Ronde van Vlaanderen sportive route

What it is

Every spring on the Saturday before the men's professional Ronde van Vlaanderen, roughly 16,000 amateur riders take to the Flemish countryside to ride the same finale as the pros. The full distance option is roughly 250 km — though shorter 75, 125 and 175 km options also exist. The route changes year to year, but the closing 100 km always includes the famous bergs of the Flemish Ardennes.

Terrain

Flanders is not mountainous, but it is relentless in its own way. The bergs are short — most under a kilometre — but they are steep (up to 20 percent) and many are cobbled. The Oude Kwaremont, Paterberg, Koppenberg, and Muur van Geraardsbergen are the most famous. Between the bergs you ride flat farmland, where crosswinds and rolling rises wear down legs as effectively as climbs.

History

The Tour of Flanders has been raced since 1913. The sportive version began in 2002 and quickly became the largest cycling participation event in Belgium. Riding it is a rite of passage for any cyclist who cares about the classics.

Tips

Wider tyres are essential — 28 mm minimum, 30 to 32 mm is better. Lower than your road pressure for the cobbles. Eat early and often; the bergs come in clusters and there is no time to eat between them. Carry cash for the on-course feed stops (open to participants only). The weather is almost always bad in early April.

Best time

The official sportive is held the Saturday of the first weekend in April. The route is rideable year-round — local clubs run informal versions throughout the spring. The cobbles are kinder in the dry, brutal in the wet.