'Vive le Vélo' host Karl Vannieuwkerke and guests forced to flee open-air set as storms strike again
Karl Vannieuwkerke, host of VRT's cycling talk show 'Vive le Vélo', and his guests were forced to evacuate their open-air set for a second time when a violent thunderstorm swept in during Tour de France coverage, Belgian outlet HLN reported.
In 30 seconds
- Karl Vannieuwkerke and guests of VRT's 'Vive le Vélo' evacuated their open-air set during a thunderstorm, HLN reported.
- It was described as at least the second such weather-forced evacuation of the programme.
- No injuries were reported in the initial account.
- 'Vive le Vélo' is broadcast live outdoors during the Tour de France.
'Vive le Vélo' is a Dutch-language cycling talk show produced by Belgian public broadcaster VRT and aired during the Tour de France. Presenter Karl Vannieuwkerke hosts it from a temporary open-air stage, blending race analysis with interviews and lighter entertainment. Because the set is outdoors and the show is broadcast live, it is exposed to sudden summer weather — the reason a thunderstorm was able to force an on-air evacuation.
Background
'Vive le Vélo' has been part of VRT's summer schedule for years as the go-to companion programme to the Tour de France. Its open-air, close-to-the-action staging is a signature of the format — and, as the word 'again' in the reporting indicates, its outdoor set has previously been affected by severe weather during the cycling season.
What to do
Viewers should expect the possibility of shortened or interrupted broadcasts on days with severe weather forecasts.
Impact
Regional — The programme is a Flemish cultural staple broadcast by VRT, so the disruption directly affects viewers in Flanders who follow the Tour through the show each evening.
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- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 9 Aug 2026
- Publication date unavailable
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 9 Aug 2026
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This story was assembled from verified evidence, with its sources and reasoning recorded as it was written.