Tour of Flanders a monument?

hommelbier

I know some of the classics are referred to as monuments - can we now see other race organisers rushing to get their events "recognised".

What advantages would being on a Unesco list confer, if any?

http://www.rtbf.be/sport/cyclisme/classiques/le-ronde-classe-au-patrimoine-mondial-71313

Monty Dog

Preservation of the local roads for a start - no b*gger can dig-up the Oude Kwaremont or Wolvenberg for the sake of a local bypass or supermarket car park! Ironically, the story goes that a local farmer built the Paterberg just across from the Koppenberg because he wanted the same attention as his neighbour! There is also work to restore some roads to their pre-tarmaced glory in the region. I expect Flanders has recognised the value that cycling brings to the region in terms of their heritage and encouraging tourism.

Many of the roads used by Paris-Roubaix have preservation status, for example

hommelbier

As far as I'm aware some of the major sections such as Oude Kwaremont and the Molenberg have had protected status since the early 90s, but anything that gives extra protection is to be welcomed.

Kléber

The Unesco list can help protect some things but I don't see what will get preserved given the list is all about sites of shared human interest. It's a great bike race but frankly of little relevance to billions of people in the world. Rather than waiting years in a pricey application to woo Unesco bigwigs, local politicians in Belgium can do it themselves and pass the right planning laws.

And note the route often changes, whether the start and finish towns, or the places along the way.

finchy

Kléber wrote:

The Unesco list can help protect some things but I don't see what will get preserved given the list is all about sites of shared human interest. It's a great bike race but frankly of little relevance to billions of people in the world.

Have you ever been to Le Havre? That's on the UNESCO list. :shock:

If a concrete mess like Le Havre can get on, so can the Ronde.

RichN95.

johnfinch wrote:

Kléber wrote:

The Unesco list can help protect some things but I don't see what will get preserved given the list is all about sites of shared human interest. It's a great bike race but frankly of little relevance to billions of people in the world.

Have you ever been to Le Havre? That's on the UNESCO list. :shock:

If a concrete mess like Le Havre can get on, so can the Ronde.

A slag heap in Blaenavon is on the list too.

FJS

Being recognised on the UNESCO list is of great symbolic value, also a powerful tool in local and national politics.

calvjones

RichN95 wrote:

johnfinch wrote:

Kléber wrote:

The Unesco list can help protect some things but I don't see what will get preserved given the list is all about sites of shared human interest. It's a great bike race but frankly of little relevance to billions of people in the world.

Have you ever been to Le Havre? That's on the UNESCO list. :shock:

If a concrete mess like Le Havre can get on, so can the Ronde.

A slag heap in Blaenavon is on the list too.

Oi! I worked on that UNESCO bid. It's a very pretty and historically significant slag heap.

Pross

I know a pretty and fairly historical sla...... oops, no better not go there!

cal_stewart

me to

cal_stewart

me to