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 …
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.
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.
In 2019, we are expecting the route will finish for the eighth time in Oudenaarde. In 2018 Niki Terpstra launched a brave solo bid for victory and was able to maintain a small lead over his chases for the last 20km to claim a popular victory.
We are assuming the race route will be similar to the 2018 event which will include a final section of 75 kilometers built around three loops on the Oude-Kwaremont and Paterberg in combination with the Koppenberg and Kruisberg.
This loop is concentrated around four crucial hills in the Flemish Ardennes, all within a stone’s throw of each other. The ultimate final, being ten climbs and two cobbled sections followed by a straight line to the finish in Oudenaarde, which will see only the strongest survive to battle out the finish.
Hundreds of thousands of cycling fans make the Tour of Flanders what it is today so the atmosphere on this final circuit will be amazing!
Our Day:
Today we’ll be a part of the lotto-Soudal team. We’re having breakfast together with the riders. After breakfast we can check out the bikes the riders will use and we have a quick look at the team bus. After all this, we will ride in convoy to the start area where you can check the other teams.
Once the start is given we’re starting our own tour of Flanders, not on the bike but with the van. We will go from one point to another using the back roads in the Flanders area.
In our vans, we have TV so we don’t have to miss anything of the race.
We’re providing a pick nick lunch with bubbles, beer and soft drinks;
After seeing the finish we will return to Gent for an evening free in the town. Our hotel is situated in the centre of Gent so the restaurants are only a short walk away.
Brief History of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen
The Ronde is one of the most prestigious of the Spring Classics, or of any cycle race. It’s an endurance race in the true sense. 270 kms with more than a dozen climbs it varies year to year. There are no Alpine or Pyrenean mountains, but most of the climbs are narrow and steep, and several are cobbled. Although they are tough in their own right, they also raise the tempo in between since everybody wants to be in a good position when they start.