For the first time in five years due to the pandemic, we returned to Belgium in the spring of 2024 for the Tour of Flanders! There is magic and anticipation in the air throughout all of Flanders during this time of the year as everyone from shopkeepers to hotel managers to bartenders are keen to express who their favorite will be for the upcoming edition of “De Ronde.” It is, quite literally, the “Super Bowl” in cycling-mad Belgium. In addition to discussing “who is in form and who is not,” everyone keeps their eyes tuned to the weather forecast and the sky, trying to decipher if there is going to be rain or sun, sleet or wind. Everyone is aware of how quickly the weather can change in Flanders and the mayhem it can exact on the riders. This spring did not disappoint as each day was blustery and rainy, leaving the mythical climbs like the Koppenberg, Oude Kwaremont, and Paterberg muddy and slick. In short, it was “Flanders Paradise!”

Our tour was based for the week in charming Oudenaarde at our favorite hotel, the four-star Hotel Leopold. This has been our home-base for years and you know you’re in the right place when you walk in and there are wall-to-wall vintage cycling photos to greet you. During our tour, we witnessed the Dwars door Vlaanderen Classic, visited the Tour of Flanders Museum, rode the WeRideFlanders Sportive, and enjoyed an unforgettable Sunday at the Tour of Flanders. Here are some images that tell the story..

WE RIDE FLANDERS SPORTIVE

One of the highlights of our Tour of Flanders Vacation is having the opportunity to ride the fabled roads and bergs of “De Ronde” during the WeRideFlanders Sportive! Though one of the largest sportives in Europe, it is incredibly well organized and you never feel like there are too many people on the road. This year’s event was ridden completely in the rain and mud. Everyone arrived back at the hotel in Oudenaarde completely shattered from their effort but with huge smiles on their faces and plenty of stories to tell over dinner. We all knew we had experienced a perfect day in Flanders!

The Tour of Flanders

Cycling in Flanders is a religion. The Sunday of the Tour of Flanders is considered the start of a “holy week” that will conclude the following Sunday at Paris-Roubaix. Since we were based at the Hotel Leopold in Oudenaarde, we were able to witness all the festivities of the Pro Women’s Sign-In and Start in the town square in the early afternoon after lunch. Afterwards, our guests viewed the race at various venues such as the Koppenberg, the Oude Kwaremont, and the finish just outside town. That evening, all of Flanders was in a festive mood, the natural conclusion to what had been a truly monumental week and vacation for our clients!