Belgium’s largest student event – a 24-hour bike race in Louvain-la-Neuve – started on Tuesday at 13:00.
Nearly 100 teams are participating in seven categories. Among them, 40 are in the ‘folklore’ category, with others competing in ‘race’ and ‘humanitarian’ categories, which have about 30 bikes. This 45th edition of the event will finish on Wednesday at 13:00.
Several notable figures, including Ministers Valérie Glatigny and Yves Coppieters and the new rector of UCLouvain Françoise Smets, participated in the initial lap. Among the designs in the folklore category were a helicopter, locomotives, and an interpretation of the Orval Abbey.
The event typically attracts over 45,000 people. Various activities are organised throughout the day to engage a diverse audience and several concert areas are set up for the night. CSE Animations, which organises the event, also hoped to include students from other universities.
Safety has been improved significantly, with more stewards, an on-site medical-surgical station, a Red Cross team of 120 first-aid workers, two rest areas for tired students, a plan to prevent gender-based violence, and more than 270 police officers. Minors are not allowed on the site from 23:00 onwards.
Special trains to Brussels and Namur and bus shuttles to Louvain-en-Woluwé (Alma) are scheduled for the night.
