to go. The clock favored them but they still had to hammer through the headwind to the finish, with that factor giving the chasers some comfort. However their effort was too little and too late: Vollering and Pieterse caught Docx with 2.9km remaining but they were still over three and a half minutes down there. Nerlo played her cards with a kilometer to go, attacking hard. Claes strained to hold her, losing several bike lengths, but gradually got back to her wheel, then proved best in the sprint. She looked stunned at the finish, smiling broadly and saying ‘my God, what happened?’ Nerlo, meanwhile, congratulated her, then became emotional. “I would not say that I am disappointed,” she said. “I have a little problem with the sprint. I tried to attack with 1km to go to the finish. I think I did what I could. It is good to be back on the podium after a few years, because the last time I was on the podium it was in 2019. So I am more than happy to be here again.” Vollering outsprinted Pieterse for third, 3:25 behind. Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) won the gallop for fifth some ten seconds later. Both were left wondering what might have been, but neither accepted that their teams should have done more. Claes and Nerlo won’t mind: each had their moment in the spotlight and savored the experience. What’s it like to be an American cyclist living in France? Watch to get professional road cyclist Joe Dombrowski’s view. An 82-year-old man has died after he was hit by a car as he attempted to cross the road in the East Flemish town of Ninove. The accident happened on the Burchtdam. The motorist spotted the pensioner too late and was unable to break in time. The accident happened at around 4:15pm on Tuesday on the Burchtdam. The motorist was driving from the Begijnenbrug towards the Denderkaai when suddenly a pedestrian crossed over the road. The emergency services were at the scene quickly and attempted to resuscitate the man. However, their efforts were in vain and he died at the scene. The East Flemish prosecutor’s office sent a road traffic accident investigation expert to the scene to investigate the exact cause of the accident.  ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishPOLITICS, ELECTIONSElections 2024: Forza Ninove secures absolute majority in East Flemish municipality13 October 2024 The right-wing Forza Ninove led by Vlaams Belang politician Guy D'haeseleer has secured an absolute majority in the East Flemish municipality the party now has a mandate to govern for the next six years despite the slim margin Forza Ninove received 40 per cent of the vote they increased their share to 47.4 per cent with D'haeseleer himself securing 8,552 votes D'haeseleer concluded his victory speech by saying that "the cordon is definitely in the trash" now the agreement of most political parties not to work with Vlaams Belang Ninove had been governed by a coalition of Open VLD and the local list Samen ​#FlandersNewsService | Forza Ninove's Guy D'haeseleer delivers his victory speech on the evening of the local elections 13 October © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK Eight major climbs and six cobbled sectors line the 135.5km route between Gent and Ninove The early kilometres are constantly undulating through the Flemish countryside with two cobbled stretches - the Paddestraat and Lange Munte - the main challenge in the first hour of racing All of the named climbs come in the second half of the race route with the Edelareberg the first berg after 81.7km or racing It is quickly followed by the Wolvenberg and the third through fifth cobbled sections The Molenberg comes at kilometre 95.4 followed by the Leberg Berendries and Elverenberg before the end game starts on the Muur-Kapelmuur also known as the Muur van Geraardsbergen comes with 15.5km to go and is quickly followed by Bosberg and a fast mostly downhill run-in to the finish in Ninove Dani has reported from the world's top races She has interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars and her favourite races are the Giro d'Italia Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishPOLITICS, JUSTICE, ELECTIONSElections 2024: Federal police to investigate possible voting fraud in Ninove14 October 2024 The federal police will conduct an investigation into possible electoral fraud in the municipal elections in Ninove the local branch of far-right party Vlaams Belang obtained an absolute majority and its leader Guy D’haeseleer is set to become Vlaams Belang’s first-ever mayor there are allegations about the use of proxy votes The public prosecutor's office was informed on Sunday of possible electoral fraud and launched an investigation The prosecutor's office could not confirm which party it related to and whether proxies for Forza Ninove would be investigated The investigation was put in the hands of the East Flanders federal judicial police The extent of the possible fraud is still under investigation but it involves an organised form of electoral fraud There are specific suspects who will be questioned soon The police and the judicial authorities want to move forward with the investigation quickly because clarity is needed before the mayors are sworn in in December D'haeseleer denied that proxies were recruited by Forza Ninove “The proxies we received were from people who contacted us spontaneously who did not want their vote to be lost and asked to collect their proxy,” he said But we did not go door to door to collect proxies I do know of certain parties that have done so in rest homes I am going to see how the investigation goes.” Recruiting proxies in elections is punishable and can lead to a prison sentence of eight days to a month and/or a fine #FlandersNewsService | Forza Ninove's leader Guy D’haeseleer celebrates on the evening of the local elections 13 October 2024 © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishPOLITICS, ELECTIONSGuy D'haeseleer sworn in as Flanders' first far-right mayor5 December 2024 Vlaams Belang politician Guy D'haeseleer was sworn in on Thursday as Flanders' first far-right mayor His Forza Ninove list won a narrow absolute majority in October's local elections Forza Ninove won 47.4 per cent of the vote giving it a slim majority of 18 out of 35 seats This means that if one councillor were to drop out D'haeseleer asked right-wing N-VA to join his majority the day after the election this city will be led by someone who enjoys by far the greatest confidence of the population and that's the way it should be," D'haeseleer said after being sworn in D'haeseleer's victory was not without controversy A judicial investigation into the possible abuse of the proxy vote system in Ninove is ongoing East Flanders public prosecutor's office told Belga on Thursday The investigation concerns the possible misuse of proxy votes The prosecutor's office is investigating whether Forza Ninove recruited proxy votes that could have influenced the result No update was given on the situation in order not to violate the secrecy of the investigation Ninove is not the only party where Vlaams Belang came to power after