A Flanders Welcome: Newbury Road Club Rides to Eeklo for a Centenary to Remember
- Newbury Road Club
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
What began as a spark of an idea between two Newbury Road Club (NRC) members, Fraser Harding and David Glenn, grew into something truly special — an international cycling friendship that captured the very spirit of our centenary year.
Their vision? To mark NRC’s 100th anniversary with a cycling exchange to Eeklo, Newbury’s twin town in Belgium. Twelve months of planning, logistics, and excited anticipation later, that vision became reality.
At the start of October 2025, seventeen NRC riders — some cycling all or part of the way — set off on a journey that would prove every bit as rewarding off the bike as on it.
What awaited them in Eeklo was a welcome beyond expectation: warmth, hospitality and genuine camaraderie from the cyclists and townspeople of this small but mighty Flemish town — a place where cycling heritage runs deep and friendships are made fast.
Friday 3 October – A Warm Civic Welcome
After a short ‘orientation ride’ with members of the Royal Eeklo Cycling Club, or Koninklijk Wielercomité, NRC’s riders were invited to a civic reception in the newly restored Eeklo Town Hall — an elegant and historic venue befitting such an occasion.
The event was presided over by Mayor Koen Loete, who personally welcomed the visiting riders and spoke warmly about the enduring ties between the two towns.
The trip had been made possible through the efforts of both towns’ twinning associations, and in particular Rita Cornelis, who first brought the two cycling clubs together. Eeklo’s Alderman, Filip Smet, underlined how the exchange symbolised the strong relationship between Newbury and Eeklo — and presented NRC with a unique gift: a mounted Flanders cobblestone, reclaimed from recent renovations of the town’s Market Place.
Photos © Moments of Colour
It was a fitting symbol — a piece of cycling history to mark a club steeped in it.
In response, NRC Chair Lorraine Murrell thanked the Mayor and committee for their generosity, praised the spirit of friendship shown by the hosts, and extended an open invitation for the Royal Cycling Club of Eeklo to visit Newbury in 2028 — the year of their own 60th anniversary.
Saturday 4 October – Wind, Rain, and a Shared Ride
When dawn broke on Saturday, it brought with it Storm Amy, whose 50km winds and sheets of rain briefly threatened to derail the day’s ride. But in true cycling spirit, neither the weather nor the wind could stop this group of determined riders.
By mid-morning, the skies cleared and 30+ cyclists — half from each club — set off together on a sunny, if blustery, 50km loop around the lanes of Flanders.
It was a gentle ride by Belgian standards, but a revealing one for the NRC riders, who quickly noticed the difference between Eeklo’s flat, open terrain and the undulating roads of West Berkshire.
The route was led by Eeklo Club Chair Danny De Crop and Club Secretary Steven Lepoutre — the latter a true powerhouse behind the scenes, having worked tirelessly with Fraser and David to plan every detail of the trip.
Founded in 1968, the Eeklo club boasts some 160 members and a rich history of its own. That evening, NRC members joined them for their annual club dinner, an event full of laughter, music and cross-cultural friendship. Among the guests was long-standing member and Vice President Cyriel Joos, whose pride in the club’s heritage mirrored that of NRC’s.
Speeches were shared, gifts exchanged — including local produce from West Berkshire, a Paddington Bear mascot (a nod to Newbury author Michael Bond), and a Newbury 100 centenary jersey — all received with huge appreciation.
Sunday 5 October – A Trappist Tradition
A weekend highlight came on Sunday with the Eeklo Trappist Rally — one of the local Club’s most anticipated annual rides and a joyful blend of cycling, culture, and Belgian brewing tradition.
Of the few Trappist monasteries permitted to brew beer, six are in Belgium, and each year the Royal Eeklo Club celebrates this unique heritage with a social ride that samples a selection of those legendary beers — followed by a club barbecue to remember.
At 9:00 a.m., 50+ riders rolled out from Eeklo Sport Centre, led by an escort car and followed by a support vehicle courtesy of the club’s sponsors. The ride covered just 30km, but the real joy was in the companionship, laughter and ‘measured’ tastings along the way.
By afternoon, the group arrived at the home of Robin Joos, their generous host and ride leader, where the celebrations continued with a mouth-watering barbecue, more fine Trappist ales, and an atmosphere brimming with good humour and gratitude.
It was an afternoon of music, dancing, toasts and promises to meet again — the kind of day that reminds us why cycling is so much more than a sport.
A Friendship Cemented in Cobblestones
For those lucky enough to make the trip, the Eeklo exchange was more than a cycling holiday. It was a celebration of connection — between two clubs, two communities, and two countries bound by a shared love of the bike.
It showcased everything NRC stands for after 100 years: adventure, camaraderie, respect for cycling heritage, and the willingness to build something lasting for the next generation.
As the riders made their way home, memories packed tighter than their panniers, one sentiment was clear: this wasn’t the end of a story, but the beginning of a new chapter in Newbury Road Club’s history — one that will be rekindled when our Belgian friends make their return journey in 2028.
And when they do, you can be sure of one thing: they’ll find a welcome in Newbury every bit as warm as the one we received in Eeklo.
So here’s to shared roads, lifelong friendships, and another century of cycling that connects people far beyond the miles we ride.
Santé!
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