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Profile & Route Tour of Flanders 2023

Profile. The Tour of Flanders - or Ronde van Vlaanderen - is the second monument of the season and the queen of the Flanders classics. Taking place in the Flemish region of Belgium, the race incorporates many of the most famous cobbled sectors and climbs in pro cycling .

272 kilometers on the menu this year. The distance will make for a brutal race, the Tour of Flanders has always been a race for the riders who are capable of performing on a bike at top level for a large number of hours and this year that capacity will be put to the limit. The start at Antwerpen will then see just a bit over 130 kilometers that are mostly set to be calm, approximately half of the race. However in the second half everything changes, as the Oude Kwaremont will open things up.

Estimated start and finish times for Tour of Flanders: 11:00 - 17:30CET.

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PREVIEW | Tour of Flanders 2023 - Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogacar the big favourites

From 137 to 88 kilometers to go there will be a long succession of bergs and cobbled sectors that will thin down the peloton. Big attacks will no happen here, as the main favourites need to save their bullets wisely, however set-up attacks, split attempts and a lot of fatigue buildup may happen here.

The crucial section of the race starts with the second passage over the Oude Kwaremont. Kwaremont, Paterberg and the Koppenberg come in quick succession and this trio of ascents will not only destroy the peloton, it will also provide opportunities to launch potentially decisive attacks. They come with 54.5, 51 and 44.5 kilometers to go. Not many riders will survive the peloton afterwards, and with a thinned down group decisive attacks can also come after as the chasing power will not be so meaningful.

Prize Money Tour of Flanders men's and women's - €20.000 for winners

Steenbeekdries (39Km to go), Taaienberg (36.5Km to go) and Oude Kruisberg (28Km to go) follow afterwards and provide further launching pads for dangerous attacks. After a small descent the race will enter it’s final sectors.

For the third and last time, the Oude Kwaremont. A grueling berg with inconsistent gradients, it summits with 16.5Km to go.

Final startlist Tour of Flanders with Pogacar, van Aert, van der Poel, Alaphilippe, Pidcock, Ewan, Sagan, Girmay and Mohoric

And after a short section, the final berg of the race is always one that may see the differences, the Paterberg. Short but sharp, essentially a one-minute all-out effort after around 6:30h of hard racing where slipstreaming is not a thing. A climb most will know like the back of their hand, it will summit with 13 kilometers to go.

TV Guide - Where and When to watch Tour of Flanders 2023

As every year, the run-up to Oudenaarde then is quite excruciating. Pan-flat after the small descent from the Paterberg, it is a place where attacks can still happen, but whatever happens depends on what will happen over the ascents.

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UNDER_ARTICLE

Tue 27 Aug 2024

Wed 28 Aug 2024

There are still five days to go until the Tour of Flanders, but one fan is already camping out to secure his spot

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The breakaway at the 2016 Tour of Flanders

If you think you're a committed cycling fan, then we've got bad news for you, as you're simply never going to be able to compete with the dedication of one Belgian fan who is already camping out on the route of the Tour of Flanders with five days still to go until the big day.

Patrick Debondt (who we're going to assume is retired, self-employed, or has a very understanding employer) has already parked his campervan at the bottom of the Paterberg in order to secure the best spot for the big day on Sunday, as well as to make sure his van does not sink into the mud.

>>> Luke Rowe and Ian Stannard named in Team Sky's Dwars Door Vlaanderen squad

"I've come already because rain is forecast," Debondt told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad .

"Because of the rain in recent weeks, the field is soggy. I have to install road plates [metal or wooden boards that go underneath the wheels of the van to stop it sinking into the field] now, because that's going to give help if several campers arrive and the field gets more swampy."

Watch: Cobbled Classics essential guide 2018

Debondt is parked at the bottom of the Paterberg, which will be climbed twice by the men and once by the women on Sunday, and be the final climb in both races.

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>>> Niki Terpstra's Strava upload shows the incredible story of his solo victory in E3 Harelbeke

However Debondt does not intend to simply sit in his field for the next five days, and will travel to watch Dwars door Vlaanderen, which does not use the Paterberg, on Wednesday.

