The climbs of the Flanders region of Belgium hold an almost mythical place in the sport of cycling. Climbs like the Muur and the Koppenberg, conjure up images of muddied riders battling just to make it to the top! But which Flandrian climb is actually the hardest?
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The people of Flanders don't really go in for nice, steady, hairpinned climbs up their hills. In fact it sometimes seems like they look for the steepest hills, and just put a road straight up them! But that does lead to some truly iconic, and really, really hard climbs!
Matt and Dan rode what are, in our opinion, the five hardest climbs in Flanders, and even battled some particularly Belgian weather to work out once and for all which climb is the hardest!
Which is your favourite
If you'd like to contribute captions and video info in your language, here's the link 👍 gcn.eu/B0
Watch more on GCN...
GCN Rides the Koppenberg gcn.eu/KoppenbergEPIC 📹
Music: I Am Unbreakable - Niklas Johansson
Save Me From Myself (Instrumental Version) - Sven Karlsson
Smashing Punks 1 - Stefan Netsman
Smashing Punks 10 - Stefan Netsman
Smashing Punks 18 - Stefan Netsman
Wasted (Instrumental Version) - Ramin
Photos: © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Bettiniphoto / www.bettiniphoto.net/
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Leave us a comment below!
What's your favourite climb in Flanders?
Cycled all of the climbs featured on a recent trip to Flanders. I also 'enjoyed' the Molenberg - not the longest or steepest, but remember fairly rough cobbles with some steep sections. Especially tough as had cycled last 100km of Paris-Roubaix the previous day! Rodeberg/Baneberg from Gent-Wevelgem was also a good climb.
I love them all!... As long as I'm watching them on TV.
Yikes, top effort!!
The last one... Climbing on the bar stool!
I certainly wasn't fast!!
This is one of the best videos you all have done. Pictures really captured the challenge of the cobbles...commentary was insightful...and the effort needed by Dan and Matt drove the point home. Very well done!
Cheers Ed. They're brutal but brilliant. Fancy a go?
Global Cycling Network I'd LOVE to have a go. On any one of them...
Couldn't agree more! Really love when the presenters give us some insight into their racing days, experiences, etc. Makes it more personal and we all want to know more about the life of a pro cyclist!
You boys flying up the climbs while talking, impressive!
If there is a GCN classic video collection, this one is at the top. This video reminds me of why GCN became and continues to be the best cycling show ever. It also reminds us, of how good the GCN presenters are. Their hairstyles might have change, they have more sponsors and fancier bikes, but the chemistry and their passion for cycling remains the same.Kudos!!! Keep on riding!!!
07madiaga1966julio Exactly.
Such a fun video to watch, thank you for the great commentary, snippets of your racing experiences and showing visually what makes those climbs so tough!
Awesome video guys !! Reminded me of the time Matt was dropped by Lasty on the leadout on the Koppenberg haha
I would have thought you'd have left all those climbs for Lasty!
A very nice video. I think the effort you put in to climbing, considering your fitness, really shows the level of effort required. Scary.
The edited shot at 8:06 is awesome and super-trippy, well done!
Cheers Jakub!
I grew up in Trier, Germany not far from the Ardennes region in Luxembourg and Belgium. Beautiful riding. I've done big climbs in the Alps and Rocky Mountains and have been totally destroyed in the forest hills of the Ardennes. Love your content, keep it up guys!!
That was one of your best videos ever! And I think I’ve watched them all. Thanks so much- can’t wait for the race
These kinds of videos are brilliant. Seeing you guys really having to work to get up, with explanations of how the climbs are. Highly interesting.
Fulfilled a longtime dream last summer when I was able to tour Flanders and drive up some of the famous climbs shown in your video. The highlight of the trip was renting a pro bike at the BMC Concept Store just outside Ghent and heading back to ride the Muur de Geraarsbergen a couple of times. OUTSTANDING moments!!
Loved this video. One of your best. More please!!!
Absolutely brilliant video. Well done Matt and Dan. Can’t wait for tour of Flanders.
That's a proper video! Thanks for riding on our behalf. Did you change tyre pressures on the rougher cobbles?
Brilliant video guys.....all your vids are excellent......keep em coming!!!
I live in Geraardsbergen and know the Muur pretty well as I rode it quite alot, nice vid!
Great vid by two great ex rider! I can not have a favorite climb in Flanders but see this vid I think i must go there and try out. Dan and Matt really deserved Flanders made bear after these epic climbs!
