1. Venue
– Getting there: It was a longer drive from Brussels, it took us more than 1.5 hours. 3 points
– Sights&City: I spent there only the duration of the race so I’m not really in the position to judge it’s merits, however, it didn’t seem like a huge place to me. 3 points
2. Course
– Getting there: sings were mostly adequate, though not all the time. However, where the sings failed to show us our way, friendly staff helped to fill the gaps. 4 points
– Layout & getting around: It was a great course with many quirks, however it was hard to get around sometimes as the crowd was huge. 4 points
– Skill level: Finally, some sand! I didn’t envy the riders and especially their bikes, though, the wet sand didn’t to much good to them (I mean, the bikes). 5 points
3. Press services
– Distance from course: I’ve seen worse, it was reasonable The press center itself was in the premises of a military base which was unusual, to say the least. However, the planes and helicopters on display played an excellent background for photos in a certain angle. 4 points
– Internet – excellent internet connection, no registration required. 5 points
– Handouts – Handouts were prompt-ish, not bad, but I’ve seen better than that. 4 points
– Staff – They were very helpful and kind. 5 points
– Catering – Wide array of sandwiches and hot soup was available, plus water and other beverages. A clear winner so far, from this perspective. 5 points
Overall score: 42/50 points
