Riding a bike in Flanders allows you to visit various places. On a cold Sunday afternoon, I hopped on my bike and headed for Belgium’s gorgeous Hageland. Because my home region is as flat as a pancake, I prefer going to Hageland, where the environment is a little mountainous and the roads are sinuous. A motorcycle rider’s dream spot.
As we approach the end of March, it’s time to start thinking about cycling races. In Belgium, it’s like a holy week, with everyone glued to the television and newspapers.
I observe several barricades and flags from a cycling competition as I ride my bike into Hageland. I witnessed a women’s world tour road race, suggesting that this is the pinnacle of female cycling worldwide.
This has aroused my interest to see more.
As demonstrated by the first photographs I took, the atmosphere was great! In the city of Winge, I was around 500 meters from the finish line. The entire city packed the streets to watch the “Omloop van het Hageland” race.
It was the first time in my life that I had seen a top-level women’s cycling race. The level of professionalism was very high, as was the speed at which they passed. I used to cycle and ride several classics. I can’t pedal anymore because of a bicycle accident, yet I still have a weakness for it.
I was carrying my Leica M Monochrome camera and a new lens that I had purchased. It is a Leica 135mm F2.8 lens that helps to close some distances.
I like shooting with the Leica M Monochrome. The visuals in black and white inspire feelings, and there is a spirit. Even though it’s a ten-year-old camera, I still enjoy taking images with it. There is no picture stabilization or autofocus; all focus is done manually with the hand to get the shot.
When I took my spot, the race was nearing its finish, and the pressure or tension was building.
The cyclists were within reach of the final kilometers, and it appeared that a sprint would lead us to the race winner.
The female riders had poker faces on as they approached the final 500 meters of the race, hoping to get the most out of their legs in order to win.
Marta Bastianelli, a former World and European champion, won the sprint.
television broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuCEO CN1B4
It was wonderful to see this race live and picture it with a ten-year-old camera. It was also encouraging to receive favorable feedback on the images from the cyclists.
This was a call for more, and I’ll see what I’m capable of recording during the upcoming peak season of cycling classics.
My bike is waiting for me to ride it, so we’re attempting to figure it out. I hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoyed taking them. Thank you to all of the women who gave it their all; they’re all on the asphalt.
Sports can be both beautiful and moving! There is a distinction to be made between winning and losing. Both happiness and grief…
It’s amazing to be able to witness this!
Thank you
