First tennis, where, just as the WTA Ladies Open finishes in Brussels (congratulations Jie Zheng), the Paris Open begins in Roland Garros. Kortrijk’s veteran battler Xavier Malisse crashed out in the first round at the weekend, but there is still a chance that Kirsten Flipkens and Yanina Wickmayer can redeem themselves – and Flemish tennis – with good runs.

The Giro d’Italia wrapped up this weekend, and the top Belgian in the three-week tour was Francis De Greef, from Rumst, who came in 21st. The Giro clashed with the five-day Tour of Belgium, won on Sunday by Germany’s Tony Martin for the second successive year. Philippe Gilbert, winner in 2011, came third overall, while Kristof Vandewalle was seventh and Jurgen Roelandts eighth. None of these results bodes well for the Tour de France next month.

And so to football, where Anderlecht just won their 32nd league title. But their triumph is less memorable than runner-up Zulte Waregem’s near catch-up falling just two points short. That should have been cause for celebration for the West Flanders minnows, but they have become embroiled in a bizarre scheme to move the club some 80 kilometres to Antwerp.

With Beerschot relegated to the Second Division, alongside Royal Antwerp, some city bigwigs are apparently so desperate for Antwerp to have a top-flight club, they are willing to buy in another team. Or so that was the conclusion drawn from talks between Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever and Zulte CEO Patrick Decuyper. In the face of fan fury all round, both denied the plans.

Attention now moves to the international scene. The Red Devils are set to play the United States in a friendly game in Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday and then Serbia in Brussels next Friday for the World Cup 2014 qualifiers.

Finally, mention must go to the more than 37,000 who took part in the 20km of Brussels last Sunday, including Crown Prince Philippe. It is phenomenal that a record number, despite the chilly, cloudy weather, pounded the streets of the capital. The first Belgian finish, in fifth, was Abdelhadi El Hachima of Schepdaal, while first place among women went to Catherine Lallemand of Brussels – for the fourth time in a row.

Although Kenyans and Burundians thrashed the locals to take the top four spots, there is hope that just getting involved might spur some sporting prowess.