
Whilst we might acknowledge that the ‘bod on the Clapham omnibus’ might mistakenly believe that France is the epicentre of cycling, most road cyclists are well aware that it is, in fact, Belgium. Even French Fries originated in Belgium! Belgium has the best beer in the world too, and does pretty well with chocolate and waffles too. But the creme de la creme of Belgium are the Belgium Ardennes around Oudenaarde, Names like the Koppenberg, Paterberg, Kwaremont and the iconic Mur van Gerardsbergen are places on every serious road cyclists’ bucket list, and you can ride them all on this trip. With the Tour of Flanders museum a couple of minutes walk from the hotel, immerse yourself in cycling history and culture. Weather permitting, this could be the best cycling trip abroad you ever make. Visit the greatest cycling country in the world, in its premier iconic locality!
There is also an option to ride some of the Paris-Roubaix cobbles on the last day too … how cool is that? Don’t worry if that’s not for you, the alternative is a beautiful Calais – Dunkerque ride (both previously tested by West London Cycling riders)
Days 1 and 4 are optional rides and we’ve added a second option for the fourth day, which is the day we travel back. You can now either choose to drive straight home, do some Paris-Roubaix Cobbles or some wonderful flat riding from Calais to Dunkerque and back.
THREE OR FOUR DAY STAY (Start Day 1 or Day 2) Staying in Oudenaarde
Riders will need to make their own arrangements with regards to transport and accommodation but we have set out the options below. Anticipated costs €120 per night twin room plus petrol and a return ferry crossing. Costs will vary per individual depending on room sharing and car sharing. You need to bring your own bike (Although Bike Hire may be available)
Scroll down for PICTURES, routes, links to the bergs and cobbles, the Hellingen book, bike hire, hotel and ferry links.
ROUTES
The concept is that you have a choices, two days’ riding the iconic bergs (3 nights), or three days riding (plus a short ride en-route on day one) and conquer all 25 bergs in Simon Warren’s Hellingen book / App.. In both cases, upon arrival in Oudenaarde, a visit to the Tour of Flanders Cycling Museum is deemed essential!
(numbers in brackets relate to the climbs in the Hellingem book first number is the local reference. *=duplicated over the routes)

DAY 1 (OPTIONAL) THURSDAY 25th July 2024
Travel outwards (possibly via the short Flanders 4 route KEMMELBERG – RODEBERG 18km 320m) and visit Flandrian Cycling Museum in Oudenaarde (CENTRUM RONDE VAN VLAANDEREN)
3. KEMMELBERG (1)
RODEBERG (2)
1. MONTEBERG
46. BANEBERG (2)

DAY 2 (OPTIONAL) FRIDAY 26th July 2024
Flanders 3 Route TAAIENBERG – FOREEST 104km 1,240m (Or Travel out as day 1)
34. NOKEREBERG (3)
21. KLUISBERG (4)
KNOKTEBERG / COTE de TRIEU (5)
39. KORTEKEER (8)
36. LADEUZE (11)
22. VOLKEGEMBERG (13)
55*.TAAIENBERG (15)
27. FORREST (18)
4. TENBOSSE (22)
59. BERENDRIES (23)
KATTENBERG (12)

DAY 3 SATURDAY 27th July 2024
Flanders 1 Route MUUR VAN GERARDSBERGEN 94km 1,068m
26*.RUITERSTRAAT
42. KERKGATE
43. JAGERIJ
44. MOLENBERG (19)
50. PADDESTRAAT
51*.HAAGHOEK
9*. LEBERG (20)
16. ELVERENBERG
53. MUUR VAN GERAARDSBERGEN (KAPELMUUR & VESTEN) (24)
52. BOSBERG (25)

DAY 4 SUNDAY 28th July 2024
Flanders 2 Route KOPPENBERG KWAREMONT 94km 1,256m
41. WOLVENBERG
26*. RUITERSSTRAAT
51*. HAAGHOEK
9*.LEBERG (20)
35. VALKENBERG (21)
6. BOIGNEBERG (17)
48. EIKENBERG (14)
58. KOPPENBERG (9)
24. MARIABORRESTRAAT – STEENBEEKDRIES
55*. TAAINBERG (15)
14. KAPERIJ
32. KANARIEBERG (16)
54. OUDE KRUISBERG (10)
57. OUDE KWAREMONT (6)
56. PATERBERG (7)
DAY 5 (OPTIONAL) MONDAY 29th July 2024
CHOICE OF RIDES – COBBLES OR COAST?

