Inside Cycling’s Craziest Race | The Ghent Six Day

The Six Days of Ghent, a six-day track cycling race, held annually at the Kulpke velodrome, is one of the most exciting track racing events in the world. Mitch Docker, ex pro cyclist, heads to the event where he tries out the track and talks to the riders, getting fully involved in the cycling celebrations!

00:00 Intro
02:35 Derny bike race
03:30 Elimination track race
04:00 Madison track race
04:40 Points bike race
05:16 Cycling scratch race
5:46 Aaron Gate interview
08:34 The Ghent bikes
14:00 Iljo Keisse interview

Useful Links:
Everything Cycling. All In One Place 👉 https://www.globalcyclingnetwork.com
Visit the GCN Shop 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnshop
Join the GCN Club 👉 https://gcnclub.com
GCN Training Plans 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcntp

Would you ever go to 6 days of Ghent? 6️⃣

Let us know in the comments below 💬

Watch more on GCN…
📹 GCN Presenter To National Champion? | Track Cycling Challenge 👉https://youtu.be/rtBxAw5gzXo
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 https://gcn.eu/editorschoice
📹 Or why not check out our Features Playlist 👉 ​​https://gcn.eu/gcnfeatures

🎵 Music – licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
We Want the Phonk – Ballpoint
A Beginning – Rymdklang Soundtracks
Discoveries – Clarence Reed
Driftin’ – Cushy
Hard to Move On – oomiee
Kick – Marten Moses
Kim’s Garden – Andreas Dahlback
Low Fidelity Space Waves – ELFL
Lowkey (Instrumental Version) – Tilden Parc
Slow Ground – Heyson
Very Important Pineapple – Scoobadive
Vivaldi_ The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315 _Summer__ III. Presto – Michelle Ross
You Keep Telling Lies (Instrumental Version) – Loving Caliber
Sicario – DonVayei
Lost in Amman – Oh the City
Headphones (Heyson Remix) (Instrumental Version) – Heyson
Crowd Arena Cheer 3 – SFX Producer
Blinding – Cushy

#gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #trackcycling #track #sports #event #ghent #velodrome

📸 Photos – © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sprint Cycling Agency

The Global Cycling Network (GCN) is the largest online cycling channel in the world, bringing together a global community of road cyclists to celebrate everything that’s great about the world of cycling.

Our videos bring fans compelling daily content including expert tutorials, techniques, training, racing, cutting-edge bike tech, unparalleled behind the scenes event coverage, humour, entertainment, and more.

Presented by ex-pro riders, GCN offers a uniquely qualified insight into the world of cycling, and most importantly it’s fuelled by our passionate and enthusiastic fans – everyone who makes up the GCN community. We also bring the latest and greatest tech to your attention, showcase the best places in the world to ride and get exclusive access to events and races.

Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside Cycling

Thanks to our sponsors:
Pinarello Bikes: https://gcn.eu/Pinarello
Topeak Tools: http://gcn.eu/Topeak
Canyon Bikes: http://gcn.eu/-Canyon
Pirelli Tyres: https://gcn.eu/Pirelli
Orbea Bikes: http://gcn.eu/Orbea
Vision Wheels: http://gcn.eu/Vision
Wahoo Fitness: http://gcn.eu/Wahoo-Fitness
Park Tool: http://gcn.eu/-parktool
Elite Bottles: https://gcn.eu/EliteBottles
Whoop Fitness: https://gcn.eu/Whoop
Selle Italia: https://gcn.eu/SelleItalia
SiS: https://gcn.eu/ScienceInSport
Zwift: https://gcn.eu/Zwift
Shimano Wheels: https://gcn.eu/Shimano
DMT Shoes: https://gcn.eu/DMT
Silca: https://gcn.eu/Silca
MET Helmets: https://gcn.eu/methelmets
Strava: https://gcn.eu/strava
ShadowStand: https://gcn.eu/ShadowStand

