Is there anywhere else outside of Flanders which is so rich in iconic climbs, steeped in the history of cycle racing or densely punctuated by terrain from bone-shaking cobbles to sweeping arcs of fresh tarmac?<\/p> The answer is no, which explains the magnetic draw for anyone with a passion for bicycle racing, and an affinity for Belgian beer, to the Flanders region of Belgium.<\/p> This attraction has not gone unnoticed by the tourist and cycling industry, resulting in the creation of the Flandrien Challenge, taking in 59 of the most famous cobbles and climbs of the Flanders region.<\/p> The Challenge must be completed within 72 hours and is achievable in a single one-day 290 km ride, should you choose. The 72 hours start from when you commence the first segment until you finish the last.<\/p> It\u2019s up to you which route you take and the order you complete the bergs and cobbles. The Cycling in Flanders website<\/strong><\/a> has all the information, route maps, and where to register yourself for the Challenge.<\/p> The segments are all marked on Strava and proof of completion of all the segments within the required timeframe is dependent upon having a record of your ride on a personal Strava account.<\/p> The website provides different suggested routes. We wisely opted for the more \u2018relaxed\u2019 approach, tackling the segments over three days and some 400 km. The Challenge hub is the Centrum Ronde Van Vlaanderen in Oudenaarde.<\/p> By some digital wizardry, the Challenge website ticks off each of the segments after you have uploaded your day\u2019s ride. Once completed, the Ronde Museum receives an email to confirm this, and you can then claim YOUR COBBLE!<\/p> Not so much a cobble as a credit card-sized slate tablet, this memento is printed while you wait and then glued to the Ronde Museum Flandrien Challenge Hall of Fame for posterity. What\u2019s best is that it\u2019s all free to take part and earn your cobble.<\/p> At the time of writing 1,244 people had successfully completed the challenge and been added to the hall of fame.<\/p> \u201cfull of quirky charm\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> We travelled by car via Eurotunnel, after which it took about two hours to reach Oudenaarde. We allowed enough time to arrive, shop and install ourselves in our Airbnb accommodation<\/strong><\/a> in the small village of Meersestraat just a few flat miles outside of Oudenaarde.<\/p> We were a group of eight, so options were limited. Our home for three nights was full of quirky charm, a great communal kitchen\/dining space set in a quiet location next to the owners\u2019 restaurant and bar.<\/p> The only real downside was uncomfortable beds in some of the slaapkamers (bedrooms). Those seeking more in the way of nightlife and easy access to restaurants and bars would be better off with a base in central Oudenaarde.<\/p> \u201cwe went prepared for the worst\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> Road bikes with anything from 25 to 32mm tyres proved absolutely fine for all the terrains, though we were lucky to have dry conditions. When wet, many of the steeper sections would, I imagine, prove unrideable.<\/p> Wider more gravel-oriented tyres would be welcome for wet cobbled climbs and perhaps for the worst of the cobbles in any conditions, but these would be a drag through the long sections of road which make up the majority of the route.<\/p> Food and drink can be in short supply, especially on the third day of our route, so we went prepared for the worst and ensured that we would be able to tackle the course without relying too heavily on local amenities.<\/p> If it had been warm weather, then we would have been much more careful in planning stops for drinks as dehydration would be a concern.<\/p> \u201c views of windmills and impressively ploughed fields\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> The three-day Challenge option involves one \u2018short\u2019 day of 75 km of riding from Ypres, requiring around an hour\u2019s drive to this beautiful city, and two days of riding from the Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen in Oudenaarde.<\/p> We elected to do the longest route of 190 km on the first day. Our aim was for relaxed riding, so we set off at 7.30 am to allow for food and drink stops, taking in the views and some contingency for any mechanical issues.<\/p> With 9.5 hours of riding and 12 hours of elapsed time, this proved to be about the right departure time, allowing ample time for food and drink in the evening.