1.Travel home via TROUEE d’ARENBERG PARIS -ROUBAIX SEGMENTS 38km COBBLES
PARIS-ROUBAIX SECTOR NUMBER / SECTOR NAME / LENGTH / OFFICIAL RATING
19. Haveluy (2,500m) ****
18. Trouée d’Arenberg (2,400m) *****
17. Wallers – Hélesmes (a.k.a. Pont Gibus) (1,600m) ***
16. Hornaing (3,700m) ****



2.or perhaps travel to Calais and ride to Dunkerque and back before getting the evening ferry home

CALAIS – DUNKERQUE – CALAIS FLAT 123km 361m ascent



LOCAL CYCLING FLANDERS CHALLENGE
NOTE: There is also a local Flandrien challenge to do 59 segments in 72 hours: 1-Monteberg 2-Gildestraat 3-Kemmelberg(1) 4-Tenbosse(22) 5-Langemunte 6-Boigneberg(17) 7-Stationsberg 8-Steenbeekberg 9-Leberg(20) 10-Ganzenberg 11-Kouterberg 12-Kappelleberg 13-Pottenberg 14-Kaperij 15-Berg Ten Houte 16-Elverenberg-Vossenhol 17-Steenberg 18-Onderbossenaar 19-Hostellerie 20-De Vlamme 21-Kluisberg-Bergstraat(4) 22-Volkegemberg(13) 23-Lettenberg 24-Mariaborrestraate-Steenbeekdries 25-Varentberg 26-Ruitersstraat 27-Forrest(18) 28-Zandberg 29-Scherpenberg 30-Lippenhovestraat 31-Korten Ast 32-Kanarieberg(16) 33-Doorn 34-Nokereberg(3) 35-Valkenberg(21) 36-Ladeuze(11) 37-Achterberg 38-Kortendries 39-Kortekeer(8) 40-Schapenberg-Scherpenberg 41-Wolvenberg 42-Kerkgate 43-Jagerij 44-Molenberg(19) 45-Schomminkel 46-Baneberg 47-Kemmelberg (Belvedere)(1) 48-Eikenberg(14) 49-Huisepontweg 50-Peddestraat 51-Haaghoek 52-Bosberg(25) 53-De Vesten & De Muur(24) 54-Oude Kruisberg(10) 55-Taainberg(15) 56-Paterberg(7) 57-Oude Kwaremont(6) 58-Koppenberg(9) 59-Berendries(23)


HOTELS
Hotel Leopold is our preferred hotel as it is where the rides start and has good parking outside. It is used to having cyclists and is not far from the Town Square Restaurants and the Flanders Cycling Museum.
De Rantere Town Centre – no parking available but you can probably park outside the Leopold
Hotel de Zalm Town centre, may need to reserve parking
Hotel La Pomme d’or Town centre but no parking available
Bed & Breakfast Jezuietenplein 21 No parking, but paid parking nearby
There are several buildings for hire in the area for cycling groups. This usually requires sharing rooms with more than one other person and are not generally close to the town centre and restaurants.
De Flandriehoeve Hotond Sports Hotel Bergs & Cobbles B&B
In’t wiel De Wiitte Hoeve Velocipede Hof Van Eine t’Huys Van Enaeme SintJacobshoeve
FERRIES & TUNNEL
Although Dunquerque is nearer our destination than Calais, the ferry crossing takes longer as a consequence, so we are not convinced that it makes a lot of difference …. Some of us are on P&O 06.55 depart Thursday morning and return P&O 19.00 Monday evening.

BY TRAIN
Eurostar make it difficult to take bikes on their trains these days, however, if you are able to hire a bike in Oudenaarde then the train may be an option. You could get Eurostar to either Lille or Bruxelles Midi/Zuid and get a local train to Oudenaarde. If you go from Lille, expect about an hour’s travel and you will need to change at Kortrijk. The travel from Brussels to Oudenaarde probably won’t involve changing trains and will take slightly less time, however, there will be a 40 minute extra journey on Eurostar so Lille would appear to be quicker.
BIKE HIRE
You can hire bikes from the CENTRUM RONDE VAN VLAANDEREN
You can Rent a Bike at L’Amusette Cycling Cafe
GALLERY


















































