Tour of Flanders organiser urges fans to show respect after spitting incident and past misconduct

"De Ronde", whose start of the 109th edition is given on Sunday in Bruges, gathers hundreds of thousands of people each year along the roads of the region. An event which, at its creation in 1913, was intended as a political forum.

Two cyclists lost their lives in the amateur cycling race of Flanders, which was the introduction to Sunday's professional race, in which Slovenian ace Tadej Pogačar will also compete for victory, various media reports.

The race was the introduction to Sunday's professional race, among which Slovenian ace Tadej Pogačar will also compete for victory.

Two amateur cyclists died on Saturday after becoming ill while taking part in the Tour of Flanders ahead of a race reserved for professionals, organisers of “We Ride Flanders” said, according to AFP.

Two amateur cyclists lost their lives on Saturday due to malaise while participating in the Tour des Flandres cyclo-touristes on the eve of the event reserved for professionals, announced the organizers "We Ride Flanders".

Tragedy on this Saturday's appointment before what was supposed to be Sunday's big party