"I'll go to the Kluisberg for Dwars door Vlaanderen. The rest of the days you always experience something here. Riders who explore, cycling tourists, it is buzzing with activity here. I am not going to get bored."

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Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

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Touring the Battlefields of Flanders Fields

• October 25, 2020 November 3, 2020

When touring the Battlefields of Flanders Fields and northern France, using an experienced guide can make all the difference.

Very soon after the guns fell silent on Flanders Fields and northern France in November 1918, visitors to the battlefields began arriving. It was a difficult and expensive journey, but these first “battlefield tourists” or “pilgrims” as some preferred to be called, were driven to make the trip to see where their sons, fathers, brothers, uncles and friends had fallen. Those who couldn’t afford the time or expense could try and pay for a photographer, as described in a book I recently reviewed .

Nowadays a whole host of guides, tour operators and self-guided itineraries, cycling and walking routes exist. Check this comprehensive list for more details.

The company Flanders Battlefield Tour organizes daily tours of the Ypres Salient and the Somme. It’s run by Jacques Ryckebosch and Genevra Charsley, who have featured on BBC and other international television stations. Both are extremely passionate about the First World War. Genevra has been a member of the Western Front Association since 1997 and has assisted with the Poppy Parade in Ypres since 1997. For many years Jacques was curator at Talbot House .

Their Grand Tour (North Salient) visits several battlegrounds and memorials, including: Essex Farm (Advanced Dressing Station and John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields”), Pilckem Ridge (Gas Attack 1915), Langemarck German Cemetery, Vancouver Corner, The Brooding Soldier Memorial, New Zealand War Memorial Gravenstafel, Tyne Cot Cemetery (The Third Battle of Ypres aka Passchendaele) and Hill 62 (Sanctuary Wood) Museum with trenches, returning back to Ypres via Hellfire Corner.

Their Extended Tour (South Salient) takes you to: Bayernwald German Trenches, Lone Tree Crater/Pool of Peace, Hyde Park Corner Memorial & Cemetery (Plugstreet), Irish Peace Park, New Zealand Memorial and finally to the Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

They also provide a Short Tour around Ypres as well as tours to Fromelles, The Somme, and Vimy Ridge. Moreover, they offer bespoke tours, for example for people wishing to follow in the footsteps of relatives who are resting in peace within a cemetery or listed on one of the many memorials to the missing.

I asked Genevra to explain a little more about the work of a battlefield guide.

what brought you to Belgium?

“I was brought up in the English Midlands near Stratford-upon-Avon. My first real encounter with Belgium was a four-day walking battlefield tour of the Ypres Salient.”

How long have you lived in Belgium?

“We lived in Ypres for three years but then moved back to the UK for 18 months. We returned to Belgium in July 2007 to live in Poperinge.”

Were you interested in First World War history before living in Belgium?

“Yes, and history in general. After going out on my very first tour with Retired Lieutenant Colonel Graham Parker (aka Daddy Parker), my whole perspective on life changed completely. It felt like a monumental shift within me. From that moment on I collected, read, researched, and regularly visited the battlefields with good friends.”

How did you get a job as a Battlefield Guide?

“I don’t think of it as a job, more of a vocation; something that I’m extremely passionate about. Initially I guided part-time whilst living in Ypres and still working part-time for a publication in London. Eventually I made the transition to full-time guiding.”

What do you enjoy most about being a battlefield guide?

“I love interacting with people from across the world, hearing their stories, and being able to help them with furthering their knowledge and research. It’s so rewarding to help people make connections with those who served in the First World War and the generation that came afterwards.”

What makes a good battlefield guide?

“Obviously a battlefield guide needs in-depth knowledge, but also the ability to communicate that information clearly. It means being able to translate from items such as war diaries and military operational histories to on the ground, in a way that your customer can understand and appreciate what’s being said, thus bringing it alive for them in context of the subject matter. It’s also important to be approachable and to be empathic, as many times I am dealing with people who have lost relatives in the war and may still be grieving in some way. Finally, trench and road map reading along with orientation skills are a must. The worst scenario would be for a tour guide to get lost and orientate to an incorrect trench!”