Superb video guys. Great shooting, nice work on the titles and editing. You've both got very very good at presenting. Keep it up.
That was awesome, impressed that you made it up in the big ring Dan..👏👏
Cracking video! I did the RVV Sportive a few years ago and you've just brought back some vivid memories. I did think I wanted to do Paris Roubaix before that ride, but finding out there were twice as many km's of pave put me right off! Can we see a presenter challenge on the Koppenberg holding a glass of Kwaremont please :)
What a great video. Nice work on the Koppenberg Matt!
This video is very very impressive! It shows exactly how hard are these brief but very hard climbs. And the Kwaremont is also my favorite! Hope to share one with you boys. Good job!
I would love to see you do a feature on the cobbled roads around Keighley and Halifax, UK as I have no idea how they compare to Flanders!
Amazing video! One of the best You've ever done. Great video suits a great race ;)
Great video guys! Has me amped for this weekend!!!
Epic video! Can't wait for the next classics
Outstanding stuff! I have to get out there and ride these bergs...one day (with a full compact + wide range cassette)...
Great video. Really nice pacing with the editing here.
Badass video. So much epic climbing. You can really see/feel the hurt.
Great video guys. Really enjoyed this!
Quality stuff as usual. How about GCN vs GTN (running) up some of these climbs? :)
Glad you guys putted in the kemmel. One of the most underrated climbs in Flandres.
Great video. Really puts it into perspective for me. If you guys had to work that hard, most of us would blow up very early on. Chapeau for not having to walk up the last one.
You guys earned those cold beers.. One of the best videos!! Thanks for all your videos!
Great vid guys, really enjoyed that.
Love it! Still got it Matt and that cheeky little grin 😜🤙🏼
Had to rewatch this before the big day tomorrow. Still an amazing video!
I second Ed Markey's comments - Brrrrrilliant lads! Thank you GCN.
That is a terrific review for those of us who've never had a chance to ride those famous roads...good work...
Can feel the pain from here!.. Great vid guys, thanks 👊😎👍
Awesome video again guys! Now I don't know if I should be excited or afraid for this saturday when I ride my first Ronde van Vlaanderen as an undertrained amateur.
Well done, guys. This was a great episode.
What an absolutely BRILLIANT video. I loved it!! Genuine pain, genuine enjoyment! I've not yet ridden any cobbles in Belgium. On my bucket list of course.
Cheers Douglas! We really enjoyed making it and of course will enjoy watching the pros face them on Sunday just as much!
Done all climbs but agree on the koppenberg. Its so hard. If you come out of the saddle you rear wheel will slip. But epic ride around flanders. Love it
Great video...great bikes...great insight...great landscapes. The weather looks identical to Western PA. Will winter ever end???
I am from Flandres i know this climbs. Realy nice video. Like when come also from Flandres.
Andreas you sure are lucky to have these on your doorstep! Enjoy the racing on Sunday.
the famous "i'll lead you" and then BOOM haha. Nice vid, hugs from Brazil
You guys should come to Leuven, Belgium this year and rate the climbs for the World Championship. With the Smeysberg and the Moskesstraat, I know from experience that there are some real treats in there.
jammer van de moskesstraat...
@@lestandardmaruine klopt, heb hem nog net gereden voor dat hij is heraangelegd, is een hele andere vibe
Great video and nice to see the old old adage of the tortoise (old man Matt) and hare (yup that's you Lloydy) coming true.
This is a good video. Good job, lads!
I have to say...watching you guys do the climbs was just as exciting as watching the pros during the race!
Bravo guys, pretty impressive!
Bodge of the week... love it!
Cracking vid. Thanks.
Speaking as a Belgian (for about a year now) first rate job boys! You give a real impression for how challenging these short climbs are. The feeling I always get when I'm riding them is that I'm going to fall backwards on the steepest sections as the rough cobbles jolt the front wheel up! You could have added the Bosberg - which always seems incongruous as it suddenly becomes cobbled on an otherwise fairly wide main road.
Love this one, deffo earned the crust today chaps
Great video chapeau to you guys
Another gcn classic👊
Entertaining gents. Thanks! It is remarkable to me how we cyclists can't get enough of Flanders and those rocks.
Thanks for this video. Mast the trip to Flanders last April and this video was really insightful in helping me with the climbs. Pictures/video do not do the Koppenberg justice...it's a wall.
My favourite Flanders is Ned....Thank you and good night.
DOH
Stupid Flanders!
Hi diddly ho neighbor.
