Male Team 01 Apr
Ronde van Vlaanderen
264.7 Kilometers
It is the most cherished, respected race by a whole country and most of the fans of epic cycling. The Ronde van Vlaanderen celebrates its 102nd edition with a second consecutive start at Belgium’s most populous city, Antwerpen, after many years departing from Bruges’ Grote Markt square. In everything else, ‘De Ronde’ follows a consolidated scheme of things -long gone are the times when the Kapelmuur and the Bosberg, now used in many other races, were the last climbs-, with the ascents to the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg as center of all action in a race with 18 demanding hills and 14 cobbled sections.
Following an initial southbound route over 100 kilometers long -with a couple of pavé sections: Lippenhovestraat (87km) and Paddestraat (89km)-, the first climb to the Kwaremont (121km) will mark the start of a first loop with ten different climbs. All of them will be on asphalt roads -yet they obviously add hardness to the race- except for one: the previously-quoted Kapelmuur / Mur de Grammont, 97km from the end. Barring the Holleweg (142km) and the Haaghoek (148km), the cobblestones won’t be back before the second passage through the Kwaremont (-56km), now combined with the first climb to the Paterberg (-53km).
With the race’s two main climbs now together, the second, final loop will start. The Koppenberg (-46km), with its slopes up to 20%, will surely create a real selection into a main bunch whose ‘survivors’ will continue to be stung by the short, sharp Taaienberg (-38km). With no descent after this one, the race will enter a section of wind-exposed roads that will continue to take its toll from those who pursuit the leaders. After the Kruisberg (-27km), the final attacks for victory will seek for the last OK/P combination, 17 and 14km away from the end. At the top of the final ascent, a long series of straights, agony for both stragglers and potential winners, will lead the race into Oudenaarde, where the biggest names in classics take the win.