A glorious bike paradise for all
Springtime in Flanders is all about cycling. Every year, the spring cycling classics spark a national celebration. Come and enjoy them: watch from the roadside or explore Flanders’ treasures first-hand on your bicycle.
Winter is gradually coming to an end and spring is beginning to appear on the horizon. In Flanders, this is accompanied by a special soundtrack. We hear the whoosh of narrow tires on asphalt and the hypnotic hum of bicycle chains. This symphony is regularly drowned out by the cheers of an enthusiastic crowd. That is the sound of our spring classics. This popular festival is a high point every spring in Flanders, the cradle of cycling.
The year always begins with a delightful double act. On the first weekend of March, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne kick off the competition. After that comes a blistering rollercoaster of races on winding roads, up grueling hills and over bumpy cobblestone stretches. The battle on the flanks of the Nokereberg in Nokere Koerse, the sprinters’ festival Bredene Koksijde Classic, the fight against the wind in Gent-Wevelgem, and the succession of cobblestoned ascents in the E3 Saxo Classic are but a few from the array of major and minor races. These festive weeks culminate in the most glorious of Sundays: the Tour of Flanders. This monument of cycling combines all of Flanders’ wonderful assets in a brilliant, demanding race. Year after year, it’s a people’s festival beyond compare.
The spring classics captivate hundreds of thousands of fans; will you be one of them? For example, take on the Flandrien Challenge on STRAVA, a unique physical test. Those who can conquer 59 iconic bergs and cobblestoned sections in less than 72 hours become a legend for all time. Can you pull that off? If so, you’ll earn a personalized cobblestone on the Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen wall of fame.
Even those with more modest ambitions will delight in the cycling paradise that is Flanders. Flanders’ Finest Cycle Routes take you along its most beautiful cycling routes, past intriguing landscapes and unique heritage. Stop for a moment to enjoy artworks both large and small and sample many gastronomic treasures. Feeling tempted yet? Each of the Flanders’ Finest Cycle Routes includes an overview of local bicycle rental shops. Or why not bring your own trusty two-wheeler? Trains from Europe’s major cities effortlessly bring you and your bicycle to Flanders. Moving around within Flanders is also a piece of cake. The BikeOnTrain journey planner tells you which trains are best equipped for this, for example, with lowered entrance steps or separate bicycle wagons.
Flanders’ spring is fast approaching and is waiting for you to discover it. Spectator, up-and-coming Flandrien, or recreational cyclist? All are welcome with open arms. Still looking for some inspiration for that trip to Flanders? Then take a look at these Inspiring itineraries; in Flanders, there’s always something to experience, no matter the time of year.