Genevra is an excellent guide, not only well informed but passionate about the history of the area during World War I. She also has a great sense of humor and made the afternoon very enjoyable. I would highly recommend her tour. Trip Advisor

Are you constantly adding new material to the tours?

“We are eternal students, so yes we constantly add new material into our tours. Apart from anything it helps us as guides to stay fresh. A recent example is Essex Farm. I did some research on a soldier attached to the Irish Guards. He formed part of a trench raid on enemy lines to gather intelligence and bring back German prisoners. The unit was not allowed to ‘withdraw’ until they had achieved their objectives. He was fatally wounded during the raid and today he’s resting in peace in Essex Farm. So that’s a story that I can add to the tour. It provides an excellent opportunity to explain how deaths occur outside of major offensives. The bespoke tours that we offer generally result in research which enables us to collate new material and build it into our tours.”

Do you have a favourite tour?

“That’s difficult to answer! All the battlefields have their own stories and their own personalities. I enjoy the bespoke tours. But I’m repeatedly drawn to Hill 60 down to Plugstreet in Flanders, and to Loos, along with the Ancre Valley and Serre, in France.”

Thanks Genevra for this insight into an interesting and valuable job. Anyone interested in touring the battlefields of Flanders and northern France can contact Genevra via Flanders Battlefield Tour .

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4 thoughts on “Touring the Battlefields of Flanders Fields”

We did a battlefield tour from Bruges and it was well worth it. Much easier than us driving around everywhere and we learned so much.

I can’t imagine the appreciation families feel for their guidance.

I have toured several times with Gen & Jacques and always find them very interesting and entertaining (same tour is never the same). Very highly recommended for anyone, whether you know a bit (like me) or you are a novice… Walk the ground, see where it all happened, listen to the stories…

Thanks for your input Edward; delighted to hear you are in good hands with Genevra and Jacques.

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Cycling route Tour of Flanders

5.0 2 reviews | 1 photo | 16 climbs | 6 regions

Tour of Flanders is a 113.8 kilometer bicycle route with a total ascent of 1257 meters. 31.3 kilometers of the tour are uphill. There are 16 official climbs on the route. Climbfinder users shared 2 reviews of this route and uploaded 1 photo.

This route contains streets paved with cobbles that can be ridden with a road bike.

Climbs on the route

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Regions you cross

Time on bike, reviews (2).

Good route that has the best climbs from the Ronde in it. If you only have 1 day and don't want to cycle the red/yellow/blue loops, this is highly recommended.

Goede route die de mooiste beklimmingen uit de Ronde erin heeft zitten. Als je maar 1 dag de tijd hebt en niet de rode/gele/blauwe lusjes wilt fietsen is dit een aanrader.

I rode this tour in the summer of 2021. Nice route and with this you have done most of the known climbs of the RVV. What's nice is that each climb is indicated on the tarmac, including where the Strava segment starts and ends.

There are some short sections that are only 1 car wide. Unfortunately on one of these parts I met an oncoming car in a blind descent bend on a wet concrete road (between the Mariaborrestraat and Ronse) which led to a crash with grazes.

Despite this I can recommend the tour. PS: near the Ouwe Kwaremont you have the "Ronde van Vlaanderen straat", here all winners are mentioned on the asphalt. Very impressive list and only a small detour compared to the original circuit.

Rondje in de zomer van 2021 gereden. Mooie route en hiermee heb je grotendeels alle bekende klimmen uit de RVV gedaan. Wat leuk is, is dat elke klim wordt aangeven op het asfalt incl. waar het Strava segment start en eindigt.

Er zitten een aantal korte stukken tussen die maar 1 auto breed zijn. Helaas kwam ik op 1 van deze stukken een tegenligger tegen in een blinde afdaling bocht op een nat betonpad (tussen de Mariaborrestraat en Ronse) wat tot een valpartij met schaafwonden heeft geleidt.

