Cyclist Rides 525 km After Heavy Crash to Honor Late Friend
Victor Desmet (26), a sports physiotherapist from Kortrijk, Belgium, completed the grueling 525-kilometer Ultimate Flanders cycling route in a single day on Saturday, August 1 — despite crashing heavily in the dark just hours into the ride. The epic journey was a tribute to his late friend Mike Naessens, who died of an aggressive brain tumor in 2023, and raised funds for brain cancer research through the Ride for Mike initiative.
A Crash That Nearly Ended the Journey
Desmet departed in the early hours from the Gallo-Romeins Museum in Tongeren, aiming to conquer the Ultimate Flanders 525 — a route that strings together the finales of Flanders’ legendary Spring Classics, covering nearly 6,000 meters of climbing and 23 kilometers of cobblestones. The route, developed by Cycling in Flanders, pays homage to cycling icon Eddy Merckx, who won 525 races in his career.
Roughly 70 kilometers into the ride near Hoegaarden, disaster struck in the pre-dawn darkness. In a descent, Desmet crashed into a barrier at full speed.
“I did a somersault and got abrasions on both elbows and my right forearm,” he told Het Laatste Nieuws. “I also landed hard on my right thigh. My leg was seriously stiff for the rest of the ride. Mentally that was very heavy. I knew there were still about 450 kilometers ahead of me.”
Despite the injuries, Desmet climbed back on his bike and pushed on through iconic climbs including the Muur van Geraardsbergen, the Koppenberg, the Oude Kwaremont, and the Paterberg.
A Promise Born from Grief
The ride was dedicated to Mike Naessens (49) from Kluisbergen, a close friend of Desmet’s parents who had been part of his life since birth. Naessens lost his battle against an aggressive brain tumor and chose euthanasia on August 19, 2023.
“It’s not right that someone who always had fun, brought people together and saw the positive in everyone, disappeared from life in that way,” Desmet said.
The day before Naessens’ euthanasia, Desmet visited him one last time. “That stays with me enormously,” he recalled in an earlier interview with VRT NWS. “On the way home I knew I had to do something.”
That resolve gave birth to Ride for Mike, a charitable sports event supporting brain cancer research at the Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG). In 2024, Desmet completed the 304-kilometer Flandrien Challenge and helped raise over €10,000 for the cause.
The Longest Hours
Desmet arrived at the Menenpoort in Ieper at 23:17, more than 20 hours after setting off. He described the final stretch as the most mentally challenging part of the entire ride.
“After the Flemish Ardennes I passed almost right by my house in Kortrijk, around kilometer 430,” he told HLN. “Then you suddenly realize you still have a good 90 kilometers to ride, completely alone and in the dark. That was mentally very heavy.”
According to VRT NWS, Desmet said the last 60 kilometers seemed endless, with the twisting roads of Heuvelland pushing him to his absolute limit. His family and friends pulled him through, and he received an outpouring of encouragement along the way.
“Physically I’m still quite stiff and I still feel the effects of that crash,” Desmet admitted. “But mentally I’m enormously proud that it worked. That would never have been possible without my family and friends.”
A Legacy of Connection
For Desmet, the ride was never just about the physical achievement. It was about keeping Mike Naessens’ spirit alive.
“Mike was a connecting person,” he said. “That way he continues to live on a little, with everyone who knew him and also with people who never met him.”
Desmet noted that the absence of a Ride for Mike event in 2025 motivated him to make a grander comeback this year. “I had the feeling it was falling apart a bit,” he explained. “Life goes on and someone gets a bit forgotten. But we have to keep passing on that positive energy, keep bringing people together.”
What’s Next
A new edition of Ride for Mike takes place on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at Feestzaal Brugzavel in Berchem (Kluisbergen). Participants can choose from cycling routes of 40, 80, or 110 kilometers, or walking and running routes of 7, 12, or 21 kilometers. Children under 12 participate free, and all proceeds go to CRIG for brain cancer research.
Desmet’s extraordinary feat appears to make him the first person to complete the Ultimate Flanders 525 in a single day — a remarkable achievement born from love, loss, and the determination to ensure that a friend who united people is never forgotten.