the October elections. In the West Flemish town of Izegem and the Antwerp municipalities of Brecht and Ranst, Vlaams Belang is part of the local government #FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishPOLITICSElectoral fraud in Belgium's 24 municipal elections: Allegations surrounding Forza Ninove28 January 2025 Belgium's 2024 local elections have come under scrutiny in Ninove Strong evidence now points to Forza Ninove the far-right party accused of using fraudulent proxy votes to secure an outright majority An investigation by public broadcaster VRT NWS uncovered irregularities in proxy voting - where people unable to vote in person appoint someone to vote on their behalf - using fraudulent medical certificates as supporting documents The certificates had changed patient names stamps and dates were repeatedly duplicated when polling officials discovered a forged medical certificate attached to a proxy vote Similar cases were subsequently discovered at other polling stations proxies accounted for one in 14 votes - a remarkably high proportion compared to the national average Prosecutors are investigating the extent of the alleged fraud with charges of forgery carrying a potential sentence of up to five years in prison D'haeseleer has denied any involvement and dismissed the allegations as a "smear campaign" the legal deadlines for challenging the election results have passed meaning that Forza Ninove's majority remains intact for the current legislature #FlandersNewsService | Ninove mayor Guy D'haeseleer (left) and Vlaams Belang chairman Tom Van Grieken © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishELECTIONSElections 2024: Vlaams Belang’s crucial battle for Ninove12 September 2024 All eyes are on Ninove in the upcoming local elections where Vlaams Belang is engaged in a crucial battle to secure one of its few opportunities for significant political power A left-wing alliance tries to prevent a far-right victory far-right party Vlaams Belang hopes to do what it could not in June: become Flanders’ biggest party It would be the easiest way to break through the ‘cordon sanitaire’ an agreement between the other political parties to never govern with the far-right it will have to start by conquering Ninove Ninove has been a stronghold for Vlaams Belang Guy D’Haeseleer’s Forza Ninove (Vlaams Belang) captured 15 out of 33 seats a coalition of other parties sidelined D’Haeseleer and his team aiming to secure the absolute majority they narrowly missed before achieving this majority is seen as the only path to obtaining the mayoral position a combined socialist and green electoral list was introduced to counter a potential far-right victory Prominent political figures such as Conner Rousseau (Vooruit) and Petra De Sutter (Groen) have also become involved They visited the town to support the candidates and emphasise the significance of collaboration among progressive parties the conservative party maintained its position as Belgium’s largest in the June elections N-VA has also made it clear that the cordon sanitaire will remain in place in Ninove citing insurmountable ideological differences and independents - could also impact the election if it succeeds in drawing votes away from Vlaams Belang D’Haeseleer’s battle is thus far from over The struggle for political dominance in Ninove has only just begun Whether Forza Ninove can surpass N-VA and overcome left-wing opposition alliances remains to be seen The campaign over the next few weeks will provide a clearer picture of its prospects #FlandersNewsService | Forza Ninove (Vlaams Belang) chairman Guy D'Haeseleer in Ninove © BELGA PHOTO KEVIN WOUTERS ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishELECTIONSElections 2024: Proxy votes seized in election fraud probe Veurne also under investigation15 October 2024 Authorities are investigating potential election fraud in both Ninove and Veurne focusing on concerns surrounding the misuse of proxy votes during Sunday’s municipal elections All proxy votes from the municipal elections in Ninove have been seized as part of an investigation into possible election fraud the East Flanders public prosecutor confirmed Initial reports spoke of hundreds of proxy votes The investigation started after concerns were raised by a justice of the peace about the use of proxies and potentially forged medical certificates While the prosecutor has not identified which party may be implicated Forza Ninove leader Guy D’haeseleer denied that his party solicited proxies saying they were collected only from voters who contacted them voluntarily reflecting a 73.5 per cent turnout among 30,401 registered voters All major parties have acknowledged using proxies but how many were utilised remains unclear the West Flanders prosecutor’s office is investigating allegations against outgoing Veurne mayor Peter Roose of Veurne Plus for soliciting proxy votes ​#FlandersNewsService | A ballot box at a polling station in Ninove © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK Guy D’haeseleer of the far-right party Vlaams Belang swore the oath required for him to officially become Mayor in the East Flemish town of Ninove of Thursday evening Mr D’haeseleer’s Forza Ninove list won an absolute majority of the seats on Ninove Council at the local elections on 13th October Forza Ninove that is the local branch of Vlaams Belang will govern Ninove alone for the next 6 years Its figurehead Mr D’haeseleer has made history by becoming the first ever politician of the far-right to become Mayor of a Flemish municipality in peacetime Around 50 demostrators gathered outside the Town Hall to protest against the far-right taking power in Ninove Forza Ninove won 47.4% of the votes in the municipal elections in Ninove on 13 October and has 18 of the 35 seats on the local council  Although there was a protest outside the Town Hall inside the installation of Mr D’haerseleer as Mayor passed serenely Mr D'haeseleer promised to honour the pledges made by Forza Ninove in its manifesto adding that the people of Ninove had voted for a “Flemish clean and well-run Ninove and in contrast to what often happens after the election we will do what we said we would do before the election” The new Mayor intends to ensure that the town’s police station’s opening hours are extended He and his team also intend to examine whether not-for-profit groups and projects that receive funding from the municipal authorities meet the goals that were set out when the applied for the funding They also intend to “restore the Flemish character” of Ninove by stressing the importance of learning (and using) Dutch for non-Dutch speakers that are already there and by dissuading people that don’t speak Dutch from moving to Ninove There is strong criticism from the opposition of Mr D'haeseleer appoinment of his stepdaughter Malika Sclacmender as an Alderman “This goes directly against the spirit of electoral law” Stijn Vander Elst of the main opposition party Positief Ninove told VRT News The law prohibits blood relatives from sitting together on the municipal cabinet as Ms Sclacmender's mother does not