<\/p> The route proper begins beside the iconic orange Molteni Volvo outside the Centrum. I guarantee that everyone who does the Challenge will have a photo of themselves next to this.<\/p> The rolling countryside at the beginning of this first day proved a real treat, offering views of windmills and impressively ploughed fields and with no serious climbs or cobbles for the first 16 km.<\/p> \u201cour Challenge was officially beginning\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> The first of our 59 segments was the Nokerberg. As we rolled over the Strava logo and startline for the first cobbled climb, our Challenge was officially beginning. We passed the finish line in just over a minute and some very benign cobbles later.<\/p> Buoyed by this climb, we pushed on just a few kilometres to the Huiseberg. This segment was flat \u2013 our first dose of proper cobbles. A scenic section, punctuated by a windmill somewhere around the halfway point.<\/p> The Huiseberg bolstered our view that this was going to be an easy day in the saddle. The cobbles were bumpy but nothing more fearsome than that offered by some of the roads around Wiltshire.<\/p> \u201ca long day of drinking\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> 80 km into the ride we arrived at our first refuelling stop at Geraardsbergen, home of Bar Gidon which hosts the official Remco Evenepoel fan club and the famous Muur.<\/p> Coffee at the bar was as welcome as the chance to see the memorabilia and the banter with four members of the fan club who were evidently getting a head start on a long day of drinking.<\/p> The collective consensus was that a cake would be best appreciated after<\/em> rather than before<\/em> the Muur, so we chose our consumables carefully and packaged them about ourselves as best we could. The Muur was indeed wall-like.<\/p> This, for me, was the first of the \u2018proper\u2019 Flanders cycling monuments. The sense of history, and the excitement of riding the same cobbles as all the great riders who had been here, was tangible.<\/p> A short, sharp climb later and we\u2019d reached the top. This, we were to learn, was fairly typical of the climbing that we would be doing during this trip.<\/p> Nothing like the long alpine climbs, our route comprised a series of ascents of varying pitch, some more technical and leg-sapping than others, but all just about rideable in the dry. In the wet, we\u2019d have been doing much more bike carrying and doing the cleated slippery shoe shuffle. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> \u201ctrue suffering on a bike\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> We were quickly onto the Bosberg and ticking off climbs and sections at a rapid rate. Cobbles had been mostly short-lived, and we regularly suffer worse road surfaces around and about us back home. However, their cumulative effect begins to tell after a while.<\/p> The repeated punishment of wrists, back and legs takes its toll as you try and maintain a reasonable speed across the uneven and often unpredictable surface. An internal gauge had gradually been registering this strain over the course of the day.<\/p> It started off at \u2018these cobbles aren\u2019t bad at all, what\u2019s all the fuss about\u2019, into \u2018hmmmm, these cobbles are actually quite a nuisance sometimes\u2019, through \u2018dammit, I\u2019m tired enough without these blessed stones\u2019.<\/p> Then, finally at Kerkgate, some 160 km into the ride when the fun finally evaporated, humour completely lost, the toys were cast from the pram and I reached the \u2018ok, bugger this, I\u2019m cycling on the pavement\u2019 phase. Whilst the pleasure had diminished, my respect for the pros who race Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders, et al<\/em>. increased exponentially. That is true <\/em>suffering on a bike!<\/p> After a couple more \u2018bergs, we were on the home straight back to base with 209 km on the clock, our longest day complete. Tomorrow, we would travel to Ypres for the shortest day of riding and perhaps some recuperation before day three.<\/p> \u201cscreeching tyres and whining motors\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> We loaded the cars and drove the hour or so to Ypres for our second day of riding, listed on the Flandrien Challenge website as day one of the 3-day challenge.