Tour of Flanders History

Wikipedia in English has an excellent entry on the Tour of Flanders. After reading it, I have a much better understanding of the race and its importance to the Flemish. The entry includes a brief history on the regional conflicts and how the race was used as a way to unify the northern, Dutch speaking residents of Belgium when the French speakers were gaining control of the country.

The Tour of Flanders has it origins in a drive to bring glory back to Belgian cycling and, more particularly, cycling in the Dutch-speaking north of the country. It is the product of the linguistic, social and economic schisms that have split the country since foundation in the 19th century.

An interesting bit - the organizer of the first race, Karel van Wijnendaele, was found guilty of collaboration with the Germans during WWII because the race was still run during the war with the approval of the Germans:

The Ronde is the only classic to have been held on German-occupied territory during the second world war, a decision taken with the agreement of the German command. The Germans, says the writer Gabe Konrad, "not only allowed and enjoyed the race but helped police the route as well." That led to accusations of collaboration. De Standaard and Het Algemeen Nieuws-Sportwereld were sequestered by the state when peace returned and several general journalists, although largely not sports reporters, were punished for collaboration. Van Wijnendaele was forbidden to work as a journalist for the rest of his life, a ban lifted when he produced a letter of support from General Bernard Montgomery, confirming that van Wijnendaele had hidden downed British pilots in his house.

I think its worth taking the time to read.