Ghent Six
The Ghent Six is an annual track cycling event held in the Belgian town of Ghent.
It’s called a Six because the races last for six days. Six-Day racing first gained popularity in the late 19th Century at New York’s Madison Square Garden – hence the Madison – and for many years the racing really was 24-hour a day stuff. Teams of two raced round the clock for six days and nights, with one member of the team racing on the track at any one time, the other resting.
The Kuipke velodrome has an aura no other velodrome in Europe possesses. For a start the short 166-metre track makes it a tight, intimate venue, and its tumbledown, slightly worn-around-the-edges feel only adds to the charm.
The first Ghent Six was held in 1922 and was won by Marcel Buysse and the man with the greatest name ever, Oscar Egg. Great rider, but he didn’t half cause a mess when he fell off.
The legends of Ghent are Patrick Sercu (who won it 11 times), Aussie Danny Clark (six wins) and the more recent hero Bruno Risi.
In 2015, Etixx-Quick Step’s Iljo Keisse joined forces with Michael Morkov to claim his sixth win at the Ghent Six.
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Ghent Six-Day: Team line-ups and where to watch
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Organiser of the Ghent Six-Day still hopeful of attracting Bradley Wiggins
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No rest for Mark Cavendish
As the world turns on its axis, Mark Cavendish works while sprint rival Marcel Kittel relaxes
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Mark Cavendish 'sorry' for not winning Ghent Six-Day
Second place at the Ghent Six-Day for Mark Cavendish and partner Iljo Keisse behind Kenny de Ketele and Jasper De Buyst
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Mark Cavendish is raising profile of Six-Day racing
Six-Day track legend and Ghent race director Patrick Sercu says Mark Cavendish's track appearance is good for the event, and good for Cavendish too
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Cat joins Cav on the track at Ghent Six (video)
A cat finds its way onto the track in Ghent, slipping down the track and nearly getting caught in the riders' wheels.
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Mark Cavendish and Iljo Keisse fourth after Ghent Six opening night (gallery)
Belgian duo Jasper De Buyst and Kenny De Ketele lead the Ghent Six-Day track event after the first night's action
