Next year there will be no Casselberg in Gent-Wevelgem. The mayor of Cassel has made it clear that on Easter Sunday, March 27, a carnival will make it impossible to use the climb.

"It's a tough loss for us," race director Hans De Clercq told Het Nieuwsblad. "Casselberg had a very important role in our race. If the race did not split up on the open plains, then it always happened there. We are looking for alternatives, but currently there is no room for negotiation when it comes to the Casselberg. The mayor says only non, non, non. It's a shame, because he already knew from last year that our race would be held on March 27 in 2016."

In 2015, Luca Paolini won an epic edition of the Belgian classic.