Watch our sister channels:
GCN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gcntech
GCN Racing – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network – https://www.youtube.com/@gtn
GCN Italia – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnitalia
GCN en Español – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Français – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenfrancais
GCN Japan – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnjapan
GCN Training – https://www.youtube.com/@gcntraining
Global Mountain Bike Network – https://youtube.com/@gmbn
GMBN Racing – https://youtube.com/@gmbnracing
GMBN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network – https://www.youtube.com/@embn

[Applause] each year in November one of the coolest cycling events takes place right here in Belgium again six St the six days of G is a prestigious track cycling event that has been taking place in the Citadel Park in Gent Belgium since 1922 it features various track cycling disciplines across the six days every year the very best track racing cyclist compete for victory in the legendary kopka cycling Stadium it’s

Known for its intense and thrilling atmosphere drawing in cycling enthusiasts and fans from around the world with a length of 166 M the kopco is one of the shortest cycling tracks used for the sixday meat this means that Spectators can see the entire track and help build up the intense atmosphere at

52% the bends are exceptionally sharp and steep which means that gent has also one of the most fastest tracks in Europe I’m going to take you along the journey meeting writers and getting to experience writing the iconic track myself walking the vrum I could already hear the atmosphere was building this is

What the event is all about I got a beer and I headed for the stands for the start of racing here we are the last time I was in in a track I think it must have been back in 2007 about the mayorca World Championships but this is something

Different this is six day racing 12 teams of two Riders racing over six nights of a VAR of events but on Sunday night they’ve got the overall winner look at it in here epic let’s sit back and enjoy some night one of racing so what is actually involved in a

Six day and how do you win it let’s take a look at the Events the dery race this iconic race sees the Riders following a special motorbike called a dery the dery paces the Riders often it speeds well over 60 km an hour the dery rider responds to the rider’s commands to speed up and slow down pacing them all the way to the

Line communication an understanding between the Rider and the diry pilot can be just as important as raw power this one is like deceptively hard it looks pretty easy but they’re going so fast out there this is the fastest race behind the motorbikes you’re working with the driver as well it’s

Pretty old school it’s actually a really cool event when you’re out there with your journey Rider that connection something about it I love it the elimination at the end of every other the last rer AC cross the finish line is eliminated it depends both on speed and tactical awareness from the

Cyclist to avoid being eliminated while conserving energy for the final Sprint here we go two Riders left last man standing The Elimination race oh this is it the Madison this is what the six days are all about my favorite event the Madison both Riders are on the

Track during the Madison and they take turns to race with the resting Rider gliding slowly around the top of the track the active Rider then exchanges with their teammate through a handling to transfer the momentum it’s a fast-paced strategic race where teams aim to accumulate points through Sprints

And Laps gained on other teams the team with the most points at the end of the race wins the points race this race is longer and points are awarded for Sprints that occur at set intervals usually every 10 laps and for lapping the main group of riders it’s a strategic race where

Riders have to balance sprinting for points with conserving energy for the duration of the event which can be quite demanding last last lap the bunch of split big gap on the front they’re really moving Now well this is a scratch race first one across the line wins it’s as simple as That sor after an exhausting 6 days of racing all points that each team has won are added up and a winner is crowned so I’ve taken in the atmosphere I thought I would catch up with an old mate and track Legend Aaron gate known

Better as Gat who is in the thick of it racing the sixth day mate first time the again six what was it like riding this track because it’s very different than riding normal track isn’t it it is indeed and I was given plenty of warning before coming here about how crazy it is

And you can only really know when you ride it like I’ve rid some other small tracks before like Amsterdam’s a 200 and I’ve also been on a 166 and Geneva but this track is just something else like I got out there in the points race the first night luckily they give us a

Points race sort of like a warm-up race before we get into the medicines and I was like uh oh what am I doing here I couldn’t even hold the wheel in front of me like going through the banking and I’m like I’m points race world champion

