The fourteenth edition of '1,000 km for Kom op tegen Kanker' began on Thursday morning in Mechelen, where thousands will cycle over four days during the Ascension Day weekend to raise funds for cancer research.
Each day, the event starts and ends in Mechelen and features a different 250-kilometre route.
On Thursday, the opening ceremony took place at 6:30 in Mechelen’s Grote Markt, with the first peloton setting off towards Buggenhout at 6:50. The closing ceremony is scheduled for Sunday from 18:40, also in the Grote Markt, where the arrival of the pelotons will be followed by the announcement of the total funds raised at around 19:00.
Throughout the event, cyclists will head towards a new destination each day including Buggenhout, Essen, Peer, and Bruges.
These cities will welcome the cyclists with entertainment planned for spectators and supporters. Additionally, an international peloton is participating, cycling 1,000 km from Orléans, France, and joining the national pelotons on Sunday at the Grote Markt.
Proceeds from the event will support patient-focused scientific cancer research, including studies into rare cancers and innovative radiation methods that can improve patients’ quality of life.
According to the organisers, such research is vital and often lacks funding from commercial entities. Each year, approximately 46,000 people in Flanders are diagnosed with cancer.