You & that Leftorium !
Lol Flanders independent! The only English i know is British...thank you goodmorning
Celebrated my 47th birthday yesterday. Just watched Matt pass Dan on the Koppenberg, nice job ol' man. Keeping hope alive.
What a great video..sadly we didn't hear Matt's legendary and infectious laugh . You're both still very competitive.. Wasn't the kemelberg where Jimmy Casper had that crash where another riders bidon came out the holder and Jimmy's wheel hit it, he went base over apex and landed face first on the cobbles... Terrible luck..
BULLS ON PARADE!!!! Hahaha, those Kwaremont folks must love GCN!
well done matt ! one for the old gits ! Experience vs vainess !
There are a few legendary ones in Wallonia too, you should maybe try to confront them sometimes.
Good man Matt riding the power on the koppenberg
Great episode
I almost died laughing when you started to say if this was in the hack or bodge of the week hahahhahaha Spit and snot flying from bursting out laughing lol Tons of love from a new cyclist in Canada. Bought a might bit scratched up Giant OCR3 that has a new stock drive train, and cables and bar wraps to get me started. Already obsessed with watts and carbon wheels. You're giving me tons of inspiration to ride and explore my energy and brain. Thanks tons ladies and gents. xoxoxo
i love watching your video's ... wish i have one of GCN's jersey ... i can't reach one from my place :(
The Brick getting dealt with in tough climbs cool. See the Boss get put through the ringer EPIC!!!!!!
Great vid guys!! So are 25mm tyres ok for the tour of Flanders or should one really be on 28’s?
I saw you guys struggeling on de paterberg🤣
wow, epic, and a high five into the gutter, tough guys ;)
Great video!
kemmelberg! it's a beast!app. 30 km from home, ride it a few times and the downhill is really something!!!
Good job fellas!
Glorious!
defo bucket list
I'm amazed you got up the Koppenberg in the wet! I tried riding the Koppenberg for the first time a few weeks ago when it was wet and my back wheel kept sliding. Time for another attempt, luckily it's only a 30km ride from my house!
yeah I have done the Koppenberg at least 100 times in my life...and when it's wet I think it's about 50% chance I make it passed the steepest part (34 + 28 on my road bike), because of the slipping back wheel...
As a local that rides these climbs on a regular base I can only say you guys are spot on with this list! For anyone that will ride them soon: At the Koppenberg, after exiting the steepest part you have a part that has a lower gradient. Use that to recover a bit before the final 100m which are brutal to end with. Also, most people are tempted to begin the climb at the right hand side, swap to the left line before entering the part with the trees like shown here as the right hand line is much more greasy.
That amazing video, only mentioning strava shortly at the koppenberg, screams for a GCN presenters race there. Then we wouldn't see only Lasty crying there. Like to see carless, gravelled mountain climbs in the alps, capable for road bikes in a future video :)
After watching this(a bit too late perhaps) I would love it if you also would so something similar for the Ardennes classics. Would love to help you guys with that ;)
You rode those so we mere mortals won’t have to. Bedankt!
The overlay piece of filming was cool.
Possible to interview Nico Mattan sometime? He's was winner on the bike and is now a Kwaremont Beer sales rep! Pure GCN gold.
Chapeau boys, in special for matt
Well done gents well done!!!
Those ales look good!
I ride kemmelberg each week, very nice cycling spot
👍🏻real Flandrien‘s riding on the Coppelstones! ✌🏻😍
Cosmic edition of gcn
interesting but boring fact that one the climbs the cobbles were slightly offset at the front of the cobble with a little lip on the uphill part of the cobble so as to allow horses hoofs to catch and avoid horses sliding backwards in the wet ( I ride my horse nearly as much as my bike )
I always wondered, thanks!
I had the slowest time at the hardest climb there for quite a time. I rode it with my best friend, we sat at the half, ate our lunch an then went on to the top. Sadly someone was even slower now haha
You also have to ride “de Molenberg”. It is short but explosive. I often ride it on my training
lads you should do a video of the cobbled climbs in and around Halifax like Shibden Wall
There are some corkers up there eh?
Just a few ! humancyclist.wordpress.com/2017/06/18/ronde-van-calderdale-cobbles/ credit to the author!
Rode all the Halifax cobbles with a friend last year, in the rain! Trooper lane is a killer!
Oooh, Dan has a shiny new bike!
Great vid! BTW, Mr. Boonen's favorite Flandrian climb is the Taaienberg
because it's not as hard
because it's not as hard