<\/p> For us, though, this was perfect as we left the wet weather behind us in Oudenaarde. As we drove off in the rain, and even more so as we saw the area around Ypres dry and sunny, we felt blessed by the weather gods.<\/p> Another blessing is that parking in Ypres is free on Sunday. In early May at least, the town was quiet and opportunities to park were plentiful. It is a gorgeous place and we looked forward to a mid-afternoon return for pizza and sightseeing.<\/p> This day\u2019s riding consisted of several long loops in and around the village of Kemmel and ascending the famous Kemmelberg from all sides.<\/p> The ride out of Ypres is flat and very pleasant. 16 km into our 74 km of riding we approached Kemmel and we were looking forward to our first encounter with one of Flanders's most famous and beloved cobbled climbs.As<\/a> we approached, we became increasingly aware of the sound of screeching tyres and whining motors. We came to a halt by a cluster of marshalls and road-closed signs.<\/p> Today of all days the Flanders International Rally Challenge was in town. The course drew a painfully straight and interfering line right through the middle of the day\u2019s route and, critically, along one of the 59 segments we needed to ride.<\/p> This was potentially our challenge over. Our choices were a long day\u2019s wait until 6 pm, we were advised, or coming back to Ypres after the final day to scoop up the remaining segments. And how many segments would we actually be able to ride today? Off we set to improvise a route and find as many rideable sections of the route as possible.<\/p> We rode this way, we rode that way, every turn we took to find a segment seemed to end in red and white tape barring us from crossing the rally course.<\/p> After 26 km we were within shouting distance of another segment, the Scherpenberg. Red and white tape again proved to be an insurmountable barrier to our progress.<\/p> Onwards we went. By the time we had ridden 45 km, we had only completed two of the day\u2019s nine segments. What should have been the shortest day was turning into a potentially Challenge-defeating disaster.\u00a0<\/p> Soon though, we had our first encounter with the Kemmelberg. Up, up, up the smooth tarmac and then a right turn onto the cobbles. The climb followed what was to become a familiar three-phase pattern: 1. This is ok, not bad at all. 2. <\/span>Hmmm, getting a bit steeper here. 3. Ooof, thank goodness that\u2019s over!!<\/p> Also becoming a pattern was the navigation conflab at the end of each segment. How do we get to the next rideable one? We totted up the segments \u2013 had we done three or four? Where\u2019s the next one?<\/p> When does the rally finish? Should we come back tomorrow? We decided to head back to Ypres and regroup. With no time for sightseeing, we loaded the cars up and drove to the next segment.<\/p> Not quite in the spirit of the Challenge but needs must. With our 6 pm estimate for the rally finish now stretched to 6.30 or perhaps 7 pm, the day was turning into an epic all of its own, though frustratingly not because of the route or parcours.<\/p> Our ride was quickly descending into a segment-bagging exercise, but the sun shone and there were worse problems to have. 5.5 km later we completed the Schomminkel and Baneberg climbs \u2013 the latter, at 257 metres in length, hardly seemed worth the bother, but this is the difference between a cobble-less ignominy and timeless cobbled glory.<\/p> \u201chungry, far later than expected, and tired for the wrong reasons\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> Back in the car and on to what Strava would later record as \u201cFlandrien Challenge Day Two, part three\u201d we took a different route to get back to the elusive Scherpenberg. The start of the segment was agonisingly just beyond the dreaded red and white tape.<\/p> After some smooth talking, the attendant rally marshalls gave us the ok to go past the tape and barrier so that our Garmins registered the official start\u2026at least, that was the hope.<\/p> Would inherent GPS accuracy scupper our Challenge? We got as far beyond the segment start as we could without incurring the wrath of the marshalls and headed off at full speed \u2013 and promptly dismounted a metre later to negotiate the tape and barrier once more.<\/p> At 6 pm we had just one segment left. Unfortunately, it formed the final leg of the rally stage. The rally\u2019s forecast finish was now definitely going to be nearer the 7 pm mark and with some doubt now as to whether we would be allowed to ride on the course even then.