One of the highlights of the Sportive calendar, We Ride Flanders (the Tour of Flanders Sportive) took place again early April. The day before the Tour of Flanders, amateur cyclists from around the world descend on Flanders and ride their Tour of Flanders on the same roads as the pros will the day after. The event is massive. In 2023, about 16,000 cyclists from all over the world took on the Flemish ‘bergs’, and cobblestones. Take a look at our race review from 2023.
Choice of distance
To make this event accessible to all levels of riders, participants can choose from 4 distances. The longest is a whopping 242km and it had its start in Bruges. Riders can start from 7 am from Market Square. It was 6 years ago that Bruges last featured as a start location for the Tour of Flanders and therefore also We Ride Flanders. The main reason to choose the longest distance apart from taking on the challenge of riding almost the entire Tour of Flanders course is that the famous Muur van Geraardsbergen is included in the amateur event whilst it isn’t on the professional route.
The 3 other distances (177, 144 and 75 km) all start and finish in Oudenaarde. Starting times are staggered in such a way that riders are spread out as much as possible along the course. The routes of these 3 distances have remained the same as in previous years so everyone gets to ride the Koppenberg, Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg.
An added measure to ensure riding pleasure for all is that security has been stepped up. Frame plates will be checked to prevent people taking part who are not officially registered. Also, at the foot of the Koppenberg, a large video screen displays the current situation on the climb. Those who find it too busy or prefer to avoid the difficult cobblestone climb can follow a small detour. In this way, each participant can complete his or her Tour of Flanders in the most comfortable and safe manner possible.
The Finish in Oudenaarde
The finish area in Oudenaarde has undergone a major facelift and has been transformed into a real We Ride Flanders café. Participants and supporters can go to one of the various food and drink stands in a fully decorated cycling café and immerse themselves in the atmosphere and history of the Ronde. For example, you can go there for a mini exhibition of the Tour of Flanders Centre, admire bicycles and jerseys of former winners, and relive the previous editions of the Tour of Flanders on one of the big screens. It is the place to linger, recover and chat after the cycling experience.
As in previous years, We Ride Flanders is taking the lead with the ‘We care about cycling’ campaign to ensure that the event takes place in an atmosphere of respect: for fellow cyclists, for other road users, for residents and for nature.
Facts and figures of the 2023 version of We Ride Flanders
16,000 participants split as follows over the various distances:
- 75km: 200
- 144km: 5000
- 177km: 4500
- 242km: 4000
5,920 Belgians, 10,000 participants from abroad, 64 nationalities.
Top 5 countries:
- Belgium: 5920
- Netherlands: 2900
- Great Britain: 2000
- France: 1755
- Italy: 810
Ride the 2024 Tour of Flanders Sportive with Sportive Breaks.
You can take part in this great event in several ways depending how long you’d like to stay and what else you want to see and do.
We Ride Flanders weekend – Tour of Flanders Sportive – We Ride Flanders – Sportive Breaks
Choose from a 3- or 4-night’s stay in Kortrijk. There are two hotels to choose from and transport to and from Oudenaarde is included on both We Ride Flanders day on Saturday and 2024 Tour of Flanders day on Sunday. Transport to Antwerp is included for those who choose the long distance. A guided ride on the cobbles is included on Friday for those who choose the 4-night package. In addition to the basic weekend package extras can be added like airport transfers from Brussels airport and bike rental.
Spring Classics Tour – Spring Classics Tour – Flanders and Roubaix 2024 – Sportive Breaks
On this 11-day tour you stay for 7 nights in Kortrijk and 4 nights in Roubaix. You will ride and watch the Tour of Flanders before a mid-week visit to Schoten near Antwerp for the Scheldeprijs and finally you will ride and watch Paris- Roubaix. In between this you will visit the Tour of Flanders Museum, inspect a Belgian beer brewery and enjoy lots of nice local food and drink. Airport transfers from Brussels airport and bike rental are available for this tour. Our team of local riders and mechanics will guide you around their home roads for an unforgettable experience.