officially live with Mr D'haeseleer her appointment is not illegal “This does not alter the fact that the decision to appoint her is nepotism” “It is no coincidence that here in Ninove more than twice as many votes were cast by proxy than in other towns and cities” the socialist councillor Stijn Vermassen said He added that he is convinced that Mr D’haeseleer’s claims that he did not actively sollicate proxies in the runup to the election “is a lie” a criminal investigation into possible abuses of the proxy vote system in Ninove is still ongoing Mr D’haeseleer claims that his appointment as Mayor means that the so-called “cordon sanitaire” an agreement made by the parties more than 30 years ago not to enter into coalitions with the far-right has been breached as Forza Ninove has an absolute majority on Ninove council it doesn’t need to form a coalition in order to take power although the far-right is now in charge at Ninove Town Hall the “cordon sanitaire” remains in tact in the East Flemish town Divas KVK Ninove is becoming one of the partner clubs of the RSCA Women’s Stellar project This initiative aims to introduce young girls to football and discover the talents of tomorrow for the RSCA Women’s academy Two scouting sessions will take place soon: in Ninove on Sunday Women’s football is growing rapidly in Belgium the milestone of 50,000 registered female players has been surpassed in our country many challenges remain in the professionalization of women’s football RSC Anderlecht is committed to contributing to this progress More information and registrations “I am very happy to welcome a great club like Divas KVK Ninove to our Stellar project. Divas KVK Ninove has been committed to women’s football for years and has clear ambitions to continue playing a pioneering role. Together, we can expand our footprint in the Dender region and beyond, reinforcing these ambitions. Moreover, Ninove holds personal significance for me, as it is the club where my journey started 15 years ago, making this collaboration even more special.” Reginald Vertongen, President of Divas KVK Ninove: From the beginning of December, Forza Ninove will administer East Flemish Ninove, but it is not clear which social benefits non-Dutch speakers with poor Dutch are at risk of losing.  The party wants to go further than the Flemish government's ambitions related to knowledge of the Dutch language. Any newcomer settling in Flanders from outside the EU is already obliged to follow a compulsory integration programme. A Dutch language course forms part of that. Forza Ninove, which won the local elections on Sunday, wants to link knowledge of the Dutch language to the right to obtain social benefits from locl social services. The party's election programme says non-Dutch-speaking newcomers will have to show results in acquiring knowledge of Dutch rather than simply showing they are making an effort.  Anybody knocking on Ninove social services’ door will have to achieve results in say 2 years.  Claimants who do not acquire a sufficient knowledge of Dutch in that time will in principle not be able to acquire support.’ The fact that the time limit within which newcomers must learn Dutch and the level to be attained are not specified worries educationalists offering Dutch courses to non-native speakers. ‘Dutch is a particularly difficult language and you really need a lot of time to get it right,’ claims Ghislain De Bondt of LIGO, the centre for basic education.  He does think it is good that a lot of attention is paid to the acquisition of Dutch. ‘People taking our course already come to Dutch classes 3-4 times a week. I don't see them having to increase that frequency to 6 or 7 days a week. It is already quite a challenge for us to pursue a hobby once a week or attend a sports or evening school.’ The language classes now offered by LIGO are full. ‘But there are no waiting lists either,’ Mr De Bondt clarifies. ‘I suspect that demand could increase, but that's a bit unclear at the moment.’ CVO Groeipunt, Campus Ninove, that provides adult education is more or less on the same wavelength. ‘We have seen large numbers of new students in recent years, but we can also meet that demand because we have also considerably expanded our offerings,’ says director Dave Bonte. ‘The people taking our courses are required to do so.  We also see many non-native speakers, who voluntarily enrol in our courses.’ At the CVO campus, people can now choose between 1, 2, 3 and 4-year courses to learn the language. ‘All courses offer the same quality but I wonder if people who today choose to learn the language in 4 years, will succeed in learning it even more quickly. Their personal situation and work commitments may form a stumbling block.’ Forza Ninove’s Guy D'haeseleer already advocates an extensive range of language courses ‘so that people also get the chance to learn the language.’ A Dutch language course is compulsory for people from outside the EU settling in Flanders, as it is part of their compulsory integration package. EU citizens or Ukrainians who enjoy the separate status of temporarily displaced persons are entitled to take the civic integration course, but it is not compulsory. In an interview with VRT Radio 1’s morning news and current affairs programme ‘De ochtend’, one of the Aldermen in the far-right municipal cabinet that will take office in the East Flemish town of Ninove from 1 December has outlined some of Forza Ninove’s plans for the next 6 years. Ilse Malfroot told VRT News that she realises that all eyes are on her party Forza Ninove that is the local branch of the far-right party Vlaams Belang. She describes the attention that is being given to Forza Ninove as “overwhelming” and says that she realizes that everything she and her colleagues do “Will be followed very closely”. Ms Malfroot will be responsible for education, employment, integration, combating poverty, welfare and care. She told the VRT that “We are going to project Ninove as a monolingual Flemish town. Currently, many people have the impression, due to the large influx of newcomers, that it is a multilingual town. We will conduct campaigns and ensure the strict application of language legislation”. With regard to education Ms Malfroot particular wants the parents of children at school in Ninove to learn Dutch, the language in which their children are taught. “There are courses available. We expect parents to make an effort. We do not intend to pamper them and take them by the hand to the courses. There is a lot they can do themselves”.   Speaking about the local Social Services Department, Ms Malfroot says that in future any extras given to needy households (such as sport or culture cheques) will have to be spent in Ninove. “If for example we give someone a sport pass it will have to be used to practice a sport in Ninove. It is not intended to be used pay for someone to take karate lessons in Brussels”.  