Sprint Star Lorena Wiebes to Race at Wilrijk Derny Event After Tour de France

Dutch sprint sensation Lorena Wiebes is set to compete in the upcoming Derny Event in Wilrijk, immediately following her participation in the Tour de France Femmes. The announcement brings a major draw to the annual event, which is a highlight of the Wilrijk fair.

Wiebes, who currently wears the green jersey as the leader of the points classification in the women's Tour de France, is no stranger to the Derny racing circuit. Organizer Walter Huybrechts, who knew Wiebes as a young rider, expressed pride in securing her participation.

"It is always an advantage that you know someone, or the environment or the entourage," Huybrechts said. "But that does not mean that everything goes automatically, because it is a very commercial world. There are the finances, but there is more. A good hotel stay, feeling good and playing with little pressure also play a role. And that contributes to us being proud that Lorena will be here."

The field will include other notable cyclists such as the Wilrijk cycling sisters Kelly and Demmy Druyts, Belgian U23 champion Anna Vanderaerden, and Japanese track cyclist Yumi Kajihara, an Olympic silver medalist. In addition to the professional race, the event will host competitions for G-athletes and junior women under 17. The junior race is named in honor of former organizer Guy Vervoort, who passed away in 2022.

The Derny Event will take place on Monday, August 10th, starting at 2 PM. Derny racing involves cyclists riding behind specialized motorcycles, known as dernys, to achieve high speeds and create a spectacular competition.

“

It is always an advantage that you know someone, or the environment or the entourage. But that does not mean that everything goes automatically, because it is a very commercial world. There are the finances, but there is more. A good hotel stay, feeling good and playing with little pressure also play a role. And that contributes to us being proud that Lorena will be here.