Everyone dreamed of it, local cycling hero Alec Segaert (21) makes it come true: he wins the first Grand Prix MHD-Filou in his home municipality (Lendelede)

The first edition of the MHD-Filou Grand Prix in Lendelede was won by home rider Alec Segaert (21). He crossed the line solo 30 meters from his home in Heulsestraat, loudly cheered by his many fellow villagers. “It is a wonderful apotheosis of a successful Grand Prix,” says Frank Bruyneel of the Alec Segaert Supporters Association.

In the local library, where an exhibition runs until the end of April, they can write a beautiful new chapter. In any case, the history of Lendeleed’s cycling life provided enough material for a large exhibition, because Lendelede simply breathes racing. The idea to organize a professional race arose from Alec Segaert’s supporters club. The Royal Velo Club Lendelede, which will celebrate its centenary in 2024, was immediately prepared to join forces.

The birth of the new professional race for elite with contract and U23 was presented in January in café De Kluisberg, the former club premises of the legendary Groeninge sprinters. Two serious sponsors were immediately found: Brouwerij Vanhonsebrouck and MHD from Izegem, who supported the organization.

“We noticed from the number of people in the VIP tent that Lendelede is still race-minded,” say CEOs of the brewery Xavier Vanhonsebrouck and MHD Dieter Holvoet. “341 VIP formulas were sold. That is an unexpected number for a novice race.”

The municipality of Lendelede also made a logistical and financial contribution. Alderman Bernard Fonteyne showed his cycling heart by personally helping to install the ‘skets’ or crush barriers on Monday morning. “We have installed more than a kilometer of crush barriers. With pleasure, because we can finally offer the population what they have been yearning for for so long.”

The race took place entirely on Lendeleed territory, with seventeen laps of about ten kilometers long and an elevation gain of 46 meters each time. “And a strong wind of about 4 Beaufort, which made the course tough,” says Wim Lagae, who grew up in Lendelede. As a professor at KU Leuven, in addition to being a racing fanatic, he is also an authority in the field of sports marketing and related matters. “It has been quite a tough race. So it was tailor-made for Alec.”

The winner had still had a battle on his hands before the race. “Because it is a fair race and I am here with only two teammates from Lotto Dstny,” Segaert estimated his chances for the race. But Segaert was clearly a size too big for his competitors and crossed the finish line solo. The first edition of the MHD-Filou Grand Prix thus had the winner that everyone had dreamed of.