Paterberg

The most savage short climb in Belgian cycling. 360 metres of entirely cobbled road that averages 12.9% and hits 20% at its maximum — steep enough that many riders are forced to walk even in dry conditions. The Paterberg was added to the Tour of Flanders route in 1986 and immediately established itself as a race-decider: attacks launched over its crest in the final kilometres of the Ronde have determined the winner more than once. The cobbles are particularly rough and uneven, demanding raw power rather than technique. The feeling of the legs emptying completely on this climb — even at 360m — is unlike anything else in cycling. It sits directly adjacent to the Oude Kwaremont, and the combination of both in succession is the defining physical challenge of Flanders cycling.