The man set to become the new Mayor of the East Flemish town of Ninove Guy D'Haeseleer has responded to the decision by the prosecutor’s office to open an investigation into possible electoral fraud. The prosecutor’s office won’t be more specific. However, sources say that the investigation is into alleged fraud with proxy votes. In a reaction Guy D'Haeseleer (Forza Nivove) said that “I can’t say anything about it. I have asked for information, and I have been told that it is about proxy votes. What exactly the issue is I can’t say”. "If people are ill or on holiday they can give someone else a proxy vote. I think that this happens everywhere. I think that all candidates receive proxy votes from people. I had them too. If people call and say ‘look, I am on holiday can I give you a proxy vote?’ This is completely legal, isn’t it? That is what proxy votes are for”.   "I think that it is strange that this is has become the source of discussion now that Forza Ninove has a majority”.  "I Hope that N-VA will work with us" Forza Ninove is the local branch of the far-right party Vlaams Belang. The party has an absolute majority and as such there is no doubt that Mr D'haeseleer will become Mayor. This would make him Vlaams Belang’s first ever Mayor. Although Forza Ninove can govern alone, Mr D’Haeseleer wants the the Flemish nationalist party N-VA to join his party in a coalition. "Before the election I said that I want cooperation between the Flemish nationalist parties".  ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishPOLITICS, ELECTIONSElections 2024: Vlaams Belang must make it on its own or not at all1 October 2024 Will the extreme right in Flanders finally get executive power after the 13 October elections Vlaams Belang is confident that in the small city of Ninove it will get enough votes to be indispensable Their first ever executive mandate would then be as mayor The extreme right has been a factor in politics in Flanders for half a century the party was so important that all other parties promised a “cordon sanitaire”: they will never enter a coalition with Vlaams Belang as its values and goals are too different from theirs to ever allow compromise there have been signals that the cordon sanitaire would not hold another right-wing Flemish nationalist party says he will never accept coalitions with Vlaams Belang This makes it impossible for Vlaams Belang to enter into a federal or regional government It’s possible Vlaams Belang will get more than 50 per cent of the vote in Ninove or elsewhere with its programme against migration and crime and in favour of cars the party is standing under a different name in Ninove: Forza Ninove a reference to the populist party of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi The federal and regional elections of 9 June were a major success for Vlaams Belang as they became the biggest party in 165 of 300 municipalities Being the biggest is not the same as an absolute majority in most cases Local elections will take place at municipal and provincial levels in Belgium on Sunday 13 October Belga English explores the main issues to watch out for and provides a daily overview of events #FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK ​ ​ Your essential companion on the #EU2024 campaign trail Send ideas here | Tweet @EddyWax | View in your browser and I’m in the Italian capital to snoop around at a big gathering of Europe’s center-left who are meeting to plot their three-month election campaign and crown Luxembourg’s Commissioner Nicolas Schmit as their candidate to remove Ursula von der Leyen from her Berlaymont throne.  SOCIALISTS HOLD ON TO WHAT THEY CAN: The social democrat agenda is under attack across Europe from an insurgent far right and a center-right European People’s Party that is feeling more confident as the Continent’s talking points move onto their traditional terrain: security who argue that von der Leyen’s green and social legacy only happened thanks to their pressure in 2019 want to make her aware that she ignores them at her peril Romania and Denmark (and in a caretaker role in Portugal) and will remain the second largest force in the European Parliament according to the latest best guess from our POLITICO Poll of Polls (there are more numbers later in the newsletter) That means von der Leyen will still need the S&D group’s support in a secret confirmatory vote by MEPs later this year if she wants the second term that many people are already talking up as inevitable Meanwhile, they’re on the attack: Months of battering EPP leader Manfred Weber for flirting with the far-right in the European Parliament are set to reach a fever pitch over the next few months. It’s one of the standout lines in an otherwise policy-light manifesto, which I wrote about here relatively unknown Schmit — who has been reluctant to criticize his boss von der Leyen so far — the man to lead a punchy the Schmitzenkandidat: In Strasbourg earlier this week I surprised Schmit as he walked out of the hemicycle after a debate with MEPs on one of his main policy crusades: protecting gig workers Schmit seemed almost surprised that I recognized him When I asked if he would take the fight to von der Leyen Schmit on why he won’t run: Schmit defended his decision not to run as an MEP saying that without the possibility of so-called transnational lists — where voters in any country can vote for a pan-EU MEP candidate — it didn’t make sense “I reflected a lot on that and then I decided that it was first very difficult to run a national campaign and a European one coming from a smaller country in Europe.” Privately socialists aren’t happy that he isn’t running as an MEP.  It’s a German election really: Once Schmit and von der Leyen are confirmed as lead candidates it will mean that four out of five Spitzenkandidaten are German or German-speaking The others are the European Left’s Walter Baier Speaking of Germany: Here is the SPD’s EU manifesto, which focuses on peace, climate, tax justice and combating the far-right — 09:30 a.m.: Kickoff with PES President Stefan Löfven Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen — Speeches by S&D leader Iratxe García election of Nicolas Schmit as the Schmitzenkandidat — Speeches by Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa Italian Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein For the Socialists and Democrats in the EU Parliament According to POLITICO’s Poll of Polls seat projection the S&D would get about 140 seats if the EU election were held now That would give the group sway over about 20 percent of the next Parliament — much like its current share Countries’ social-democratic delegations would typically win or lose just one or two MEPs Maintaining the status quo isn’t a bad scenario — not when other groups in the political center stand to lose Yet some in the group may have cherished higher hopes: For a brief moment in 2022 the S&D overtook the European People’s Party in the polls as the EU’s leading political group with more than 150 projected seats Far-right surge in Flanders: Nowhere in Belgium has the far-right got closer to power than in the small city of Ninove In the 2018 local election, Forza Ninove, a local branch of the anti-immigration, nationalist Flemish Interest party (Vlaams Belang) received 40 percent of the votes just two seats shy of an absolute majority — and close to shattering the cordon sanitaire that has kept the party out of power “The unease in saying ‘I’m voting for the Flemish Interest’ is disappearing little by little,” Forza Ninove leader Guy D’haeseleer argued the party’s backers kept quiet about it; now they’re putting up posters in their windows What’s more: With Flemish Interest polling at 25 percent of the Flemish vote and the success of anti-immigration parties in neighboring countries In short: D’haeseleer is aiming for nothing less than an absolute majority Mayor under pressure: That means Ninove mayor Tania De Jonge’s tenure has been clouded by a major challenge: To win voters back by the next local election which will be held months after the EU election is to govern on topics that worry citizens The city council — a coalition of all non-Forza Ninove councilors bar one — has focused “very hard” on security and society including strengthened support for the police integration projects and language classes.  