Aalst (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Cyclist Tara Gins from Erpe-Mere is urging Natourcriterium Aalst organizers to include a women’s race, calling for equal opportunities in pro cycling.
Tonight’s event is the men’s Natourcriterium. However, Gins laments that Aalst still lacks a women’s Natourcriterium now that the women’s Tour de France has started. The organizer claims that it is not financially viable.
“Aalst is the biggest Natour criterium in our country,”
says Tara Gins.
“And yet they still lag behind in terms of equality.”
“I used to ride a lot of Natourcriteriums, but I always had to drive much further. I was always very disappointed that, as someone who lives right next to Aalst, I had to drive to West Flanders for a Natourcriterium, because there isn’t one in Aalst.”
“I think it’s a missed opportunity for Aalst. If you look at the viewing figures for the women’s Tour de France, you see that there’s a lot of interest in it.”
But according to the organizer of the Natourcriterium in Aalst, it is not financially feasible to add a women’s stage to the program.
“We currently pay €5,000 in organizing fees for the men’s Natour criterium,”
explains organizer Renno Roelandt.
“If we also have to pay €5,000 for a women’s race, that would bring us to €10,000, and we simply can’t afford that.”
The issue is that we are not permitted to charge an admission fee by the city council of Aalst. They suggest everyone should continue to attend it as a social event. Additionally, that makes it financially challenging for us to plan a post-tour criteria for women.
Although they would certainly welcome a women’s Natour criterium.
“Why not? The women’s race is popular, and they’re also great races,”
Roelandt explains.
But cyclist Tara Gins calls that explanation a lame excuse.
“Top female cyclists only ask for a tenth of what their male counterparts charge in compensation. So, it’s a lame excuse that a Post-Tour criterium for women is financially impossible. Many female cyclists even ride Post-Tour criteriums for free.”
At the Natourcriterium in Roosendaal, the Netherlands, the organizers might want to pay attention to their colleagues. There, they have a criterium for ladies in addition to a Natourcriterium for men. There is a sort of bike village there, and admission is fee-based.
Comments
13 responses to “Tara Gins Urges Aalst to Add Women’s Race to Natour”
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Typical Aalst, eh? Can’t fork out a few extra euros for women’s cycling while they’re busy counting pennies like it’s the euro crisis all over again. 🚴♀️💰
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Typical Aalst logic, isn’t it? Who needs equality when you can just keep counting your pennies rather than cashing in on a whole new audience? 🤷♂️💰
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Aalst, the shining beacon of cycling, apparently can’t spare a dime for women’s racing—because, you know, €5,000 for equality is just too steep! 😂 Guess they’ll just keep watching the Tour de France from the sidelines like the rest of us, eh?
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Oh, brilliant! Nothing says “progress” like a cycling event in Aalst that’s as outdated as a rotary phone. It seems equality’s on a long holiday, while the organizers count their pennies like a miser at a bingo night! 🚴♀️💰
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A women’s race? Oh, what a radical idea! I suppose next they’ll be suggesting we let women vote too—how utterly unthinkable! 😂🚴♀️
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If Aalst thinks it’s too pricey to host a women’s race, maybe they should start charging for the local gossip instead—at least that would be a goldmine! 😂💸
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Not having a women’s race at Aalst? Brilliant strategy! Who needs progress when you can just keep the status quo and save a few bucks, right? 🚴♀️💸
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Seems like Aalst is really committed to keeping the cycling scene a “gents only” affair—who needs equality when you can just keep it all in the “bro zone,” right? 🚴♂️💸
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Looks like Aalst is still stuck in the cycling Stone Age while the rest of us are pedaling towards equality. 🚴♀️💸 Can’t wait for the day when “financially viable” includes women’s races—guess that’s just a fairy tale, eh? 🤷♂️
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Seems like Aalst is saving a few bucks by skipping the women’s race, but hey, who needs equality when you can just have a male-only cycling soap opera? 🙄🚴♂️
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Funny how Aalst can host the “biggest” Natour and still think a women’s race is too much of a financial stretch—maybe they should just charge a bit more for those €5 beers! 🍺💸
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Seems like Aalst is still waiting for a memo on equality; maybe they think women ride bikes with invisible wheels? 🚴♀️💸
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The organizers in Aalst must be culinary geniuses, cooking up excuses thicker than a Belgian waffle! 🍽️ Who knew equality had a price tag that screams ‘cheapskate’? 😂
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