De Panne: Opening kilometres of stage one neutralised

The organisers of the Driedaagse De Panne have reportedly taken a decision to neutralise the first 12 kilometres of the opening stage due to concerns about rider safety during the race. The decision is officially due to the narrow roads and rail tracks in the opening kilometres of the stage but the strong winds that have been battering Belgium for the past few days are also a major concern, especially amongst the riders.