Forza Ninove’s campaign revolves around security and migration; a theme D’haeseleer thinks will steer the EU election votes of citizens across the bloc “What the people want is closed borders,” he said.  … even at the local level: Ninove’s “massive” problem is its “Brusselization” — the arrival of French-speaking foreigners who aren’t integrating into the city By the numbers: But Ninove’s share of inhabitants of foreign origin is actually below the Flemish average Taking a cue: She said crime numbers and feelings of not being safe have come down but the city council isn’t advertising its achievements well “We have to go on the defensive every time and … Flemish Interest is taking advantage of that.” Street level: Whether they support him or oppose him Ninove citizens expect Forza Ninove will win an absolute majority in the fall as D’haeseleer has had too easy a ride in opposition Mayor disagrees: “There are many people who say: ‘Let them govern once.’ No you don’t get into politics for that,” De Jonge reacted.  But I’m going to try to do everything I can to avoid it.” FRENCH CONNECTION: Renew Europe group chief Valérie Hayer was named as the head of Emmanuel Macron’s list, and Bernard Guetta as numéro deux. It’s a sign of the importance of agriculture and the war in Ukraine, respectively, in the French national debate, my colleagues write ZANNI’S CHANGE OF HEART: Far-right leader in the European Parliament Marco Zanni — from Matteo Salvini’s League party — U-turned and said he will not stand, La Repubblica reported FAR LEFT MANIFESTO LEAK: I got a sneak peek of the European Left’s manifesto — which despite being approved last weekend in Ljubljana still isn’t public. Parties who wrote it include Germany’s Die Linke and Spain’s United Left It also condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and supports peace talks calls for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and EU sanctions against Israel WAVE GOODBYE TO THESE MEPS: My fellow reporters in the newsroom have been hitting the phones to ask all 705 MEPs if they are running again Here are some of the biggest names who said they’ll step down.  THE COMEBACK OF FORMER BELGIAN PM: Sophie Wilmès, the former Belgian prime minister who steered her country through most of the pandemic is making a political comeback in time for June Remind me? After she stepped away from her job as Belgian foreign minister to take care of her sick husband, who has since passed away, Wilmès is now the lead candidate for her Francophone liberal MR party for the European election Wilmès stepped in after European Council President Charles Michel first claimed the post leaving his party with a huge political problem.  Wilmès was originally expected to lead the list for the government of Brussels where the Francophone liberals hope to make a big jump who is widely popular in the French-speaking part of Belgium the European list can be strategically more interesting It would mean that not just voters in Brussels could vote for her giving her an expected huge electoral boost complicated Belgian coalition talks that the country expects after June 9 — when Belgians don’t just go to the polls for the European Parliament but also for the national and regional parliaments — Wilmès’ name could well pop up again as a candidate to take over from current Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.  “I’m supporting my party campaign from the bottom of the reserve list,” former Belgian Prime Minister and heavyweight MEP Guy Verhofstadt told Playbook this week confirming he will be on the Open VLD list albeit not expecting to win a seat again in Parliament.  My colleagues feed in what we’ve been hearing around town.  one of the Greens’ most senior MEPs,  is a strong contender to be the next Czech European Commissioner It’s between him and former presidential candidate Danuše Nerudová from the liberal Mayors and Independents party.Former Polish Environment Minister Marcin Korolec is being talked up as the next Polish Commissioner POLITICO’s Leyla Aksu and Paul Dallison have made another playlist of songs to get you in the mood for the election. This week’s has a Flemish feel. Here it is MEP trivia: Which MEP is a former professional footballer? (Clue: he tweeted himself watching football in the plenary this week). Answers via email please who correctly answered that the band Manfred Weber used to play in is called The Peanuts My reaction to Paul Dallison telling me this: “That’s nuts!” It’s the second week in a row that a DG LINC staffer has won the quiz Honorable mentions: Journalist Lorenzo Di Stasi … consultant Ulrich Paetzold … Ipsos’ Maria Chiara Vinciguerra … Zuzana Krpatova … Buvette newsletter author Marco Busetto …  the Council of the EU’sAngelika Mrazek.  who correctly got the answer but cannot win because she is the spokesperson for Manfred Weber himself at the EPP Casual reminder: We’re also on WhatsApp! Follow our account here to stay up to date on the latest European election news in between Playbook editions Weekend listen: In this week’s EU Confidential episode, a stellar panel of host Sarah Wheaton, Volt Europa Co-President Francesca Romana D’Antuono, APCO election watcher Thomas Thaler (and me) dissect where things stand in the EU election, from the big policy battles and the health of the Spitzenkandidaten system to what to expect from the upcoming big party congresses. Listen here Last word goes to Nicolas Schmit: “You never start an election by saying … ‘I will lose.’ No we will go to all places in Europe to defend our ideas.” Current election excitement level: Socialist shenanigans Former Belgian champion rode away on final two climbs to win first European WorldTour race of 2023 - The 132.2km route begins in Ghent and ends in Ninove - There are five cobblestone sections and eight climbs including  Muur-Kappelmuur and Bosberg This year’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is the 18th edition of the women’s race and will be the first WorldTour race in Europe this season.  