Ondanks dit kan ik het rondje aanraden. PS: vlakbij de Ouwe Kwaremont heb je de "Ronde van Vlaanderen straat", hier staan alle winnaars op het asfalt genoemd. Zeer imposante lijst en slechts een kleine omweg t.o.v. originele rondje.

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Climbs of the Tour of Flanders

Mathew Mitchell

• Published on May 3, 2020
• in Men's Cycling , Rides in New Places

We’ve missed out on the Tour of Flanders this year (other than on Bkool) but the climbs are still there. The race has legendary status amongst the locals as it features in their national identity. Ronde van Vlaanderen race day is almost like a national holiday in that part of the world.

Table of Contents

The race itself has had a few changes in the last decade, moving the start and finish lines a few times. The old finale of Kapelmuur followed by the Bosberg disappeared for a new run-in to Oudenaarde. The move saw the previously important Kapelmuur taken out the race for a few years. The Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg took on the responsibility for deciding race winners instead.

Below is a full list of each of the climbs used in the Tour of Flanders since 2010. Each climb has a count of how often it’s featured in the race, a link to the Strava segment so you can see where it is and a profile to see the toughness. Not every climb is cobbled but many are, they’re tough, as I found out when I did the Tour of Flanders sportive in 2018.

For a good read-up of the history of the race, check out Peter Cossins – The Monuments .

Oude Kwaremont

Times used since 2010.

https://www.strava.com/segments/17025770

https://www.strava.com/segments/640400

https://www.strava.com/segments/6954419

https://www.strava.com/segments/11757524

Steenbeekdries

https://www.strava.com/segments/9361998

https://www.strava.com/segments/19651427

https://www.strava.com/segments/608903

https://www.strava.com/segments/608892

Kanarieberg

https://www.strava.com/segments/2738278

https://www.strava.com/segments/5001625

https://www.strava.com/segments/608898

https://www.strava.com/segments/6899724

Kruisberg (Oudestraat)

https://www.strava.com/segments/6062466

Muur – Kapelmuur

https://www.strava.com/segments/1058183

https://www.strava.com/segments/1294961

https://www.strava.com/segments/9703392

https://www.strava.com/segments/19651413

Kruisberg (Hotond)

https://www.strava.com/segments/712095

https://www.strava.com/segments/641313

https://www.strava.com/segments/1173560

https://www.strava.com/segments/21693457

https://www.strava.com/segments/1820437

https://www.strava.com/segments/608910

Knokteberg (Cote de Trieu)

https://www.strava.com/segments/16098939

Edelareberg

https://www.strava.com/segments/7588957

https://www.strava.com/segments/1030580

https://www.strava.com/segments/608876

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Tour of Flanders

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Heading across to take part in the Tour of Flanders sportive in the first weekend in April staying at Camping Panorama just outside Oudenaarde http://www.campingpanorama.be/e/contact.html Anybody stayed there before?  

No, we'll be wilding :wink: tony  

Just realised that we are going to be in the area so will be able to watch the race. Are there any good places to watch the race with motorhome parking close by? Thanks Peter  

Bump (again) (sorry)  

Just drive the route and pull over and park at or near a suitable spot to watch the race. tony  

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Tour of Flanders Museum (and why you shouldn’t miss it)

For a cycling fan, particularly one with a passion for the history of the sport, the Tour of Flanders Museum in Oudenaarde, Belgium, is a must-visit destination.

Where is the Tour of Flanders museum?

The museum is easy to find – it sits just a few metres from the market square in Oudenaarde. You can’t fail to spot it because there’s a vintage Peugeot/Flandria team car parked on the kerbside immediately outside!

The museum is marked “Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen” on the map below:

The windows of the museum are decorated with unique cobblestones, each depicting the previous winner of the famous race.

What can you expect to see inside?

Inside is an absolute treasure trove of cycling inspiration.

You may even see Freddy Maertens, the museum’s curator and former world champion in the Eddy Merckz era.

Through a combination of artefacts collected from the inception of the race at the turn of the last century and a range of multimedia presentations chronicles, the museum chronicles the history and progress of the event.

