Destination Guide
Cycling in Flanders
Cycling in Flanders: the cobbled bergs of the Spring Classics, cycling as a national religion, and roads where Merckx, De Vlaeminck, and Van Aert became legends.
Last updated: 12 March 2026
- Terrain
- Road, Climbing, Flat
- Difficulty
- Moderate — Expert
- Road Quality
- Good
- Cycling Culture
- World Class
- Pro Team Presence
- The Tour of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaanderen) and Gent-Wevelgem are UCI WorldTour monuments held here annually in late March and early April. Jumbo-Visma, Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, and Alpecin-Deceuninck all conduct reconnaissance rides on the bergs throughout the spring. The region is also home to Strade Bianche-calibre pavé sections featured in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and Dwars door Vlaanderen.
- Traffic
- Low
Best Time to Cycle in Flanders
March and April are the sacred months for cycling in Flanders — Classics season transforms every berg into a pilgrimage site, with amateur riders following race routes days before the professionals arrive. Conditions average 8-14°C, which is ideal for hard riding. Spring weather is notoriously unpredictable: the Ronde has been raced in sunshine and snow within recent memory. May and October are underrated — warmer, quieter, and with the benefit of either spring green or autumn gold on the rolling Flemish countryside. December and January are genuinely bleak: short days, cold rain, and mud that makes road riding unpleasant. The bergs can be icy in winter.
Temperature: -3°C (winter) to 28°C (summer)
Best Cycling Climbs in Flanders
Oude Kwaremont
2.2km · 79m · 4% · CAT4
The Kwaremont is the beating heart of Tour of Flanders racing: a 2.2km mix of smooth tarmac giving way to brutal pavé sections that has broken races and riders since it first appeared in the Ronde in 1979. The gradient averages a misleadingly modest 4%, but the cobblestone sections — particularly the pavé in the middle third — multiply the effort dramatically, turning a straightforward gradient into a full-body battle to maintain traction and cadence. In wet conditions, the greasy cobbles become genuinely treacherous. The climb finishes at the Kwaremont crossroads where the Café Kasteel Kwaremont — one of cycling's great post-ride stops — serves exceptional beers to riders still trembling from the effort. In the Tour of Flanders, the Kwaremont is climbed up to three times, each repetition harder than the last.
Paterberg
0.36km · 48m · 12.9% · CAT4
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.
Koppenberg
0.6km · 71m · 11.6% · CAT4
The most controversial and feared climb in professional cycling — banned from the Tour of Flanders in 1988 after Jesper Skibby fell and officials riding motorbikes nearly ran over him, and finally reinstated in 2002. The Koppenberg rises 71m in just 600m of entirely cobbled road, peaking at 22% on sections so steep that even WorldTour professionals regularly struggle to maintain forward momentum on wet race days. The cobbles are among the most irregular on any Flemish berg — large, rounded stones that provide virtually no grip under power. For amateur cyclists, the Koppenberg is frequently walked rather than ridden, but the attempt is obligatory for anyone serious about experiencing Flanders cycling. The narrow, sunken road gives the climb a claustrophobic intensity that amplifies the effort.
Muur van Geraardsbergen
1.1km · 87m · 9.3% · CAT4
The spiritual summit of Flemish cycling culture. The Muur — 'wall' in Dutch — climbs through the medieval cobbled streets of Geraardsbergen to the Chapel of Our Lady of Oudenberg at 110m, its spire visible for kilometres across the flat Flemish plain. Unlike the more rural bergs, the Muur ascends through a living town, past cheering residents who understand and celebrate the climb's significance. The 1.1km averages 9.3% with a notorious section of 19% cobbles in the middle third. The chapel at the top has become one of cycling's most photographed locations. Removed from the Tour of Flanders route in 2012 to move the finish to Oudenaarde — a decision that still provokes strong opinion among Flemish cycling fans — but reinstated to the race in recent editions.