The riders have been enjoying the team presentation in Gent at the 't Kuipke velodrome before taking the start Several riders are set to make their 2023 road debut at the Belgian classic including the SD Worx duo: Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering Both are amongst the favourites for the race The men's race started earlier in the day and the riders have just past the halfway point. Check out Cyclingnews' live coverage of that race here The 18th edition of the Women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is underway 🇧🇪 Aaaand they're off! #OHN23 #OHNwomen Live Updates now on: https://t.co/IT0sqLJdxN pic.twitter.com/l406WXmVUTFebruary 25, 2023 which has been upgraded to WorldTour level for the first time in its history The first of five cobbled sections in Lange Munte comes 30km south of the start.  Unfortunately Caroline Baur (Israel Premier Tech Roland) was unable to take the start today due to illness Van Vleuten is backed up by a strong Movistar squad for this race bolstered by new signings Liane Lippert and Floortje Mackaij who joined from Team DSM They also have Emma Norsgaard for a sprinting option she finished second in the 2021 edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 🌈🏟️ @AvVleuten (🏆 ‘20, ‘22) and the Movistar Team have just visited ‘t Kuipke ahead of @OmloopHNB #OHNwomen. Get the Classics campaign started 👊🏼Ⓜ️ Sierra @floortjemackaij @audebiannic @LianeLippert @emmanorsgaard1 also in for the Blues🏁 ~17.30 // 📺 ES GCN (16.30) pic.twitter.com/tkhuv3VHviFebruary 25, 2023 Here are the five cobbled sectors in store for the riders.. ...and the eight climbs they'll have to face: Meanwhile, over in the Middle-East, stage 6 of the UAE Tour has just finished. To find out who won, read Cyclingnews' full report here signs of early action have come far and few between with the peloton all still together It's all kicked off in the men's race already however with a number of big names getting up the road She’s at this race with her new team SD Worx after a surprise move in the summer. Alongside her is an incredibly stacked team with Demi Vollering last season’s Tour of Flanders winner The peloton is around 5km from the first cobbled sector in Lange Munte They will have to wait 50km before facing the second in Holleweg We have passed the 100km to go mark and no attacks have been allowed 🎥 It's still all still together at #OHNwomen - head to our liveticker to miss nothing:https://t.co/IT0sqLJdxN pic.twitter.com/2CM0wOvaIlFebruary 25, 2023 Kasia Niewiadoma and Belgian national champion Kim de Baat on the start line earlier today.  Take a look at Cyclingnews' key riders to watch at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Women 2023 before the race reaches the business end of the parcours.  The peloton is still all together as the riders approach the halfway point and the start of the proper cobbled sections and climbs that will decide this race the riders seem happy to battle it out for the win on the Hellingen After 2 hours of racing the peloton remains all together. We’re keeping well-positioned 👌#OHNwomenFebruary 25, 2023 Israel Premier Tech Roland are down another rider as Fien Delbaere has had to abandon the race The cobbled climbs will now come thick and fast until the finish line the peloton will approach the fabled Molenberg which returns to the race this year.  Three more riders have abandoned the race: Kaia Schmid (Human Powered Health) Maryanne Hinault (Arkéa Pro Cycling Team) and Melissa Hofman (Proximus-Alphamotorhomes-Doltcini) Its heating up as the riders hit the hardest cobbled sectors the peloton has finally started to thin out It sounds like it's a race of attrition so far and with 4️⃣5️⃣km to go we've got Franziska Koch, @pfeiffergeorgi, @charlotte_kool and @JastrabMegan in the ever reducing peloton.👍🏻 #OHN23 #OHNWomen pic.twitter.com/KWw3XD5WDPFebruary 25, 2023 They've past the two and a half hours mark of racing a group of 20 riders is now away from the peloton as we approach the later stages of the 18th women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad SD Worx are happy with the composition of the front group which is now 18 riders strong Kopecky and Wiebes all made it over the Molenberg with the other strongest riders Top Molenberg: @lorenawiebes, @LotteKopecky & @demivollering survived the Molenberg & are in the first group. In the 2nd group at 11 seconds are @C_Majerus & @ElenaCecchini92. #wesparksuccess pic.twitter.com/SOhNJqzxq6February 25, 2023 A number of pre-race favourites reportedly in the front group We have a leading group of 16 riders in the women's race: Van Vleuten, Biannic, Mackaij, Lippert, Norsgaard, Borghesi, Wiebes, Kopecky, Vollering, Balsamo, Longo Borghini, Henderson, Swinkels, Koster, Georgi, Uttrup Ludwig.#OHN23 #OHNwomenFebruary 25, 2023 After completing the Leberg and the Berendries Zoe Bäckstedt is off the back of the peloton Arlenis Sierra attacks away from the peloton with only the Muur and Bosberg left to ride UAE Team ADQ currently pulling on the front of the peloton Sierra's gap is out to 0'23" with 23km left to ride She's taking the pressure off her Movistar teammates in the run into the Muur As Sierra's gap approaches the minute mark the teams behind should be very wary of how much of a gap they allow how to have The Cuban is very experienced and has taken WorldTour wins as recently as at last year's Tour de Romandie in October Experience road captain Christine Majerus is pulling on the front for SD Worx Lotte Kopecky has taken things into her own hands as she powers away from the peloton She looks in fine touch on this her 2023 road debut.  but the former Belgian champion is now on her own in pursuit of Sierra She has the Cuban in her sights on the Muur.  Elisa Longo Borghini is on the chase with Annemiek van Vleuten close behind her The World Champion must not be on top form as you assume she wouldn't have let Kopecky go away on her own.  SD Worx have the perfect situation set up for now Kopecky is in the front group and would fancy her chances against Sierra and Wiebes has made it into group two on the road No one will want to drag her to the line for a sprint.  The gap to the leading duo is 0'30" as we approach the final climb: the Bosberg Grace Brown is leading the chase behind.  Kopecky looks incredibly calm as she removes her arm warmers Ominous signs for Sierra as the Belgian seems to be on her best form.  She blows Sierra out of the water and takes a huge gap going into the Bosberg One shake of the head from the Cuban was enough for Kopecky to try and launch away solo SD Worx playing it perfectly at the moment.  Sierra is back in the group and SD Worx seem to have played a blinder at the first European WorldTour race of the 2023 season.  The 2023 women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad looks as though it's going to SD Worx The numbers are there in the chasing group but they are running out of time and kilometres to catch Kopecky.  #OHN23 - 🏁 10 kmKopecky defends an advantage of 43" on a reduced peloton.#OHNwomen pic.twitter.com/SKmjY1EQiIFebruary 25, 2023 Movistar and UAE Team ADQ have led the chase behind Kopecky whose gap is back out to 0'34".  