You’ll see everything from vintage bikes (and wonder how on earth they made the journey up the Koppenberg) to life-size cut-outs of recent winners, Peter Sagan and Tom Boonen. There is even an interactive machine that simulates the experience of riding on the cobbles!

The museum displays the bike that Greg van Avermaet won his Olympic Gold medal on in 2016 and a whole room has been devoted to three-time winner Fabien Cancellara. In here, you’ll find his bikes, trophies and jerseys.

Don’t miss!

Make sure you don’t miss some of our favourite items:

• bikes that were ridden by Merckz
• a jersey that once belonged to Johan Museeuw
• a bust of the British rider Tom Simpson.

And finally…

There is an excellent gift shop and entrance lobby full of local information, including cycling route maps and a cycling themed café.

After a long day in the saddle, it is a perfect way of spending a couple of hours before dinner. Don’t miss it!

Have you been? Let us know and share any tips in the comments below!

Want more info on cycling in Flanders? Don’t miss our full guide to the region: here .

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Tour of Flanders gallery: Mathieu van der Poel and Elisa Longo Borghini's spectacular triumphs in pictures

Rain creates chaos on the Koppenberg as World Champion and Italian Champion fly to victory

Everyone expected Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) to ride away with his third Tour of Flanders title, especially after rival Wout van Aert crashed and broke his collarbone, ribs and sternum in a crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen in the days leading up to the 2024 edition.

Writing your name into the history books as the seventh rider to win De Ronde three times is far from a simple task, however.

The world champion never put a foot wrong in the race, even as the rain fell and attacks flew. The legendary Koppenberg was Van der Poel's launching pad and his fellow competitors struggled, slipped and slid out in his wake as he stormed away on the punishing gradients.

A race that is decided on the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg in the final 20 kilometres was done and dusted before Van der Poel even reached those climbs, and the only surprising moment of the race was Luca Mozatto (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) winning the sprint for second over Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates).

The women's race was a very different story: Elisa Longo Borghini  (Lidl-Trek) won her second Tour of Flanders while World Champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) crashed in the early part of the race and struggled uncharacteristically after two years of dominating the Tour of Flanders.

The Koppenberg was a mess for the women, too, and even Kopecky had to run as the rain pounded down. 

Instead, Lidl-Trek proved to be the strongest team, with Shirin van Anrooij launching a strong solo attack before the Oude Kwaremont with 21km to go and looking as if she would ride away to the win.

On the Paterberg, Van Anrooij's teammate attacked to bridge across, bringing Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) along. Longo Borghini came from behind in the three-rider sprint to snatch the win from the Polish rider.

Images by Zac Williams/SWPix.com unless otherwise noted.

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Mathieu van der Poel looking unbothered by his status of outright favourite at the start

World Champion Lotte Kopecky (left) was also the outright favourite before the start Jasper Jacobs/Getty Images

The Flanders flag was flown all over the course

The early kilometres were run on wider roads for safety

The peloton enjoyed dry roads in the first half of the race

The early breakaway in the women's Tour of Flanders Luc Claessen/Getty Images

Oscar Riesebeek represented Alpecin-Deceuninck in the early breakaway

Riders pass one of the picturesque windmills

Rain falls on the women's race Luc Claessen/Getty Images

Biniam Girmay on the Oude Kwaremont

Mathieu van der Poel in the peloton with a tailwind obvious by the Flanders flags

Mathieu van der Poel comes to the fore on the Oude Kwaremont

Mads Pedersen leads Oier Lazkano

Matteo Jorgenson rides side by side with Mathieu van der Poel

Lucinda Brand rides in the peloton Jasper Jacobs/Getty Images

Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar) on a solo move before the Koppenberg

Poor Ivan Garcia Cortina was off the front on the Koppenberg but had a mechanical and had to run

Mathieu van der Poel attacked on the Koppenberg in the rain to avoided the mayhem image David Pintens/Getty Images

Behind Van der Poel, it was pure chaos on the Koppenberg

At the other end of the peloton, riders slid out and caused traffic jams

Mikkel Bjerg finds that slipping on the Koppenberg is not how you want to stretch the adductors