<\/p> Fortunately, we were right next to some rally revelry, with beer, hotdogs and Belgian frites available. We settled ourselves for a wait and pretended to be lycra-clad motorsport fans as best we could.<\/p> At 6.50 pm we scampered onto the course, covered the 2 miles up to secure the segment and high-tailed it back to the cars for the journey home.<\/p> We had completed 83 km in 8 hours. Not the 74 km we anticipated and with no relaxing tour of Ypres at the end of the day. We arrived home hungry, far later than expected, and tired for the wrong reasons.<\/p> A nervous Garmin upload to Strava later, we saw that all 9 segments were registered as complete on the official Flandrien Challenge website. Yes! Mission accomplished! Bring on day three.<\/p> \u201ca punchy day lay in store for tired legs\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> The third day at 142 km is not as long in distance as day one but it has just about as much climbing, so a punchy day lay in store for tired legs. It is also the day with, arguably, the highest iconic climbs to kilometres ridden ratio.<\/p> In the back of our minds was the fact that the Centrum caf\u00e9 closes at 6 pm, so we needed to be back in Oudenaarde in good time to collect our cobble and celebrate our achievements in style.<\/p> Garmin seemed over-eager to get the day done and led us to the foot of the Koppenberg straight out of Oudenaarde. Woah, hold your horses, that\u2019s a treat for much later in the ride.<\/p> With the course corrected, we headed the right way out of Oudenaarde straight up the Achterberg. Once we had escaped the orbit of the city, we found ourselves in the very quiet lanes of the Belgian countryside, very reminiscent of the lanes here at home.<\/p> \u201cdizzy from the loops you are sent on\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> We passed sheep that looked like pigs, pigs that looked like dogs, and cows that looked like horses\u2026.we began to wonder if we had stumbled upon some not-so-secret Belgian experimental breeding centre.<\/p> After a few miles, we passed sheep that looked like pigs. Then a few miles later some pigs that looked like dogs\u2026\u2026.hang about, we\u2019ve been here before. This sense of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu was a feature of the riding on day three.<\/p> You do cover the same ground quite a lot and you can get dizzy from the loops you are sent on, but the countryside is so nice no one really minds. Segments come and go in a blur \u2013 sometimes literally, with Haaghoek one of the fastest cobbled sections as it is largely downhill.<\/p> We achieved the sort of speeds the pros reach going along the flat cobbled sections \u2013 maybe these cobbles are not so bad after all if your legs are able to propel you along at that velocity. Maybe.<\/p> \u201challowed cobbles of Oude Kwaremont\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> Segments were coming and going quickly. This is the most target-rich environment of the three days of the challenge. We recognised some of the names \u2013 Berg ten Houte, Schapenberg and Scherpenberg, Kruisberg, Knokteberg but at around 207 km in come the real big hitters. First the hallowed cobbles of Oude Kwaremont.<\/p> Pogacar\u2019s 3-minute 58-second KOM seems scarcely believable. 11 minutes later, the climb is done and we\u2019re at the main road junction, an ending which doesn\u2019t seem befitting of such an iconic stretch of road.<\/p> \u201cThe most feared and famous climb of the trip\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> We\u2019re swiftly on to the next big celebrity climb, the Paterberg and then, hello, d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu again, here we are at the Koppenberg. This is it. The most feared and famous climb of the trip. We are all too aware of the footage of top Classics riders humbled by wet cobbles and reduced to pushing bikes to the top.<\/p> Today is dry, conditions are good for completing the ascent without a foot down. It begins tamely, starts ramping up pretty quickly, and then before you know it, you\u2019re wrestling with the bike on 20% gradients.<\/p> One of my teammates finds a damp patch under the trees. One wheel spin later and they hit the deck. I\u2019m sure my cries of \u201cget out the bloody way\u201d sounded more sympathetic at the time than they appear here on the page. To his credit, he obliged very quickly and with a few more pedal strokes I was over the worst of the ramps and coasting over the top.