Kemmelberg
1.4km · 95m · 7.1% · CAT4
The highest point in West Flanders at 156m and the dominant climb in Gent-Wevelgem and Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne. The Kemmelberg sits in the Heuvelland ('hill country') region of West Flanders near Ypres, and its forested slopes provide a completely different atmosphere from the open farmland bergs of the Ronde. The northern ascent is the most severe: 1.4km at 7.1% average with a brutal 17% ramp through the trees. The southern descent is technical — narrow, cambered, and famous for crashes in professional races. The surrounding Heuvelland plateau offers some of the finest cycling roads in Belgium, with long stretches of Flemish lanes passing through war cemeteries and hop fields that link the area's history to its landscape with unusual directness.
Insider Tips
- The week before the Tour of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaanderen, first Sunday of April) is one of the greatest experiences in cycling tourism. Amateur cyclists from across Europe descend on Oudenaarde to ride the exact race route — you'll share the bergs with hundreds of other cycling pilgrims and the atmosphere in every café is electric.
- Ride the Ronde van Vlaanderen cyclosportive — the official amateur edition held the day before the professional race. 100,000 riders across different distance categories follow the race route with road closures, feed stations, and full race organisation. Entry sells out within hours of opening each autumn.
- The Ronde van Vlaanderen Centrum museum in Oudenaarde is essential viewing — an hour inside will tell you everything about why the Spring Classics matter, with the race's 100-year history presented alongside the bikes of Merckx, De Vlaeminck, and Boonen. Start every cycling day here.
- Flemish cycling cafés are categorically different from generic coffee shops. The Café Kasteel Kwaremont at the top of the Kwaremont, the café at the Paterberg, and the pub at the Koppenberg all serve exceptional Belgian beers to cyclists who have just earned them. Factor two or three stops into every route — this is as important as the riding.
- The Ronde van Vlaanderen route covers approximately 270km with 19 climbs in the professional race, but the decisive section — called the Waaier (fan) — runs from Waregem to Oudenaarde over the final 90km. Riding this section alone, incorporating Kwaremont, Paterberg, Koppenberg, and Bosberg in sequence, gives the definitive Flanders experience in a manageable 4-5 hour ride.
How to Get to Flanders for Cycling
Nearest Airports
Brussels Airport(BRU)
Transfer: 60-90 minutes to Oudenaarde or Geraardsbergen
The primary international gateway for Flanders cycling. Direct flights from across Europe, North America, and the Middle East. The drive south and west to the Ronde van Vlaanderen heartland around Oudenaarde takes 60-75 minutes on the E40 and A10 motorways. Bike bags accepted on all major carriers serving Brussels. The train from Brussels Midi to Oudenaarde takes approximately 90 minutes with a change, making car hire the preferred option for cyclists wanting flexible access to the bergs.
Brussels South Charleroi Airport(CRL)
Transfer: 75-100 minutes to Oudenaarde
Primary hub for Ryanair and low-cost carriers with direct routes from the UK and across Europe. Useful for budget-conscious travellers accepting the longer transfer. Car hire available at the terminal. The drive north and west to Oudenaarde is straightforward via the E42. Also provides convenient access to the Ardennes cycling region for trips combining both Flanders and Wallonia.
Ghent-Kortrijk-Ypres (road access via Lille Airport)(LIL)
Transfer: 60 minutes to Ypres / Kemmelberg area
Lille Airport in northern France serves routes from the UK and select European cities. It is the closest airport to the Heuvelland region (Kemmelberg, Gent-Wevelgem territory) and the Kortrijk area. For cyclists targeting West Flanders specifically, this can be a more convenient option than Brussels. Eurostar to Lille and car hire from the city is an alternative for UK visitors.
Getting around: Car Recommended — Oudenaarde is the ideal base for the Ronde van Vlaanderen climbs — Kwaremont, Paterberg, and Koppenberg are all within 20km. Geraardsbergen lies 30km to the east. The Kemmelberg and Heuvelland are best accessed from Ypres, 50km west. A car allows you to shuttle between these zones and park at the base of individual climbs for repeat ascent training. Ghent is an excellent urban base with rail connections, but cycling to the bergs from the city adds 40km of flat Flemish lanes in each direction.