Online horse racing, cycling this weekend


This 6 February 2020 video from Belgium about cycling is called Tour of Flanders 2020 – Course Elite Men.

Wikipedia writes:

2020 Tour of Flanders

The race was scheduled to be held on 5 April 2020 in Belgium, serving as the 14th event of the 2020 UCI World Tour, but was postponed due to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.

However, on 2 April the organisers wrote there would be a Tour of Flanders after all. By professional cyclists on their home trainers at home, online. The participants will ride a virtual rendition of the hilly last 32 kilometres of the race.

On Sunday 5 April, 15:30, this virtual cycling race will start on the Internet and on Belgian TV. 13 cyclists will participate, including Belgian Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet, Wout van Aert, Italian Alberto Bettiol who won last year, and Dutch Tour de France stage winner Mike Teunissen.

Then, there is this tweet from Britain.

Dutch NOS radio says today (translated):

The most famous and most iconic horse race in the world will be held on Saturday, but then via an animation. The virtual version of the Grand National is even broadcast live on television.

And – as usual with a serious horse race – you can also bet on that. This time, the proceeds will go to fighting the coronavirus.

Due to the coronavirus, the 173rd edition of the event, which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, drew 700 million viewers and is part of British culture last month, was canceled.

Virtual race result often equal to real race

The virtual race has been held since 2017 to get an indication of the real race. “Using the most modern technology and algorithms, we ask the computer to make history,” said producer Rob McLoughlin. …

Forty horses are participating in this year’s virtual race. It is mainly horses that would also participate in the real race. Eg, Tiger Roll, the winner of the past two editions.

UPDATE: Virtual Grand National 2020: Potters Corner takes victory – as it happened: here.

There was also a unique participant: Red Rum. That horse died in 1995 and, together with Tiger Roll, is the only horse that has won the Grand National twice in a row (in 1973 and 1974). So now they are competing against each other for the first time.

Contrary to the dead horse Red Rum in the 2020 Grand National, there will be no dead cyclists participating in the 2020 online home trainer Tour of Flanders. So, no chance for Achiel Buysse (1918-1084; winner in 1940, 1941 and 1943); Jaap Eden (1873-1925); Fausto Coppi; Jacques Anquetil or others.

5 thoughts on “Online horse racing, cycling this weekend

  1. Pingback: Tour of Flanders cycling on home trainers tomorrow | Dear Kitty. Some blog

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  3. Virtual Grand National attracts millions of viewers

    ALMOST five million people tuned in to watch the Virtual Grand National on Saturday afternoon.

    With the real thing cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic and racing on hold until at least the end of April, the computer simulation drew race-starved viewers in a special programme broadcast on ITV, with the race run at 5.15pm to replicate what would have been the actual start time at Aintree.

    It proved an epic renewal, with the Christian Williams-trained Potters Corner (18-1) clinging on with teenage rider Jack Tudor to hold off the challenge of Walk In The Mill on the run from the Elbow.

    https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/s/virtual-grand-national-attracts-millions-viewers

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