January 6/10 10:13 am - Houffalize World Cup Reprieve

Posted by Editor on 01/6/10
 

After an announcement on December 26th that the town of Houffalize was unwilling to bear the financial reponsibility for the 2010 World Cup after a deficit of nearly 80,000 Euros, the mayor released a statement today that an agreement had been reached to save the event.

Houffalize is one of the great Classics of the cross-country circuit, and last year added a 4-Cross event.  The small town in the south east corner of Belgium attracts tens of thousands of spectators, and the event becomes a bike festival.  However, the recession last year made the town liable for the revenue shortfall after sponsors could not be found, and the mayor and council announced that they could not make the same guarantees for the 2010 event scheduled for May 1-2.

After discussions with the event organizer, the mayor has announced that an agreement has been reached that will allowed the event to take place.  While details were not provided, we understand that the organizers have agreed to assume financial responsibilities previously assumed by the town.

"This decision will delight all lovers of MTB," said mayor Marc Caprasse.  "Competitors and the public are particularly attached to this global event, and will be able to keep their rendezvous with Houffalize."

The mayor said that after the announcement of the possible cancellation, they received an enormous number of e-mails, text messages and telephone calls asking them to save the event. A Facebook page was set up to support the event, attracting over 3500 members in less than two weeks.