This article is part of 'Belgian Week' on Cyclingnews, a special run of features to celebrate the start of the Classics. For all our Belgian Week content click here.
For Flandriens, cycling is more than just a sport. Each spring, for more than a century, the cycling world - riders, teams, the media and fans of all ages - make a 'pilgrimage' to the region to race, report on and spectate some of the toughest races of the year..
The link between cycling and religion may sound far-fetched to an outsider, but when it comes to words like devotion, suffering, sinning, confessing, fate, pilgrimage, superstition, love, life, and death, they are, to some, one and the same.
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The cycling museum in Roeselare examines the links between cycling and religion, specifically Catholicism, through a variety of exhibits at its temporary home at the Fathers' Church in the town. The museum will reopen at its permanent home on Polenplein, Roeselare next year, which is currently undergoing a complete refurbishment.
Like any church, the cycling museum houses historical artefacts and artwork, although here depicting the sport of cycling. Posters, leader's jerseys, victory trophies, and bicycles of cycling legends past and present are on display, including everything from Fausto Coppi's Bianchi to mitts belonging to the Schleck brothers.
The Pilgrimage
- Ritual gathering in Flanders: The Tour of Flanders, the ritual springtime cycling gathering.
- Fairground race: The race can be traced back to the Fairground.
- Pilgrimage destinations: Must-visit sites for all cycling enthusiasts.
- Fate: Death races too.
- Cycling gods: From local gods to Miracle Merckx
- Cycling and the church: Cycling as the church's representative.
- Living like a monk: A cyclist's hermit-like existence.
- Religious cyclists: Scapulars, rosaries and patron saints.
- Sinners: Doping, a mortal sin.
- Superstitious cyclists: Competitor number 13, the rainbow curse and other misfortunes.
The way of the cross
- Jesus is condemned to death: Frank Vandenbroucke gives an explanation after his team Cofidis put him on non-active in 1999 because of doping issues.
- Jesus is given his cross: During the Tour of Flanders in 2009, Fabian Cancellara has to carry his bike on his shoulders because of technical problems as he makes his way up the Koppenberg.
- Jesus falls down for the first time: Sean Kelly meets the Flemish asphalt in 1982.
- Jesus meets his mother, Mary: Romain Maes embraces his mother in Paris after winning the 1935 Tour de France.
- Simon is forced to carry the cross: Yellow jersey Greg Le Mond pushes Bernard Hinault during the 1986 Tour de France.
- Veronica wipes the face of Jesus: Patrick Vandermaesen is given first aid after a heavy crash in 1991.
- Jesus falls the second time: Walter Godefroot falls during the 1966 Dwars door Belgie.
- Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem: An elderly lady gets into raptures at the sight of Eddy Merckx.
- Jesus falls the third time: Stefan Aerts grabs his shoulder after falling in 1985.
- Jesus is stripped of his clothing: Michael Matthews, tattooed with a guardian angel on his back, at the finish of stage 3 of the 2015 Tour de France.
- Jesus is nailed to the cross: Johnny Hooogerland crashes into a barbed wire fence at the 2011 Tour.
- Jesus dies on the cross: Jean-Pierre Monseré lies motionless on the asphalt after a collision with a parked car during a race in 1971. Jempi doesn't survive the crash.
- Jesus' body is removed from the cross: 1937 Tour de France, Albert Hendrickx crashes and is taken away by medics.
- Jesus' body is placed in the tomb: Funeral of Richard Depoorter, who crashed during the 1948 Tour of Switzerland.
Cycling is religion
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