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Flandrien Challenge - 4 days - Day 1

Kick off the Flandrien Challenge by conquering the 9 segments in the Kemmelberg area. This route is perfect as an afternoon ride after you arrive and get settled in. The roads of the Westhoek are an under-appreciated hotbed of cycling. On these muddy farm lanes, through the constant wind, Flandriens like Frank Vandenbroucke, Johan Museeuw and Johan Bruyneel honed their craft. The area is also rich in history with the fiercest fighting of the Western Front in World War One taking place in a small, idyllic area. Today, however, the scenery is placid and beautiful. Our route begins in Ieper, under the Menen Gate, a memorial to some 54,395 soldiers who perished in the fighting and have no known grave, before heading South and East into no-mans land and past several other memorials before we arrive at the Kemmelberg for the first of two ascents. In between you can enjoy the experience of Gent-Wevelgem as you climb and descend the numerous small ridges in the area, all with a different view across Flanders Fields.

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Start
Ieper
Distance
75 km
Altimeters
914 m
Type
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Kramon Cycling In Flanders Heuvelland 01802
17km

Lettenberg

Distance
0.4km
Altimeters
21m

The Lettenberg hill is a spur of the much larger Kemmelberg and is frequently the launchpad for attacks early in finale of Gent-Wevelgem. Pay attention on the descent, the road is full of holes in exactly the wrong places. A pause in Kemmel before the climb is worth it for a visit to Cafe Boutique, an excellent cycling cafe, with jerseys from Tom Boonen and Eddy Merckx amongst others.

Kemmelberg2
19km

Kemmelberg (Ossuaire)

Distance
0.7km
Altimeters
71m

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 a Jeremy Roy crash in 2002 underlined the danger of using steep, tree shaded cobbled descents in the finale of a big race.Riding out of Kemmel, you turn right onto the stones which trick you into thinking the summit is just around the long left hand bend before kicking you in the teeth with the last 20% ramp before the summit at the Ossuaire built to honour the remains of some 5294 French troops killed in fighting over the possession of the hill, who's guns overlooked the entire Ypres Salient. Of these, only 57 were identified. It is the largest French military monument outside of France.

Kramon Cycling In Flanders Heuvelland 01822 Pano
26km

Scherpenberg

Distance
0.4km
Altimeters
21m

Scherp means 'sharp' in Dutch, and so it comes as no surprise that the Scherpenberg has ramps of up to 11%. The road is tiny, and as it curves over the roots of nearby trees. Combine this with the Zandberg.

18889170 454621131558961 4032443205352947712 N
28km

Zandberg

Distance
1km
Altimeters
32m

The Zandberg leads up to 'Café in de Zon'. Owner Dirk Ghyselinck is a retired professional cyclist himself and still knows lots of people in the sport. This berg connects to the Scherpenberg.

Paved Road
42km

Gildestraat

Distance
0.3km
Altimeters
19m

A short, paved climb with a maximum gradient of 12%. Situated on the flank of the Rodeberg and bringing you onto the main road just 100m before the right turn onto the Baneberg, this is one of the most beautiful climbs in the region. Before you go under the trees, make sure to take a look over your shoulder back towards Loker.

Schomminkel
45km

Schomminkel

Distance
0.9km
Altimeters
53m

The Schomminkelberg is a climb which the professionals stay away from, despite it's popularity in amateur races. It is narrow and steep, gaining more than 65m over the last 1.1km - the deceptive average gradient of 4.4% includes the gentle pitch out of Westouter, but it's really in the last kilometer, including a ramp of 17% in the steepest section, where the climb does it's damage. You may wish to fortify yourself at the excellent frituur on the way out of the village. Westouter is also a great spectating point for Gent-Wevelgem and In De Zwaan is a great traditional Flemish cafe.

Baneberg
46km

Baneberg

Distance
0.3km
Altimeters
16m

A very short and venomous climb or should we say 'wall' . Only 270m long, with an average incline of 9% and a maximum incline of 20%. If you manage to pull your eyes away from your front wheel, you will note the incongruous sight of a ski-lift above the road. This climb is used in Gent-Wevelgem and one of our favourites.

Kemmelberg3
57km

Kemmelberg (Belvedère)

Distance
0.6km
Altimeters
51m

At 156 meters the Kemmelberg is the highest point in West Flanders. Named after the village of Kemmel on its eastern slopes, during World War One it was the scene of brutal slaughter, the roads up it's slopes were only constructed to allow the hauling of munitions up to the gun emplacements on top. Today, it is the showpiece of Gent-Wevelgem, one of the great Classics and whose two ascents of the Kemmelberg’s notorious cobbled pavement, or pavé, continued to court controversy. For if the riders must climb from the south-east the Kemmel twice, for a while they also had to descend down the northern face. With its 20 per cent gradient over unpredictable terrain, the Kemmelberg has witnessed some truly horrendous crashes.

Paved Road
61km

Monteberg

Distance
1.4km
Altimeters
66m

Nice climb on the flanks of the Kemmelberg, sometimes used in Gent-Wevelgem as a prelude to it's more famous sister. It' narrow, potholed road peaks at 9%. Beautiful views on the vineyards are included.

74.8km Finish