Ghent – The Gentbrugge neighbourhood in Ghent hosted the inaugural Grand Prix Gentbrugge, a 250-meter race featuring 57 participants. Lisander Cardyn claimed victory in the adult category, while Linus triumphed in the under-15 division. This event marked the kickoff of the Gentbrugge Leeft festival, reports 24brussels.
The Grand Prix, renowned as “the shortest time trial in the world,” unfolded along a slightly less than 250-meter course, with the starting podium set up in the church square of Gentbrugge. Among the competitors were 14 children and 43 adults, including former Belgian champion Jesse Vandenbulcke.
Organizers had to limit registration to 60 participants, as outlined by Tim Van Steendam, one of the event coordinators. He stated,
“We had to close registrations at 60. You can’t start that early on a Friday evening, and we also have to take the sunset into account.”
Winners and Key Events of the Gentbrugge Leeft Festival
The competition featured live commentary, leading to excitement among the crowd. Cardyn of Sint-Amandsberg finished the adult race in 27.52 seconds, while Linus secured first place in the under-15 category with a time of 30 seconds. Event commentator Schotte noted,
“I just prepared, as usual, a phone call with the organisers, after which I wrote down a sheet of paper with all the information. And the rest I just improvised,”
The Grand Prix Gentbrugge also officially launched the three-day Gentbrugge Leeft festival. Tim Van Steendam emphasized the community spirit behind the event, stating,
“It’s mainly the sense of community that drives us to organise this.”
The organizing committee comprises a diverse group, from local florists to writers and other residents. Tim added,
“We’ve been organising this for about five years now, and we’ve noticed that the neighbourhood has grown much closer together since then.”
This year’s festival program features a wide array of activities suitable for all ages, including a flea market, a barbecue, and live music. Tim outlined changes in the competition structure, stating,
“In previous years, the participants had to pull a truck that got heavier each time, but this year it will be a competition with real strength tests.”
Among the festival’s highlights is the traditional John Massis Cup, designed to determine the strongest individual in Gentbrugge. This year, the competition will adopt a new format, as explained by Tim Van Steendam:
“The qualifying rounds start on Saturday, where participants must stack beer barrels and tilt a heavy tractor tire. The three strongest men and women will return on Sunday. Then they’ll get to bend steel, a true tribute to our John Massis, the legendary powerhouse who is buried nearby.”
Initiated in 2018, the Gentbrugge Leeft festival aims to foster closer ties within the Gentbrugge community. Organized by a local committee of residents and small business owners, the festival has expanded over the years, introducing various activities, including flea markets, barbecues, live music, and sports competitions.
The festival’s centerpiece, the John Massis Cup, commemorates the famous Belgian strongman from the 1970s, who is interred in the vicinity.
