After the fatal accident where Antoine Demoitié collided with a motorcycle at the 2016 race, the organizers of Gent-Wevelgem have decided to honor the Belgian in the next edition which will take place on March 26 2017.

According to Het Nieuwsblad, the bib number 192 will never be used in the race again. Furthermore, there will be an intermediate sprint at kilometer 192 with a trophy and a prize. The money will be donated to a charity in consultation with the family of the deceased rider.

The Giro d’Italia has taken a similar step as bib number 108 is no longer used after Wouter Weylandt died in a fatal crash in 2010.