I meant to be the best in the world and I can’t even stay with these guys like what’s going on but but then once you get in the flow and once you get in the Rhythm it’s just like it’s actually so much fun like it’s uh it’s hard to

Describe but when you’re in the race and you’re going through the motions it’s it’s so much fun it is a lot of fun is it so like what’s the atmosphere like you really feel the crowd and the singers come on half timee is that atmosphere absorbing to you it’s

Actually really cool cuz that where our cabins are we’ve got the infield just behind us and it’s quite fun as the evening goes on you sense the the the momentum building the number of beers that are consumed are growing the crowd gets more and more nuts you notice that

There’s the grand stand gets less full but that’s just because the crowd in the middle is just getting more and more crazy cuz everyone’s migrating to where uh the beer temps are flowing so it’s uh yeah it’s it’s hard to describe Without Really experiencing it it’s all those

Little dynamics that is hard to sort of sum up you know everyone’s got there Swan that you pay to look after you for the week and they do literally everything for you comeing off the track you sit down they pull your shirts off Chuck them in the dryer you root take

Through three shirts each night so you’re never are getting wet and cold cuz yeah you comeing on sitting down and they give you a full wipe down feed you drink you and and then push you back out on the Val Dr so you’re literally like a farm animal just for entertainment but

For some reason it’s just uh yeah when you’re on the track and you’re going through the motions it’s so much fun all right mate it’s time to get ready get out there I’m going to be in the middle having a cold one but I’ll be cheering

For you look for me I’ll be in one of those one of those thousand people in there give me away give me a shout would you cuz we got the first 1 hour Chase tonight and I’m going to be on my knees I think so I’ll be very jealous of that

Cold one good luck mate Cheers well that’s another epic day at the track done now to catch some sleep as I’ve got an exciting day Tomorrow Since I’ve arrived I’ve been itching to get out on that track so before the rise I’ve probably even woken up I took the opportunity to check out the bikes and take on a ride around this iconic Vel Drome all right Ken this is a Six-Day

Bike is it can you run me through what this is tell me a little bit about the bike well this is a Lindy theelder bike last year’s winner as you can see basic track bike yep no brakes no gears no brakes of course Lind is on a 5416 okay um which

Is nowadays quite small on the track but because this is a very small track 166 M if you have to come in in this track every time on the big gear you have to accelerate on the big gear kills your legs it kills your legs completely and will they ride different gears in

Different events yep okay and will you change the gear or they’ve got two bikes so how does it work uh most Riders have two bikes okay yeah uh they keep one bike for medicine points elimination and on the other bike would be the the one with the bigger gear for the time

Defense and the journey okay well that’s easy and you come set them up at the start of the night and that’s it yep tell me about these crazy things cuz this is this looks ridiculous what are these on the front These Bars they’ve gotten out yeah um since a couple of

Years everyone is switching from traditional handlebars to the more Arrow bars uh they use it without handlebar tape because otherwise you would lose part of the aerodynamics already okay but they do put on special grip tape because they still want to have a decent grip on the

Handlebars um also when you get really sweaty and there’s no bar tape on get really slippery as well I see they’ve got a little bit on one side here only why is that y uh because when they do the handling this is where the hand the left

Hand will be but the right hand will never be here handling because then the one who’s coming in the race is down is down in the drops so yeah all right it might be time for me to go out there and uh tral it out obviously not on this

Beast but uh thanks a lot for around so Ken saw the state of my High bike and he’s hooked me up proper check this out if I’m ever going to do this I’ve got to do it on the right bike and Ken has given me one of the Riders bikes

Cheekily don’t tell the Riders look I raced a track back in the day I did the world championships in 2007 it’s been a while I haven’t ridden a track since then this is a different Beast I don’t know how I’m going to go hopefully I haven’t forgotten how to do It it was very very fun you can feel it as you go through the corners it really throws you into the track it’s like a GeForce and I was only going who knows 30 40K an hour and to be on this bike is the only way you

