Mural of Eddy Merckx in his native village
We can race in Flemish Brabant. World champions such as Eddy Merckx, Sven Nys and Remco Evenepoel grew up on Flemish Brabant soil and ensured that this region has carried the race in its heart since time immemorial. In Flemish Brabant, they grew up and discovered their talents. Flemish Brabant became their training ground, with its rolling countryside, tough hills and relentless cobbled lanes but also with its endless vistas, beautiful hollow roads, fruit trees and vineyards. More and more cyclists therefore come to explore the province with their road or gravel bikes.
To further enhance the experience along the cycling routes, 10 street art pieces will be created as part of the "Young Cycling Violence" project.
"With the support of Tourism Flanders, additional experience will be provided on the sporty cycling routes in Flemish Brabant by creating street art in the theme of racing," said Tourism Minister Zuhal Demir. "The love for cycling culture is peculiar to Flanders and through 10 street art works, we also want to share the love for the race with (cycling) tourists from home and abroad."
The first work to be unveiled is a tribute to, how could it be otherwise, our greatest cyclist of all time Eddy Merckx. From now on, Eddy Merckx street art can be admired on the facade of Café 't Klein Verlet in his native village of Kiezegem, where the Eddy Merckx monument also stands. The location is on both the Eddy Merckx Cycling Route and the Sven Nys Cycling Route.
"Flemish Brabant is the most versatile cycling destination in Flanders, a Valhalla for cycling enthusiasts big and small," says deputy for tourism Gunther Coppens. "These murals ensure that not only the fervent cycling tourists but also the many visitors with a heart for racing in Flemish Brabant can enjoy the racing atmosphere typical of our region. Moreover, Flemish Brabant is alsothe perfect region to round off a visit with a delicious local dish or locally brewed beer."
Elke van Edom, owner of Café 't Klein Verlet is also delighted with the new mural. "Eddy Merckx remains enormously popular after all these years. We notice that fans from all over the world come to his native village. For example, fans from Mexico stopped by recently," Elke says. "This mural certainly adds value to the many fans and cyclists who pass through here. And all visitors and cyclists are of course welcome to gather their strength at Café 't Klein Verlet."
Eddy Merckx himself is honored by the mural. "It is particularly nice to see that my career still captures the imagination so many years later," says Eddy Merckx. "Who knows, maybe this work will inspire young cyclists and they can discover and further grow their talent on the many Flemish-Brabant cycling routes."
The 10 street art works on the different bicycle routes are realized by Treepack. For the realization of the course murals we work together with artists from home and abroad.
The Jong Koersgeweld project is an initiative of the province of Flemish Brabant.
[The house on the left in the background in the photos is the birthplace of cycling legend Eddy Merckx].