Lotte Kopecky (right) runs up the Koppenberg

After the Koppenberg, Van der Poel was on his own

Fans enjoy all the action

Tiesj Benoot (Visma-Lease a Bike) gives his all

Josh Tarling and Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers)

Van der Poel makes light work of the Paterberg

UAE Team Emirates' kits are barely visible under all the filth but the team stacked the top 10 with Politt, Bjerg and Morgado

Van der Poel on his solo attack

Without Wout van Aert after his crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen, Visma-Lease a Bike were at a disadvantage

Mathieu van der Poel on the final climbs before his third Tour of Flanders victory

Alberto Bettiol flies the flag for EF Education-EasyPost

Oliver Naesen (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale)

Antonio Morgado (UAE Team Emirates) experiences the agony of the Tour of Flanders for the first time, finishing fifth

Ecstasy for Mathieu van der Poel

Thrills for Elisa Longo Borghini

Less ecstasy for Stefan Küng who finished 41st

Demi Vollering after finishing eighth

Lotte Kopecky was the top SD Worx-Protime rider in fifth place

Van der Poel gathers himself after a gruelling effort

Shirin Van Anrooij (left) gets a hug from teammate and race winner Elisa Longo Borghini

Precious memories for the podium finishers

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Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.

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How to watch the 2024 Tour of Flanders | Global options for live TV, streaming and highlights

How to catch the women’s and men’s racing in the second monument of the season

POOL JAN DE MEULENEIR/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

The 2024 men's and women's Tour of Flanders takes place on Sunday 31 March.

The second monument of the season, the Ronde van Vlaanderen is defined by its steep cobbled climbs.

The 270.8km men's race starts in Antwerp and finishes in Oudenaarde, which has hosted the finish since Peter Sagan's win in 2016. The men's route features 17 cobbled climbs in total, including the Koppenberg, Valkenberg, Wolvenberg and others.

The women's race is 163km, starting and finishing in Oudenaarde. The women's route includes 12 bergs, finishing with a double-headed ascent of the Kwaremont and Paterberg.

Here's how to see the action live on TV, streaming online or on catch-up.

2024 Tour of Flanders race schedule

The women’s race starts in Oudenaarde at 1.24pm CEST and is expected to finish around 5.55pm.

The men's race starts at 10am CEST and is due to finish around 4:45pm.

How can I watch the 2024 Tour of Flanders live in the UK?

Eurosport 1 and Discovery+ will show live coverage of the men's and women's editions of the 2024 Tour of Flanders.

Discovery+ coverage of the men's race kicks off at 8.30am UK time, finishing up at 3.45pm. Eurosport 1 starts at 9.45am, wrapping up at 4.45pm.

For a full bumper day of racing viewing, you can tune in at 2pm on Discover+ for the women's race, or 4.45pm on Eurosport 1. Coverage ends at 5.50pm and 6.30pm respectively.

If you fancy a Sunday lie-in, don't forget the clocks change on Sunday 31 March.

A standard Eurosport/Discovery+ subscription costs £6.99 per month and is available on a range of platforms, including tablet, mobile, TV with Chromecast or AirPlay, Android TV and Apple TV.

How can I watch the 2024 Tour of Flanders live in the US?

FloBikes will show the Tour of Flanders in the US. Coverage starts for the men's race at 3.55am EST and the women's race at 9am EST. FloBikes requires a subscription.

How can I watch the 2024 Tour of Flanders live in Australia?

SBS will be covering the women’s and men’s racing live and on-demand. Coverage starts at 9.55am AEDT for the men's race and 3pm AEDT for the women's event.

How else can I watch the 2024 Tour of Flanders?

There’s live terrestrial coverage in many European countries.

Italian national broadcaster RAI will be broadcasting the race live and on-demand. RTBF and VRT will be showing the race in full in Belgium. ESPN will also show the event in many territories outside of Europe.

If you’ve got a VPN, you may be able to register, log in to its website and watch live.

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