WHY GENT-WEVELGEM IS IMPORTANT TO ME

Most of the road cycling fans know the connection between the devastating impact of World War I and the myth of Paris-Roubaix, the Hell of the North.

Lesser know story is, that the course of Gent-Wegelgem is also deeply connected to one of the most curious events during the Great War.

The route goes through a place called Ploegsteert, or as the Vritish soldiers called it Plugstreet, where the most famous "Christmas Truce" took place during the war. If you're not familiar with the story: soldiers from both sides celebrated Christmas together. They were singing and playing football together. For a short time, humanity defeated the stupidity of war.

Cultural remembrance was always important part of my studies, I spent a lot of time studying the cultural impact of World War I, so naturally I'm interested in a road cycling race more connected to this topic than other ones.