Norsgaard and Wiebes are amongst the fastest finishers in the group behind The gap is holding at around 30 seconds for Kopecky as she approaches Ninove.  Kopecky only has 0'16" as we approach the flame rouge Lippert has turned herself inside out in the chase.  The gap is closing to Kopecky in the final kilometre She glances back and she can see the chasing group behind Here was the moment Kopecky flew away from Sierra at the base of the Bosberg The moment of the day in Omloop Het NieuwsbladCongratz @LotteKopecky https://t.co/w7FzxQp44UFebruary 25, 2023 Lotte Kopecky held off the chasing group in a thrilling finale to the 2023 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Women Kopecky said: “I had a really good feeling during the race It wasn’t really the intention to go on the Muur and then I could not hesitate anymore and just tried to go.”  Now that’s a kick off of the classicsseason 2023! Lotte Kopecky wins Omloop Het Nieuwsblad after a ferocious attack on the Kapelmuur.And Lorena Wiebes is second !!! #OHNwomen #OHN23 #wesparksuccessPhoto's: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/Ns60g1NXJEFebruary 25, 2023 Here is Kopecky crossing the line at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2023 after surviving the 13km flat run into Ninove.  Thank you for joining us today for our live coverage of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Women 2023 Check back tomorrow for more coverage of Opening Weekend: Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne Trek-Segafredo rider beats Yves Lampaert in two-man sprint in Ninove The Belgian pair were the strongest members of a winning move that took shape with more than 70km remaining and they underscored the point by forcing the pace on the Muur van Geraardsbergen in the finale where only Søren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) could follow That trio carried a lead of 10 seconds over lone chaser Matteo Trentin (CCC) onto the final ascent of the Bosberg and they collaborated relatively smoothly until the final approach to Ninove where their pursuer's efforts finally began to tell Lampaert definitely shattered the unity of the break by accelerating viciously with 2km to go through their respective shows of strength did succeed in distancing Andersen Deceuninck-QuickStep directeur sportif Tom Steels had looked to reassure Lampaert by telling him over the radio that he was strongest man in the front group but the Belgian knew that Stuyven was the fastest Lampaert thus manoeuvred his fellow countryman to the front in the final kilometre and forced him to lead out the sprint though he also had the nous to drift slightly to the left in the sprint to make sure he wasn't passed on the barriers Hailed as the coming man of Flemish cycling when he entered the professional peloton in 2014 Stuyven underscored that status by winning Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne four years ago It was a win that seemed to herald a breakthrough Stuyven rethought his approach this time out "It's a great pleasure to show that I am back," Stuyven said But we did end the year well with Mads Pedersen's world title We were motivated to continue in that line this season Omloop is the biggest victory of my career." Stuyven's victory had its genesis in a move that took shape over the top of the Rekelberg some 71km from the finish in Ninove and just after the worst of the day's rain had abated and Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) went up the road Stuyven bridged across in the company of Lampaert and Trentin The alchemy of a successful break in the Flemish Ardennes is hard to achieve but this one had all the right elements – namely a group of strongmen representing a spread of teams With only Ineos inclined to marshal a pursuit behind the escapees soon open a lead of more than two minutes it was clear that the winner would come from their number "I told the team yesterday that we had to ride well in front who matched Lampaert pedal stroke for pedal stroke on the Muur and then attack for attack on the final approach to Ninove After a raucous signing-on ceremony in the Kuipke velodrome the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad peloton set out from Ghent beneath grey skies and temporarily dry conditions but they would be buffeted by wind and rain as the day progressed the peloton was content to let a five-man move slip away early on Mathijs Paasschens (Bingoal - Wallonie Bruxelles) Manuele Boaro (Astana) and Matteo Jorgensen (Movistar) forging clear Kenneth Vanbilsen's (Cofidis) lone chase – a so-called chasse-patate – came to nothing and the five leaders built a buffer of 7:30 before the CCC team began working to peg them back The first deviation from the script came on the sector of pavé at Huisepontweg pavé where the bunch split into multiple groups Ineos and Trek-Segafredo were well represented in a first group of 16 riders with Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Zdenek Stybar (Deceuninck-QuickStep) also aboard with CCC compelled to lead a chase that lasted for 25km and put multiple riders in early difficulty There was a general regrouping shortly after the five leaders were stopped at a level crossing in Asper better known for the Asper-Gavere cyclo-cross race and ended up being stopped at a railway crossing leaving 60 or so riders in contention as Omloop reached its midway point after 100 kilometres the pace shot back up on the race's second visit to the Haaghoek cobbles and Leberg climb Stuyven and Tiesj Benoot (Sunweb) were among the strongmen who helped to create a lead group consisting mostly of team leaders riders bridged back up to form a reduced peloton at the head of the race It was a precursor of what was to come on the narrow streets after the Rekelberg Soren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) and Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) went up the road They were joined soon afterwards by Stuyven Luke Rowe (Ineos) initially worked hard to keep the eight leaders within 15 seconds but the gap widened considerably on the wide concrete road that followed the Valkenberg climb there was no co-operation and suddenly the seven leaders – Rutsch was dropped with an apparent hunger knock – had a gap of 2:30 Jenthe Biermans (Israel Start-up Nation) and Dries Van Gestel (Total Direct Energie) launched a late counter-attack but they never came closer than 1:30 behind the leaders They were later joined by Van Aert and Benoot who bridged across after attacking from the peloton on the Berendries with 30km to go was reluctant to grant Van Aert any leeway and the counter-attack was swept up ahead of the Muur The seven leaders reached Geraardsbergen with 1:45 in hand on the peloton and the group fragmented on the steep slopes of the Muur with Declercq the first to feel the pinch.  