Kemmelberg (Ossuaire)

This is the steepest and longest side of the Kemmelberg, with a maximum gradient of over 20%. Gent-Wevelgem used to descend this way, but Jeremy Roy's crash in 2002 underlined the danger of using steep, tree shaded cobbled descents in the finale of a big race.

The first part of the climb is paved and not too hard, but before you know it, it kicks you in the teeth with the last 20% cobbled ramp before the summit. The Ossuaire was built to honour the remains of some 5294 French troops killed in fighting over the possession of the hill, which overlooked the entire Ypres Salient. Of these men, only 57 were identified. It is the largest French military monument outside of France.