Van den Spiegel, the Real Madrid pivot who pulls the strings of the Tour of Flanders: "Cycling here is a religion"

• LUCAS SAEZ-BRAVO

  @LucasSaezBravo

Updated Sunday, April 3, 2022-02:33

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• Opinion In Praise of Flanders

In Ghent, a giant looks at the sky.

Two days after the first Sunday in April, it has dawned snowing.

But what could be an epic incentive on the cobblestone walls of the Tour of Flanders, this time makes the man who pulls the strings of the second Cycling Monument of the year wince.

"Fortunately, it seems that Sunday [for today] will be cold, but it will be sunny", admits

, thinking of the million people who will take to the roads, who will populate the Old Kwaremont or the Paterberg after two years frustrated by the pandemic.

Yes, that dapper pivot who was European champion with CSKA and played two seasons at Real Madrid is the owner of the designs of the legendary event.

The correlation is simple.

"Cycling is part of our cultural identity, here it is a religion. When I was a child, I went with my family. Later, in the European city I was in, I always watched it on television," admits Van den Spiegel, who, like a good Flemish , dreamed of eighties "heroes" like

and later admired

, "who is a god to us."

And that, after his retirement, he embarked on sports management.

Because Tomas is not only the CEO of the Flanders Classic, the company that organizes the Belgian cycling events (Ghent-Wevelgem, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Across Flanders, among others) and the cyclocross Superprestige, he is also the president of the ULEB, the Union of European Basketball Leagues.

"I'm very busy, of course, but I love what I do, I combine my two passions. I am privileged to work with the sport every day, because when you retire the transition is not easy, finding your way", says Van den Spiegel, expectant like so many for what happens on the cobblestones this Sunday, where

, the favorite - his compatriot

low cause by covid-, who made him suffer on Wednesday at the Across Flanders aperitif.

"We are in a wonderful time, with this new generation of cyclists who just want to win races, who constantly attack, who put on a show. Before they competed not to lose, now they just want to win. That's what has changed. In addition, they are very versatile. They can compete in the classics, but also climb the great climbs of stage races. We see them in cyclocross, on mountain bike, they compete all season long," the pivot surrenders.

Van den Spiegel and Van Aert. THE WORLD

"But at the same time, I always say that the Tour of Flanders is bigger than any cyclist, it is our national treasure. We are waiting all year for spring to come, it is part of who we are. During this part of the year, to Cycling is more important to people than football. I always compare it to basketball in Lithuania. People talk for weeks about what happens in the race," says the former player, who gives an example: "Here everyone knows

, probably more than in Spain".

Because the Belgian classics have traditionally been forbidden territory for Spain.

Flecha, in 2008, has been the only national to get on a podium.

There are enough fingers of one hand to count the top ten.

"The cold and adapting to the cobblestones is key, perhaps that was the reason. That may change in the future. In the past, not all the runners came to the classics. For example, I really like

", explains the leader Belgian.

Van den Spiegel, during his time at Real Madrid. BRAND

The director of the Tour of Flanders remembers, from a distance and affection, his time at Real Madrid.

Injuries prevented him from developing the potential that he had exhibited in Italy and in Moscow, where he won two Euroleagues with

.

"Even so, it was a beautiful time, I loved the club, the city... My daughter was born there, and we gave her a Spanish name, Ana, with only one n", admits Tomas, who, just before signing for the team then coached by

, played a few months in Mariupol, the city now devastated by the Russian invasion.

"What is happening is hard. I send all my solidarity. When I see images on television and I recognize places in the city, where I used to live...".

It's still snowing, but for a flamingo that's not entirely an impediment.

Not even if you measure 2.14 meters.

"I ride my bike a lot, even today (for Friday) I will. I try to do it three times a week. Because of my size, I have a special bike. I don't have the same talent that I had playing basketball, but I love it. Of course I would have liked to be a cyclist, like every child in Belgium".

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