Tuesday 22 March 2016 12:42, UK
Wednesday's Dwars door Vlaanderen is set to go ahead as planned despite the terror attacks in Brussels.
The Flanders race is the first in a series of one-day cycling events in Belgium, but there were doubts over it being run after the attacks on Zaventem airport and the Brussels metro system on Tuesday morning.
Belgium's Government lifted the threat level in the country to level four, which would normally mean all public events being cancelled.
But race organisers met with police on Tuesday and issued a statement shortly afterwards that said the race would still be run, albeit a decision subject to change.
A women's Dwars door Vlaanderen race is also scheduled to take place on Wednesday.
Two more one-day races are due to be held in Belgium over the rest of the week - E3 Harelbeke on Friday and Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday - before the classic Tour of Flanders on April 3.
"For the moment, Dwars door Vlaanderen will take place, despite the terrorist attacks that took place in Brussels on Tuesday morning. The organisers mourn with the victims of these terrible acts. More information in due time," the statement read.
Getting full teams of riders to the start in Roeselaere could prove more troublesome, with race organiser Guy Delesie having earlier said team managers had contacted him for advice with flights into Brussels having been cancelled for the rest of Tuesday at the very least.
Delesie said teams would be allowed to ride below minimum numbers, and he admitted some may not be able to field more than three or four riders.
Last year's men's race was won by home rider Jelle Wallays of Topsport Vlaanderen, and he is in the line-up to defend his title - now riding for Lotto-Soudal - along with the leading classics riders Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing), Niki Terpstra (Etixx - Quick-Step) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo).
The only British riders due to race are Daniel McLay (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) and Scott Thwaites (Bora-Argon 18).
