Great pictures on show

Elvis road trip

Etienne De Wilde

After joining competitors for the Smithfield
Nocturne launch earlier in the day, LCS ventured onto the Cycling
heroes photography exhibition at the Host Gallery on June 19.

On arrival we found Honduras Street packed with cyclists, many of whom were
Londoners, but in the mix were past World Champions Tony Doyle and Flandrian
legend Johan Museeuw, plus Tour de France double stage winner Etienne De Wilde
(89/91). All were enjoying a loud brass band.

The exhibition of photographs is drawn from a study of the Flanders area of
Belgium, a hotbed of cycling, by Stephan Vanfleteren.

Stephan Vanfleteren has also undertaken a road trip across Europe dressed as Elvis;
his book of this journey is on show at the gallery and is well worth a look.

Talking to a Host Gallery representative, she told us that the Panos photo agency
specialises in the more obscure areas of the World and although we cycle fans
maybe well versed in Flanders folklore, few others are.

The exhibition of pictures helps lift the lid on this area
of Belgium, overlooked by the mainstream, but which in fact is linguistically and politically deeply complex.

We talked to Etienne De Wilde and he told us that he had ridden the prologue route
and thinks it will be fast. Who will win we asked? The very sociable Belgian grinned
widely and said ‘Bradley Wiggins’.

– Host Gallery, 1 Honduras Street, EC1Y 0TH
– 20th June to 31st July
– Admission: Free
– Opening times: Monday – Friday 10am -6pm, Saturday 11am -4pm
– Nearest tube: Old St or Barbican

Photographs – http://www.panos.co.uk/cycling