Ghent's slightly bonkers Six-Days race meeting kicks off next week. But it's not just about the cycling many people are here to party. Andy Pietrasik joins them, and also explores this cool but underrated city
Arriving at the velodrome in Ghent for the opening night of the Six-Days cycle races in November is like stepping into the fuggy embrace of a fairground on a cold winter evening. The atmosphere inside the cavernous 't Kuipke building is thick with the smell of fried onions, hotdogs, burgers and beer.
The sober-minded cycling fans take their seats at the 5,000-capacity arena, peering down on the steep-banked oval wooden track to get the full sweep of the races. But in the middle of the track there is a party going on. And it is open to anyone.
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