3 medals at a major tournament and now also its own Grand Prix: Antwerp can open more doors for additional G races

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, the De Willaert district in Tielen was the setting for the 1st edition of the GP Silke Bastiaensen. Dirk Avonds and Peter, father of Belgian champion Silke, are committed to organizing a cycling race for G-athletes. In addition to that race, the organizers also organized tests for aspirants.

Admiration

When she came home from the Special Olympics in Berlin last year, Silke Bastiaensen received a very warm welcome. Rightly so, because the now 24-year-old athlete had won no fewer than 3 medals in her category. Medals with a different color each time, because she took gold, silver and bronze. She won gold in the 5 km road race. In that race she preceded riders from Kuwait and Malta. In the time trial over the same distance she came 2nd after a Slovakian. And she also won bronze in the 10 km time trial.

Bastiaensen continued diligently afterwards and was also crowned Belgian champion on the road and in the field. This year she already became national time trial champion in Torhout. Things are going fast for the athlete from Tielen. She rightly got an organization with her name.

“I had already seen a few G races in the past,” says Dirk Avonds, Antwerp provincial coach and chairman of cycling club Nieuwe Hoop Tielen. “I must honestly admit that such competitions do something to a person. I have increasingly admired that. So I think these athletes should be given more opportunities to practice their favorite sport.”

So Avonds got to work. “I started a bit late with applying for a G competition,” he admits. “It was already the end of January or the beginning of February when I started the file. Because I thought these athletes deserved a competition. I did connect competitions for aspirants to it. Such a G match only lasts an hour. That’s a bit short. By adding candidate tests, I got a nicely filled program.”

Of course everything was organized under the name Grand Prix Silke Bastiaensen. “Because this girl has already won many medals and titles and is the only G rider in Tielen, we gave her name to this organization,” Avonds continues. “It was a success, because 39 G riders accepted the invitation. Except for the athletes with recumbent bikes, they all started together. After the 1st lap on the closed circuit, the peloton was completely separated. These G riders are split into 4 or 5 categories based on their limitations.”

During the preparation for the Silke Bastiaensen GP, ​​Dirk Avond got the impression that new doors were being opened. “Including with the sponsors,” claims the organizer. “Those people jump on the bandwagon when it comes to G-sport.”

Aspirants and minors

Dirk Avonds, also a member of the Flemish Youth Commission, wants to help eliminate another pressing problem. “Nowadays it is not easy to have competitions for every category,” he realizes. “We also notice a decline in the number of riders in each category. In combination with a G course, you can give tests for aspirants, as we did on Sunday. Or aspirants and minors tests. It could well be that next year’s 2nd Grand Prix Silke Bastiaensen will consist of a G competition plus tests for aspirants and minors.”

Also because Avonds notices that the number of competitions for minors in the province of Antwerp is on the meager side. “The lack of organizations for minors hurts me a bit,” he claims. “I only count 4 or 5 in our province, which is far too few. That is why I have the idea to connect both aspirants and minors to the Silke Bastiaensen Grand Prize. But in addition to such a G competition, you can also organize another youth category.”

“My goal is to get more G competitions on the calendar in 2025,” Avonds concludes. “You don’t get 100 athletes at the start, not that. But you give boys and girls with disabilities a fun afternoon. During the 1st Grand Prix Silke Bastiaensen I noticed that something like this affects spectators. I suspect that people who want to set up such a G-course in other municipalities can also apply for a supporting subsidy.”