Tour Of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaanderen) Cyclo

04/04/2015 - Bruges, Belgium - Sportive

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Previous Years Rating: 92.8% based on 4 reviews

The Tour of Flanders (De Ronde van Vlaanderen) is without a doubt one of the biggest sporting events in Belgium. The day before the main event, amateur cyclists will have the chance to emulate the stars by taking on the ultimate challenge of riding the entire course from Brugge to Oudenaarde (259km.) However, routes of 133km and 83km will also provide plenty of opportunity to get to know the steep climbs and the cobblestones. Famous climbs to feature will include...

Koppenberg
One of the most mythical hills in the Flemish Ardennes. Famous, among other things, for the Tour of Flanders, nicknamed Vlaanderens Mooiste ("Flanders' finest"), and the annual Koppenbergcross cyclocross race. Traditionally, a proportion of the participants every year dismount to make the steep cobbled climb on foot, and the image of Fabian Cancellara a few years ago doing just that, his chain draped round his neck after the chain broke, is still clear in our memories.

Oude Kwaremont
At 2,200 m. the Oude Kwaremont is the longest paved climb in Belgium. Since 2011 it has taken on a more important role in the final of the Tour of Flanders. Together with the Paterberg it is now part of the final lap. In 2012 the pros climbed it a total of three times.

Paterberg
Since 2011 this has been the absolute killer in the Tour of Flanders. Where the Oude Kwaremont is a long climb, the Paterberg is a steep narrow cobbled incline of 360 m. with a maximum gradient of 20.3 %. It was here, last year, that Fabian Cancellara outrode Peter Sagan, ultimately going on to triumph solo in Oudenaarde.