Flanders Classics introduced extra progress right now in its ongoing mission to assist girls’s biking. The Belgian race organizer introduced Specialized into its advocacy plans, partnering with the model to advance its Closing the Gap program.
Flanders Classics launched Closing the Gap with assist from KPMG in 2019. Its three-pronged aim seeks to extend gender equity throughout its six races in three key areas: reside TV protection, classification on the worldwide calendar, and prize purses.
Closing the Gap
The program is at the moment winding towards the tip of its preliminary four-year technique. Progress, in keeping with Flanders Classics CEO Tomas Van Den Spiegel, has been regular for the reason that outset. Asked what individuals can anticipate in this system’s remaining yr, Van Den Spiegel promised equal prizes for women and men.
“This year we’ve decided to level the prize money for Tour de Flanders,” Van Den Spiegel mentioned. “This is just the first step towards 2023, and we still need to level the prize money for all our races.”
Specialized joins the initiative as Official Bike Partner
Specialized Bicycles’ two-year dedication to Closing the Gap begins instantly — the model plans to attend Gent-Wevelgem this Sunday, March 27.
Details on how Specialized will assist Flanders Classics proceed its work to stage the taking part in subject have been unavailable as of this writing. In an announcement, Specialized PR Leader Kelly Henningsen spoke to the shared imaginative and prescient the partnership represents.
“This partnership makes sense on many levels. Flanders Classics not only represents some of the most exciting and iconic races in cycling but joining them in their commitment to Closing the Gap for women in cycling is one hundred percent aligned with our values,” Henningsen mentioned. “We strongly believe in the work Flanders Classics has already done to promote six of the biggest women’s races on the calendar and we are proud to work with them to realize equality for women in sport.”
The 2022 Flanders Classics season bought underway on February 26.
Annemiek van Vleuten and Wout van Aert took the ladies’s and males’s fields, respectively, at Omloop Het Niewsblad.
