Belgium's famed Tour of Flanders cycle race goes virtual after being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, with 12 cyclists pedalling it out in isolation on stationary bikes hooked up to a video-game recreation of the Belgian countryside.
Belgium holds virtual Tour of Flanders as coronavirus shuts down main event
VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE VIRTUAL TOUR OF FLANDERS CYCLE RACE WHICH WAS WON BY BELGIAN GREG VAN AVERMAET RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SHOTLIST AND SCRIPT SHOWS: INTERNET; VARIOUS UNKNOWN LOCATIONS (APRIL 5, 2020) (FLANDERS CLASSIC - NO ACCESS BELGIUM) 1.
SPLIT SCREEN SHOWING ACTUAL RIDERS ON STATIONARY BIKES TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, WITH AVATARS SHOWN ON CENTRE SCREEN AT THE STARTING LINE 2.
START OF VIRTUAL RACE, ACTUAL RIDERS ON SPLIT SCREEN TO THE LEFT 3.
VARIOUS OF VIRTUAL RACE, EVENTUAL WINNER GREG VAN AVERMAET OF BELGIUM TAKES THE EARLY LEAD 4.
MORE OF RACE, WITH RIDERS, OLIVER NAESEN; THOMAS DE GENDT; AND NICHOLAS ROCHE SEEN ON STATIONARY BIKES TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN 5.
VAN AVERMAET, IN THE LEAD, ON STATIONARY BIKE 6.
VIRTUAL RACE SHOWING VAN AVERMAET IN THE LEAD 7.
MORE OF RACE WITH NAESEN, ROCHE AND DE GENDT SEEN ON STATIONARY BIKES 8.
VAN AVERMAET ON STATIONARY BIKE SPRINTING TO FINISH / ZOOM OUT TO VIRTUAL RACE WITH VAN AVERMAET STILL SEEN ON STATIONARY BIKE AS HE CROSSES FINISH 9.
VAN AVERMAET ON STATIONARY BIKE AFTER WINNING VIRTUAL RACE 10.
NAESEN AND ROCHE CROSSING FINISH LINE IN SECOND AND THIRD RESPECTIVELY 11.
NAESEN ON STATIONARY BIKE AFTER RACE 12.
DE GENDT CROSSING VIRTUAL RACE FINISH LINE IN FOURTH 13.
DE GENDT ON STATIONARY BIKE AFTER FINISHING FOURTH 14.
THE RIDERS SEEN ON THEIR STATIONARY BIKES AFTER RACE STORY: Belgium's famed Tour of Flanders cycle race went virtual on Sunday (April 5) after being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, with 12 cyclists pedalling it out in isolation on stationary bikes hooked up to a video-game recreation of the Belgian countryside.
Complete with roadside advertising and virtual spectators waving flags, the avatars of the Tour of Flanders were carried on Belgian television with live commentary, complete with camera shots of competitors in their homes cycling the shortened virtual course for rival red and yellow teams. Racing in full cycle gear and sweating from home, Belgian Greg Van Avermaet won the first ever virtual Tour of Flanders, which is normally the second of five "Monument" classics in the season including races in France and Italy.
The race was 32 kilometres long, instead of the usual 260, and involved 12 riders instead of 175, taking an hour for a competition that usually lasts six.
Cycling is a favourite pastime in Belgium, and the authorities have been debating whether curbing it is necessary.
Under lockdown, Belgium has suffered 1,447 deaths due to the coronavirus, with almost 20,000 confirmed cases of people infected, according to the latest figures.
(Production: Kurt Michael Hall)