Flanders receives the UCI Bike Region Label

Flemish ministers Zuhal Demir and Ben Weyts are pleased with the justified recognition of Flanders as a cycling region with the UCI “Bike Region Label”. On 4 February 2021, the management committee of the UCI (Union Cycliste International) announced that Flanders will receive the UCI Bike Region Label. This label recognises regions that organise important UCI events on the one hand, but are also strongly committed to promoting cycling for everyone on the other.

The initiative to apply for this UCI Bike Region Label came as a result of the organisation of the Road World Championships in Flanders in September 2021. Although this is a major sporting event, Flanders also wants to use the Road World Championships as an opportunity to highlight functional cycling (cycling between home and work and between home and school).

Strategy for cycling

Together with Tourism Flanders and Sport Flanders, the Department of Mobility and Public Works submitted an application for the UCI Bike Region Label in June 2020. In addition to organising important UCI events, to qualify for the label, Flanders also had to be able to demonstrate that Flanders has a long-term strategy for cycling, a commitment to better cycling infrastructure and the promotion of road safety and that there is a clear increase in bicycle use.

Cycling deals in Flanders

Receiving the UCI Bike Region Label gives an extra boost to cycling policy in Flanders. 2021 will not only be the year of the Road World Championships, but also marks the start of a new leap in scale in cycling policy, for which Flanders, the provinces and local authorities are joining forces. This cooperation should result in cycling deals, concrete actions that will boost cycling in Flanders.

More than the land of the “Flandriens”

“The UCI ‘Bike Region Label’ confirms that Flanders is more than the land of the ‘Flandriens’. We are the country where all cyclists can find what they are looking for. Flanders has hundreds of cycling routes and networks that take you through our beautiful polders, nature and past picturesque places. You can even ride your bicycle through water and woods, and soon after through heathland as well. And after your bike ride, you can relax in one of our many cafés with a well-deserved regional beer,” Flemish Minister of Tourism Zuhal Demir says.

Love for the bicycle

“Flanders is already receiving a prize before the World Championships is ridden,” laughs Flemish Minister of Sports Ben Weyts. “This label gives Flanders extra cachet as a cycling region par excellence. We are highlighting this with the 100th edition of the World Championships. The race is coming back home. We will spread our love for the bicycle and the race worldwide: with the World Championships itself and with all kinds of peripheral activities that focus on the bicycle.”