November 19, 2005 – The queen of the 6-day races is the Belgium z6s-daagse van Vlaanderen-Gent starting on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2005. This is the 65th running of this event. In the history of 6-day racing only two cities have staged more 6-day races: Berlin at 94 events, beginning in 1909, and New York at 70.

The first 6-day race was staged in Gent in 1922. Over the years some of the most prominent 6-day cyclists and road cyclists have raced in Gent: Rik Van Steenbergen (Bel), Patrick Sercu (Bel), Tom Simpson (UK), Danny Clark (Aus), Tony Doyle (UK), and Eddy Merckx (Bel). This year’s field of riders includes the veterans Bruno Risi / Kurt Betschart from Switzerland, the Dutch duo Robert Slippens / Danny Stam and the hometown favourites Matthew Gilmore / Iljo Keisse. North American track star Marty Nothstein will be partnered with Spain’s Juan Llaneras.

The z6s-daagse van Vlaanderen-Gent marks the halfway season for the 6-day circuit and it is the last 6-day before the holiday break. This year the field of riders is the most competitive and elite ever assembled for a 6-day race. Ten of the riders have won World Track
Championship medals.

Arnold Devlin and Eugene Vandal, from the Thunder Bay Cycling Club will be attending and sending daily reports, results and photos from Gent. For a historical look at Canadian 6-day racing, check out www.tbaycc.ca/6-day/index.html .