November 19, 2007 (Ghent, Belgiium) – The European six-day indoor cycling extravaganza hits mid-season this week with the running of the 67th z6sdaagse Vlaanderen Gent. The race is held in the Kuipke, an ancient amphitheatre with a 166 meter wooden velodrome in the middle. The corners are steep, 53 degrees and the straightaways are short, so this track is where speed and bike handling agility will be the keys to success.

Thirteen teams from nine different countries will start the 6-day circus on November 20. The Belgians have the most riders with seven racers, Nederland and Germany have four racers, Switzerland three and three Anglos (two from Great Britain and one lone rider from Australia). There also riders from Czechoslovakia, Denmark and Italy.

The Alpen Flyers from Switzerland, Bruno Risi and Franco Marvuilli have been on a tear. Last spring they were crowned the Madison World Champions and already this years 6-day season they were victorious in Dortmund and Munich. Their main competition will come from the Gent home town hero Iljo Keisse and his partner the Potsdam Flyer Robert Bartko. Last year in Gent, Keisse/Bartko were in the lead when the tragic death of Spanish track star Isaac Galvez halted the competition. This year’s race will include a memorial to Galvez and the unveiling of a monument in his name.

There will be at least three other teams that will be in the running for the podium including the Dutch duo Robert Slippens and Danny Stam. Slippens has been racing back into shape after a serious bike injury sidelined him last season. Another team that is loaded with potential is Bradley Wiggins, the Olympic Pursuit Champion and Marc Cavendish, former World Madison Champion and winner of over ten road races this season. If this Anglo team gels, then they could certainly be on the podium.

Two sports reporters (Arnold Devlin, Can & Steve Penny, UK) will be in Gent for the Z6s daagse Vlaanderen-Gent and will be reporting daily. Check out our Canadian six-day website that is filled with historical information, memorabilia and race results at: www.6dayracing.ca