Can experience this track yeah I was a bit nervous going up on the banking it’s a long time since road on the track and this is much steeper so I took off and I was like well there’s only one way to do it just go straight into it it’s very

Steep I didn’t go right up the top yet I was a bit scared all right now I’ve got used to this track it’s time to go really fast and I got someone special to help me Out [Applause] that was crazy it was nice that was it’s so hard to hold on in the corner I couldn’t hang on especially downstairs you know the gForce is a real real high it was what what’s how fast were we going uh I think about 60 K is that fast

Normally or that’s that’s okay when we normally when we start in 6 days we start about 55 and then what you finish finish about 70 but not downstairs of course it’s want the Brew line still upstairs I couldn’t my arms were getting S I couldn’t hold it like it’s physically

It’s okay for the legs but it’s so hard yeah yeah of course so the pressure from the cor corner is so high and it’s I was scared I was really scared I was I was like I’m going to crash no no no it was good thanks you’re still in good shape

No no it was fun it was very fun thank you you’re welcome many legendary cyclists have ridden these boards over the years at the G six day Mark Cavendish and S Bradley Wiggins rode together and won in 2016 and even the greatest of all time

Eddie MKS won here in the 70s but more recently only one man has established true legendary status ILO caser grew up in Gent and won the race seven times before retiring last year he’s agreed to come down to the track for a quick chat and maybe I

Can get him out for a quick spin too good day IO how are you mate good man yeah to see you here good to be back in the cabin yeah I didn’t thought ever being here back again in this kid but uh yeah actually it is I’m thinking about a

Comeback yeah maybe not at all tell me mate why did you do six days why did you get into them this is why I started cycling I came here as a kid when everything was still uh a bit different and I just sat there on the middle in

The infield watching the race and then uh just started training and started racing you’ve been racing on here for many years your the crowds behind you the local the you know the star what’s it like racing the against six as the star I got they’re coming already I

Didn’t expect this year they already the the goosebumbs but it’s very strange my father has the bar here 500 met from the track and I started as a as a young Rider here and from the first moment I don’t know what happened but there was this click with me and and the public

And with me and this track I was technically very strong I didn’t have the biggest engine but I could do things here that like nobody else could I could use the track I could I had this movements on the track from I never did anything else and than ride the track so

Um and they saw it and they they appreciate it and then I started using them the racing itself it’s a bit of both it’s a bit of you know pleasing the crowd it’s a bit of hard racing and your teammates It’s a combination isn’t it

Like you spoke about being a bit of a showman yeah 12 teams on the track you have some very important events every night steam elimination medicine where you make the classification there you will see teams that fight for the win it’s important for them so they will go flat

Out in these races and then you have the smaller races like for example scratch race ballist Strada Sprint elimination which are less important so then they would leave it a lot of times to the smaller teams and then they really fight for that Victory so you have like let’s

Say five six teams that really go for the win you have five six teams that go for the the smaller events some Specialists that go for uh for the lab records things like that so in every number there’s always somebody who’s who’s very interested in something but

Then during the race you could also it’s just not just yeah it is more and more just riding around and flat out full gas because the race has also changed um before it was longer everything was fast but it was also about endurance now the nights are getting shorter there’s more

Pauses in between so now it’s just uh very short and very explosive racing which makes it harder to be a showman because every energy you put in making a show is going to cost you if it’s not at the end of that one specific race maybe

Even at the end of the week when you fight really for the victory so harder and harder to do things like that yeah okay well you’re gonna have to show me how to do it let’s get out there okay and be a bit of a showman okay let’s

Go you ever did medicine before yep I rode the World Cups oh yeah yeah I rode against you you wouldn’t remember Though [Applause] With my time at the 6th day coming to an end I took the final day to enjoy the racing and soak out that Atmosphere well I’ve enjoyed several mineral Waters in there the Gen six has delivered it’s been awesome in there great racing catching up with matate and the atmosphere in the middle is electric well I’m going to go back in there and finish it off in style I hope you guys

Get down here one time the again six is awesome