Tour of Flanders Cycle Sportive
Ronde van Vlaanderen Weekend Trip
Ronde van Vlaanderen Date April 2021 TBC
If you are a true Cycling Enthusiast then you must make the pilgrimage to the Ronde once in your life!
After all it is the race that stops the nation.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
- A true cycling enthusiast must make the pilgrimage to the Ronde once in their life!
- 2 days of cycling including the bone-jarring but must do, Tour of Flanders cycle sportive event
- 3 days in beautiful Gent
- Experience Belgian hospitality and share their passion for all things cycling
Dates: April 2, 2021 to April 5, 2021
Start: Brussels, Belgium
Finish: Brussels, Belgium
Group Size: 15 guests – 3 staff
Price: TBC
Single Supplement: TBC
Note: All trip costs are per person, not including airfare and based on two persons per room. If travelling alone we will match you with a person to share. Alternatively, you may choose to have a room of your own by paying the single supplement.
Note: It is a requirement of Bikestyle Tours that you have Travel Insurance for your trip.
Spectators and Off the Bike
Racing fans are always welcome!
Social Riding and Leisure
We understand that your cycling holiday is a HOLIDAY! We understand that you don't normally ride everyday at home. Our ride routes cherry-pick the best areas.
Some training will always enhance your experience!
Experienced Riders
Your cycling holiday is all actually about the bike! Our epic and challenge ride options seek more vertical metres and longer miles.
Tour cost is per person twin share and includes:
- All Transport.
- Services of experienced Tour Guides, including former Belgian pro cyclist, Eric de Clercq.
- Return transfers from Zaventem Airport on Friday and Monday
- Accommodation in a 3 star apartment (Gent)
- Buffet breakfast daily.
- 3 course evening meals on 2 nights.
- Lunch on 1 day.
- Mechanical assistance with your bike.
- Sightseeing as listed.
- Bikestyle Tours Itinerary.
- Bikestyle Tours Cycling Jersey & Bibs
- Entry to Tour of Flanders
Note: All bike hire costs include 2 water bottles for you to keep. We also provide a saddle bag with a spare tube, pump, tyre-levers and multi-tool. The pump and saddle bag with its contents must be returned with the hire bike at the end of hire.
AT A GLANCE
- 4 Days
- 2 Dinners, 1 Lunch
- Tour of Flanders
- Luxury Transport
- High Staff Ratio
- Intermediate to Experienced
- 3 & 4 Star Hotels
Share the road with former professional cyclist and local, Eric de Clercq
A career spanning 11 years from 1991 to 2002, including 19 victories including a stage win in the Tour of Britain. He is one of the hard men of Belgium.
Experience in racing the big Classics such as Tour of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaanderen) and Paris-Roubaix. Eric rode for:
- La William-Duvel from 1991-1993
- Collstrop from 1994-2002.
In 2004 he became a Director Sportif for the Vlaanderen Women’s Professional Cycling Team. He continues to work with professional cycling teams as a team soigneur and hosting team VIP’s during race days.
Eric has been with Bikestyle Tours for many years and runs many trips each year. His favourite are the Spring Classics and the race that often passes his home, Tour of Flanders.
Speaking three languages, you will find Eric to be a great guide and even better to socialise with after a ride.
Tour of Flanders Weekend Itinerary
Arrival at the Tour of Flanders
Today we will transfer from Brussels to our hotel in beautiful, lively Gent, our base for the next 3 nights where you can unpack and settle in before we head out for a rider to stretch the legs.
We start today with our staff meeting you at Zaventem airport in Brussels at 11.30 am and transferring you to our first hotel in beautiful, lively Gent, our base for the next 3 nights where you can unpack and settle in.
There will be someone to meet you at the Airport and assist you to our vehicle. After we collect everyone we will be on our way to Gent and our self-contained apartment-hotel in the centre of town.
The first job will be to assemble your bike and Bikestyle staff will be on hand if you have mechanical problems or need any other assistance. The rest of the day is yours.
Tonight a Welcome Dinner is provided at the Hotel Restaurant and there will be plenty of time to ask questions and meet the staff and of course, the people who you will be spending your holiday with and maybe a Belgian beer or two!
