Spartacus Route

Edelareberg

Distance

1.5km

Altimeters

62m

The Edelare may now be covered in asphalt, but this hill used to be a wide cobblestone road and was once one of the most famous climbs in the Tour of Flanders. During his first Ronde in 1940, the legendary Briek Schotte was the first to reach the top.

Volkegemberg

Distance

0.5km

Altimeters

34m

The Volkegemberg was included 17 times (1974-1984, 1991-1996) in the Tour of Flanders. Until 1982 the slope consisted entirely of cobblestone road, after that it became an asphalt road with just200 meters of large, modern cobblestones at the top. At the moment the riders descend this slope and make a sharp right turn at the foot to start the climb of the Wolvenberg.

Haaghoek

Distance

1.8km

Altimeters

20m

This is one of the signature cobblestone roads in Flanders. The cobbles in this two kilometre stretch are rough but what makes this road really special is how it sinks in the middle, causing a slight descent at the start and a rise at the end. The Haaghoek is featured in races such as Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, E3 Harelbeke and Tour of Flanders.

Leberg

Distance

0.9km

Altimeters

33m

This asphalt climb is regularly featured in the Flemish spring classics. It's positioned immediately after the legendary cobbles of the Haaghoek. The Leberg is 700m long and has an average gradient of 6,1% with its steepest point, 14%, in a right-hand curve at the bottom of the climb. The climb connects to the last bit of the Pottenberg which is less steep, but runs exposed through fields and acres, causing wind to have a significant influence. Look out for the road graffiti in support of local riders that can be seen on your way up all year round.

Berendries

Distance

0.9km

Altimeters

66m

This is Greg Van Avermaet's absolute favourite climb. Boasting a maximum gradient of "only" 10% it seems to feel harder than it is, perhaps because you can always see exactly where you're going. It's usually encountered reasonably early in professional races, which means it isn't taken full-gas, but that will be of scant consolation as you grind your way up.

Elverenberg-Vossenhol

Distance

1.4km

Altimeters

50m

This 1.400m long, paved climb is part of Omloop het Nieuwsblad. 3.6% average and 9% max. Be careful on the hard right hand turn to the steep part of the climb... Tiesj Benoot came a cropper there in the 2019 edition.

Café ’t Berghof

Café ’t Berghof used to be the favourite last stop of Frank Vandenbroucke. Refill your waterbottles here or have a mid-ride beer!

De Vesten & De Muur

Distance

0.9km

Altimeters

63m

The legendary 'Muur van Geraardsbergen' (Grammont Wall) takes you to the 110 meter high summit of the Oudenberg. The 910m long climb has an average and maximum incline of 9% and 20% respectively. For decades De Muur was both the penultimate and decisive climb of the Ronde. Also other races such as the Three Days of De Panne, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and BinckBank Tour use the hill to separate the men from the boys. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the lovely neo-baroque church on the top of the Kapelmuur, which will be a welcome stop after a 20% steep climb.The rather dated joke in Geraadsbergen is that there are only three famous walls in the world, Berlin, China and theirs. You can, if you are sure you can get moving again, stop on the very roughest section to pay homage at a poetic tribute to Eddy Merckx or you can take a pause at Bar Gidon on the Market Square, which is festooned with race-worn jerseys and autographs of riders past and present. It is also headquarters to Remco Evenepoel's fanclub.

Bosberg

Distance

1.1km

Altimeters

62m

The Bosberg is a wooded slope (average 5.9% and 12% max) between the Flemish Ardennes and the Pajottenland in Geraardsbergen and Galmaarden

Valkenberg

Distance

0.9km

Altimeters

46m

The Valkenberg is legendary amongst the cycling fraternity. This 900m hill has a bit of a sting in its tail. And while the steepest point may only be 15%, it feels much worse as you never seem to make any progress. Fortunately, solace awaits at the top in the form of the café In den hengst.

Ganzenberg

Distance

0.9km

Altimeters

49m

In the Ronde van Vlaanderen the Ganzenberg is known as 'the dangerous descent after the Foreest climb'. It peaks to about 17%. Always a great idea to do the opposite and climb this monster... But do it in the saddle, the road under the trees is always slippy.

Steenbeekberg

Distance

0.9km

Altimeters

43m

The Steenbeekberg is a hidden gem. Not very long, but very nice. The narrow asphalted road is pretty steep in the first 500m. The max. gradient of the climb is about 14%. You're rewarded with nice views of the region at the top of the climb.

Kaperij

Distance

1.3km

Altimeters

53m

Also known as 'Bosgat', this climb will definitely hurt. You start on cobbles but when the climb kicks in the cobbles are replaced by typical Belgian concrete road surface. The Kaperij was used a couple times in the Ronde van Vlaanderen and in the Omloop het Nieuwsblad. The max gradient is 8%.

Kouterberg

Distance

1.4km

Altimeters

45m

The Bovenstraat/Kouterberg was an official climb in the 1991 edition of the Ronde van Vlaanderen. It is also called "Kouterberg", but differs from the Kouterberg as used by the Ronde between 1984 and 1990. That was on the parallel road.The paved climb has a altitude difference of 45 meters, a length of 1,440 meters, an average gradient of 3,4% with a maximum of 9%. After 200 meters of climbing you will find the restaurant 'Het Genot at Den Berg' on the right-hand side of the road.

Mariaborrestraat-Steenbeekdries

Distance

1.2km

Altimeters

28m

The sequence of Mariaborrestraat - Steenbeekdries cobbled section is 1250m in total and includes the climb of Steenbeekdries. In the Tour of Flanders this is usually taken straight after the Koppenberg with a feed area on the slightly uphill N60, resulting in the fast, downhill cobbles of the Mariaborrestraat being littered with lost bidons and gels. After this segment you can take a left onto the descent of the dangerous cobbled Stationsberg.

Schapenberg - Scherpenberg

Distance

1km

Altimeters

89m

This hill may be one of the lesser known of the Tour of Flanders, but it is one of the toughest and most challenging in the whole Flemish Ardennes. The Schapenberg is a narrow and winding climb of 1.5 km. The steepest part is on an incline of no less than 20%! Should your over-extended heart survive the shock of meeting the bad tempered German Shepherd near the top, who invariably barks at passing cyclists, you'll join the road at the top of the Hotond, the view (on a clear day) stretches out all the way to France. This is, in fact, the highest point of East-Flanders (145 metres).

Koppenberg

Distance

0.6km

Altimeters

62m

The ‘bump’ of Melden, as the Koppenberg is locally known, is guaranteed to add suspense to the Ronde, every year. Not surprisingly it has been listed as a national monument. This hill and over 100 acres of surrounding countryside add up to one the most beautiful natural hotspots in the Flemish Ardennes.The Koppenberg is also probably the most difficult climb in the region, combining maximum gradient of 20% with rutted, worn cobbles and a constantly greasy surface. There's no shame in having to stop. Better men than us have had to walk up here. Legend has it that the climb was introduced to the Tour of Flanders organisers by 2 time winner Walter Godefroot, but only after he'd retired so he wouldn't have to race up it.