Tour of Flanders bergs

Dozens of hills (‘bergs’) and cobblestone sections are what have made the Ronde Van Vlaanderen legendary.  Come to Flanders in spring time and you will see lots of amateur cyclists struggling, suffering and sometimes even falling off their bike on these bergs. We selected four of the most famous bergs (all cobbled): the most steep and/or dramatic ones, with the best photographic opportunities.

Koppenberg

When your legs explode and your arms go numb, you’ve arrived on the Koppenberg, a Flemish climb that has reduced pro bike racers to shuffling, broken survivors. For years, photographs have carried forward stories of the suffering on the Koppenberg and nearby hills that exact a toll during races in March and April. The plot: men in trouble, faces blank, eyes searching for an escape from pain as the race leader floats over a summit toward immortality. We can’t stop watching. “Koppen” is an abbreviation for “kinderkoppen”, literally “children’s heads” – an expression referring to the cobblestones. This climb is feared by many because of its steepness (19% on the trickiest parts).

But before you go here’s a few pointers to help make the best of it.

• Don’t go too hard at the start of the climb, it’s longer than you think.
• Start in a relatively small gear, stay seated, and keep as much weight on your rear wheel.
• You’ll have the best odds riding the left hand side for the first 3rd, after that it’s all about survival.
• The steepest section is in the middle, if you can make it up that section you’re golden!
• The more power you can give it the better.

FACT SHEET: DIRECTIONS: The Koppenberg rises from the village of Melden. Leave Meldenstraat and take Rotelenberg to the fork where you head left up Steengat.

START POINT: Steengat 1-9, 9700 Oudenaarde, Belgium DISTANCE                                630 m START HEIGHT                         11 m END HEIGHT                              73 m HIGHEST POINT                         73 m ASCENT                                       59 m AVERAGE                                11.6 % MAXIMUM                              19.0 %

Paterberg

 

Less than 6 kilometers down the road from the Koppenberg, lies another famous cobbled climb of the Flemish Ardennes: The Paterberg. Narrow cobbled road with an average gradient of 12.5% and a stretch of 20%. The Paterberg is climbed two times in the current route of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. It’s also the last climb, 13 kilometers before the finish line.

Before you go here’s a few pointers to help make the best of it.

• Take the corner (from the left or right) at the base of the climb hard, as you’ll lose momentum quickly if you take the turn too slowly.
• Start in a relatively small gear, stay seated, and keep as much weight on your rear wheel.
• There’s no best side to ride up if you intend to ride strictly on the cobbles, but if you need to there is a decent sized gutter on the left side of the road.
• This is a short and hard climb, so the more power you can give the better.
• The cobbles here are smoother and closer together than the Koppenberg so you should have less trouble getting to the top.

FACT SHEET: DIRECTIONS: Head east from Kwaremont on Keuzelingsstraat, at the end turn right on to Middelloopstraat, then first left to start the climb.

START POINT: Paterbergstraat 2, 9690 Kluisbergen, Belgium DISTANCE                            380 m START HEIGHT                      32 m END HEIGHT                          80 m HIGHEST POINT                     80 m ASCENT                                   48 m AVERAGE                           13.7 % MAXIMUM                        20.0 %

Oude Kwaremont

Another classic and legendary cobblestone section. The Oude Kwaremont is not extremely steep, but merciless because of its length: 2,2 km. The first 600 m is a narrow asphalt road, the remaining 1600 m is a paved road. The Oude Kwaremont has been a major player in the Ronde Van Vlaanderen since 1974, and has been raced every year since, except for 1992 due to construction. Though prior to 1974 its counterpart the (Nieuwe) Kwaremont a former cobbled climb; had been raced on and off since 1919 (the return of the race following World War 1) and also took the Oude Kwaremont’s place in 1992. The Oude Kwaremont is also a regular to courses like Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Dwars door Vlaanderen, and E3 Prijs Harelbeke.

But before you go here’s a few pointers to help make the best of it.

• Slow and steady at the beginning of the cobbles (the first 600m is asphalt)
• The hardest section comes between 700m and 1100m
• From 1100m to the top is just slow and steady, just make sure to save enough in the tank to get you to the top.
• Stick to either the left hand side or the right hand side of the road, as certain sections along the crown can eat wheels.

FACT SHEET: DIRECTIONS: The base lies in the outskirts of Berchem. Head east on Bruggestraat then turn south to begin climbing Broektestraat. The Oude Kwaremont runs through the town of Kwaremont in the community of Kluisbergen; about 3km from the center of Kluisbergen and 12km from Oudenaarde. You can ride it via the 78km RVV  Blue Loop or via the 46km Eddy Merckx Route.

START POINT: Broektestraat 16, 9690 Kluisbergen, Belgium DISTANCE                          2600 m START HEIGHT                      12 m END HEIGHT                        106 m HIGHEST POINT                    106m ASCENT                                    88 m AVERAGE                               4.1 % MAXIMUM                          11.0 %

De Muur

The Muur-Kapelmuur (Muur van Geraardsbergen, Mur du Grammont or Wall of Geraardsbergen) is to Flemish bike racing as The Eiffel Tower is to Paris. This climb is hands down the most iconic climb of the Flemish Ardennes, and of Belgium for that matter. We would even go as far to say that the Muur-Kapelmuur would make the top ten list of most monumental climbs of cycling amongst beasts like Alpe d’Huez, Mont Ventoux, Col du Galibier, Col du Tourmalet, Passo dello Stelvio, Passo di Giau, Alto de L’Angliru…

The first thing that comes to mind when the Muur is mentioned is De Ronde Van Vlaanderen. Rightly so because the Muur van Geraardsbergen has been included in the race since as early as 1950, and featured as the penultimate or ultimate climb of the race every year since 1970 until it’s exclusion from race in 2012. It’s also important to mention that the iconic section of the Kapelmuur (the section around the Chapel) is a more recent addition, as it made it’s debut to the race in 1981. The Muur has also been a player in races like Gent-Wevelgem, Omloop het Nieuwsblad, this years edition of E3 Harelbeke, and will also feature in several upcoming editions of the Eneco Tour.

But before you go here’s a few pointers to help make the best of it.

• This climb is definitely about pace, as the hardest section comes towards the end when you are most tired.
• After the turn onto the Oudebergstraat stay in a small gear as the hard bit is coming soon, and there are no gutters to profit from.
• The cobbles also get rougher on the Oudebergstraat
• The toughest section is without a doubt amongst the trees (the spot where Cancellara turned it up back in 2010).
• It eases up a bit as you turn left in between the Muur and the Kapelmuur, but kicks up again around the iconic Chapel.
• There is no one line to ride (thanks to restoration works back in 2004) and you need not worry about oncoming cars over the steepest section as that portion of the climb is completely closed off to vehicle traffic (though always be aware that there could be a crazy cyclist trying to descend the Muur).

FACT SHEET: DIRECTIONS: In the centre of Geraardsbergen cross the river heading east and start the climb on Burgstraat as you pass the junction with Molenstraat.

START POINT: Brugstraat 30, 9500 Geraardsbergen, Belgium DISTANCE                          1250 m START HEIGHT                      18 m END HEIGHT                        110 m HIGHEST POINT                    110m ASCENT                                    92 m AVERAGE                               9.2 % MAXIMUM                          19.8 %

Want more bergs?

For more information about climbs in Flanders we highly recommend the book ‘Hellingen’ by Simon Warren. An essential guide for the road cyclist to Belgium’s greatest  climbs. Also available as an app.

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