Tour of Flanders Cycle Sportif
Today we have the special Cycling Sportif event for cycling tourists on the day before the real boys come out to play.
On average 16,000 riders do this great event and you too will have the opportunity to do either the 170km, 130km or the 74km distance events - you choose.
Our great location in Gent will be to our advantage this morning as the hotel will prepare an early breakfast for us. After breakfast, we will head off to the start line to start your Flander Sportif experience.
The 130km is the pick of the events as it gives you a true feel of the race as it traditionally goes over all the final (13 or so) climbs including the famous Molenberg, Oude Kwaremont, Koppenberg, Berendries, Valkenberg, Paterberg. It’s a great day on the bike but a hard one as the growing popularity of the event now means that almost 16,000 people participate.
The Tour of Flanders for Cyclists is the second event on the Golden Bike calendar, an initiative of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) to promote bike races worldwide. The Tour of Flanders (the race) is without a doubt one of the biggest sporting events in Belgium.
After the event, we will gather everyone and head back to Gent for a well-deserved shower and maybe some frites and mayo with a Belgian beer to wash it down along the way!
The Tour of Flanders
The Tour of Flanders is a living monument to cycling thanks to its past winners and demanding parcours. Hard men shine through this race typically hit with snow, wind and/or rain… Men like Rik Van Looy, Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck, Tom Boonen and Johan Museeuw.
I don’t think there is anything quite like seeing a big Classic race live. The crowds are getting bigger every year. All of Flanders comes out to celebrate as if it is their National Day. To me, this is the real heart of cycling. If you are a cyclist you have to see this race once in your life.
In 2021, the route will finish for the ninght time in Oudenaarde. In 2019 Alberto Bettiol (EF Education First) has created one of the biggest surprises in the recent history of the Tour of Flanders. The 25-year-old Italian drove away from all the big names on the Oude Kwaremont, on his way to his first professional victory ever. Kasper Asgreen and Alexander Kristoff completed the unexpected podium
Farewell from Flanders
Sadly, our trip comes to an end today. We hope have enjoyed the Tour of Flanders experience and challenged yourself on some of the toughest roads in Europe.
Sadly, our trip comes to an end today. We hope have enjoyed the Tour of Flanders experience and challenged yourself on some of the toughest roads in Europe. Most of all we hope you’ve created new friendships and great memories. The trip ends and we head our separate ways but we hope to see you again soon. We will have a bus available to shuttle people to the airport during the day
Ride Tour of Flanders cycle sportive
Your trip starts in Brussels and our staff help you prepare for the Tour of Flanders cyclo sportif.
Statistics surrounding this weekend are just astounding — some 16,000 riders participate in the cycle sportive and over 80% of the Belgium population tunes in to watch the race. This is the heartland of cycling! The sportif is extremely well organised and our guests always enjoy the tough day on the bike conquering the Flemish bergs — Koppenberg, Oude Kwaremont, Muur de Geraardsbergen, Paterberg just to name a few.
Our staff will also assist you with all of your preparations for the sportive. Our weekend guests even have the option to use one of our hire bikes for the weekend. Perfect for you to tie in some work travel around one of the worlds biggest cycling races!
Ride the Ronde course in a very well organised cycle sportive
VIP Experience – Ronde Van Vlaanderen
Soak up the atmosphere of one of the most exciting races on the cycling calendar – Tour of Flanders.
Sip champagne and see the race on the famous Oude Kwaremont
The final circuit has multiple passes of the Oude Kwaremont and often is where the winning rider breaks away from the field. Earlier in the day, the professional women battle out on the same course.
Why Pre-Book with Bikestyle Tours?
Pre-bookings are risk-free and guarantee you a spot!
Our pre-booking system is a risk-free way to reserve your place. That means you have first right of refusal once we’ve released the official trip itinerary. You’ll have 10 days to decide from when you receive the itinerary to confirm or cancel the booking. At this time you are required to pay your trip deposit to secure the booking.
Our Trips are Guaranteed Departures.
Guaranteed departures give you peace of mind that once you’ve booked your trip – you’re going! We do not cancel trips due to insufficient numbers leaving you stranded. Our customers come from all over the world, so no matter where you live we can help you with your cycling vacation.