Stuyven and Lampaert kicked their way clear of the rest on the most demanding section where Andersen did well to limit his losses and catch back up at the top of the descent Trentin crested the summit a further 10 seconds back but the strongmen had already taken flight In Flanders hobby athletes can race the amateur version of some pro spring classics hobby athletes can compete in the amateur versions of some spring classics and ride on “holy ground” in Flanders These are the highlight events fans of Hellingen and Kasseien: Date: 27 February 2022Start-finish: Ninove-Ninove (76 & 106 km), Gent-Ninove (140 km)Distances: 70 km, 110 km, 140 kmInfo: www.omloophetnieuwsbladcyclo.be/en/Date professional race: 26 February 2022 the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad course belongs to amateur cyclists There are three distances to choose from for this spring classic that starts and finishes in Ninove or Gent respectively The myth of this Flanders spring classic may be experienced on 70 Those who tackle the longest distance need to conquer ten Hellinge – i.e. but steep climbs – and five cobblestone sections and ride over cobblestone sections steeped in history such as the 2.3-kilometre-long Paddestraat or the Haaghoek course Date 13 March 2022Start-finish: NokereDistances: 62 km, 92 km, 122 km, 157 kmInfo: www.nokerekoersecyclo.be/Date professional race: 16 March 2022 This semi-classic through the Flemish Ardennes is not quite as demanding as the E3 or the “Ronde” With excellent riding skills and the right gear choice the Huisepontweg cobblestone passages are conquerable and they’ll enable you to climb Tiegemberg and Poelberg energetically some energy should be left for the day’s grand finale: The Nokereberg where the winner will be crowned has an average gradient of 5.7 percent and a max Date: 19 March 2022Start-finish: WaregemDistances: 77 km, 120 km, 158 kmInfo: www.dwarsdoorvlaanderencyclo.beDate professional race: 30 March 2022 The bare numbers don’t give a thorough impression of what this race confronts hobby athletes with we’ll provide some: 13 Hellingen (climbs) and 4 Kasseien (cobblestone sections) need to be conquered by the riders doing the 158 km long loop Among them is the race’s crucial point: the Knokteberg with a maximum gradient of 13 percent Some even steeper passages will be provided by the climbs of ten Houte and Taaienberg amateur athletes may either choose to jolt over the cobblestones or evade them by riding in the concrete gutter on the side of the road Those who consider this option a little too tough may opt for the 120-kilometre tour with 12 climbs and 2 cobblestone sections or the 77-kilometre loop with 5 Hellingen and 2 Kasseien Date: 27 March 2022Start-finish: HarelbekeDistances: 78 km, 121 km, 157 kmInfo: www.johanmuseeuwclassic.be/nl/Date professional race: 25 March 2022 The event named after the Lion of Flanders is nothing less than the hobby counterpart to the well-known spring classic E3 Harelbeke or E3Binck Bank The race that got nicknamed “small Tour of Flanders” by pro riders also offers amateur athletes the chance to get a “stress-free” taste of the classics The longer the more difficult – due to the so-called Hellingen and Kasseien tough climbs and the cobblestone sections such as Karnemelkbeekstraat Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg will make the legs of amateur cyclists burn and the eyes of cycling enthusiasts light up Date: 26 March 2022Start-finish: WevelgemDistances: 68 km, 98 km, 143 km, 189 kmInfo: www.gentwevelgemcyclo.be/nl/Date professional race: 27 March 2022 While the short 68-kilometre loop is more of a history lesson on wheels leading cyclists past sites of World War I the longer distances feature some steep hills Mont Noir and Mont Blanchisserie are quite demanding which was integrated into the race only a few years ago Be prepared for some strong wind on this cobblestone passage which is reminiscent of the Christmas Truce of 1914 during World War I Date: 2 April 2022Start-finish: Oudenaarde-Oudenaarde/Belgium, Oudenaarde-Antwerp/all Belgium (217 km)Distances: 72 km, 136 km, 177 km, 217 kmInfo: www.werideflanders.com/enDate professional race: 3 April 2022 fans are already partying alongside the racecourse Especially at the neuralgic points of the race like Oude Kwaremont Koppenbeg and Paterberg they’ll cheer on the 16,000 amateur cyclists who struggle with the notorious Hellingen and Kasseien atmosphere or leg power won’t do the trick and they will have to scramble up the steep cobblestone sections on foot Koppenberg and Paterberg are considered the crucial points in the amateur race Date: 9 April 2022 (Saturday)Start-finish: Schoten/AntwerpDistances: 79 km, 123 km, 162 kmInfo: www.scheldeprijscyclo.be/nl/Date professional race: 6 April 2022 Flat through Flanders along the river Schelde Amateur athletes competing in the Scheldeprijs the professional race is considered the unofficial world championship for sprinters do not have to struggle with kilometres of brutal cobblestone sections and steep ramps There are only a few hundred metres of “moderate cobbles” Date: 16 April 2022Start-finish: Roubaix-Roubaix/France, Busigny-Roubaix/France (172 km)Distances: 70 km, 145 km, 172 kmInfo: www.parisroubaixchallenge.comDate professional race: 17 April 2022 this race will feel like the “Hell of the North” when they are confronted with 54 kilometres of very tough cobblestone passages one day before the pros; also included in the amateur version are pavé legends such as the 2.4-kilometre passage through the forest of Arenberg or the 2.1-kilometre Carrefour de l’Abre which has often led to a preliminary decision in the pro race mount wider tyres with little pressure and ride either on the right or left side of the road or in the middle of the lane – on the raise Riders will be rewarded for their suffering by a lap of honour in the famous velodrome in Roubaix get a mini cobblestone as a trophy to take home Cylcosportive Events 2025: The Most Beautiful Marathons in the Alps Events 2024: The five cycling monuments for amateurs and hobby cyclists Ride like a pro: Tour de France Gran Fondos 2024 Gravel-Worldchampionships 2024: Qualifyings for Hobby Cyclists Events 2024: Cyclosportives with 300 and more Kilometers A pigeon named Rita from Nederhasselt (Ninove – East Flanders) has been voted the best young pigeon in the world This is exceptional for a pigeon that is less than a year old "Now she heads for the loft to breed," says pigeon fancier and owner Bert Penne known to pigeon fanciers as the Olympics of pigeon racing this prize pigeon was voted best young pigeon in the world "It will be difficult ever to match this I was hoping for a place in the top five at the Olympiad but no one expected the bird would win three races in a row." Bert named the prize animal after his mum Rita who along with his father helps him look after his 130 pigeons every day because something can always happen." another of Bert’s birds won representing Belgium at the Olympiad I am the first Belgian to win the Olympiad I do this purely as a fancier," Bert concludes Faharas News is an AI-driven news aggregator that provides real-time updates from a variety of sources We do not take responsibility for the content or the external links provided We use cookies to personalize content and ads , to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic...Learn More