<\/p> How this climb is completed in even slightly moist conditions I have no idea, but I\u2019m keen to come back sometime to give it a go.<\/p> This feels like it should be the end, a fitting finale to a hard three days, but it isn\u2019t. Garmin tells me there are still some 13 km or so before we can claim our cobble and celebrate.<\/p> \u201cvery carefully press \u2018save\u2019 on the Garmin\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> We\u2019re heading away from Oudenaarde when our tired legs are telling us to head downhill towards the Centrum. It\u2019s almost cruel to send us up the Taainberg and the final climb, Ladeuze, before the descent along the main road to the finish.<\/p> We draw alongside the Molteni Volvo one last time and very carefully press \u2018save\u2019 on the Garmin. In three days of adventure, we\u2019ve completed 442 km, 5.5 km of ascent and countless cobbles. Finally, we head into the Centrum Ronde Van Vlaanderen to have our very own cobble etched and placed on the wall.<\/p> \u201csome nervous moments\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> The cobble for the wall is free but you can buy a second to bring home as a memento and why wouldn\u2019t you? There are some nervous moments while the behind-the-scenes servers do their thing to confirm you have completed all 59 segments in the requisite 72 hours.<\/p> But all of us pass muster and make our way to the wall of fame to affix our hard-earned credit card-size passport to cycling immortality.<\/p> \u201cembrace the cobbles\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p> Our beers at the Centrum were among the best ever, and the ride home felt like a tailwind all the way. Overall, our experience had been great. Not without challenges (the clue is in the name) but we had all prepared well and we could not have wished for better weather.<\/p> Any cooler or wetter and it would have been much less pleasant. Some of the climbs would have been virtually impossible. In the heat, the riding would be much harder as there is not much in the way of shade for the most part. Water and fuel stops are difficult to find or, once found, to predict whether they will be open or not, particularly on day three.<\/p> I would advise anyone to go fully prepared with more provisions than they think they\u2019ll need and to fill up whenever the opportunity presents itself.<\/p> As they might say in Flanders \u201cMoge uw kasseien altijd drogg zijn\u201d (May your cobbles always be dry). Thank you Flanders, we\u2019ll definitely be back!<\/p> Cycling in Flanders website<\/strong><\/a><\/p> Useful FAQs about the challenge<\/strong><\/a><\/p> 27 July 2023, Dave West.<\/p>![\"Image](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/z0gqeztowvoliqw7b4wfxo584haa8ahsnl4dn4fxjej6j5c8.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\" "\\"Image")
Another challenge - the Oude Kwaremont. Image: Dave West<\/em><\/p>The Magic of Flanders<\/h2>
Embrace the challenge<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"Cycling](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/z5tiadhpdiddgrrpbeptyqd9ei8oadxzz8xusiixa5vez3gw.jpg.jpg?w=680&v=2\" "\\"Cycling")
<\/u><\/a>
The most famous of them are familiar to anyone with a passing interest in classic races such as the Ronde van Vlaanderen, Het Nieuwsblad or Gent Wevelgem.<\/p>![\"Image](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/7tlrcnhghtcvgoemae9p1tqqc3ifvkdg6p272ph0sfgdylgt.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\" "\\"Image")
Dave and wife Katie celebrate with Wout van Aert. Image: Dave West<\/em><\/p>Travel and accommodation<\/strong><\/h3>
Equipment<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"Image](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/2aqjgwgbsxeaegnnd2a4zeqso88i1gqn12lrnaggezqg9ame.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\" "\\"Image")
The land of cobbles and windmills. Image: Rijden<\/em><\/p>Day One<\/strong><\/h2>
Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"The](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/zj2x4rxmdr55ohke5rdvb7dmocwlwpkt3a73pmqvquah8bw1.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\" "\\"The")
The cobbled climbs of the Flemish Ardennes are legendary. Image: Rijden<\/em><\/p>The Challenge Starts<\/h3>
![\"visual](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/jyp3c1hqqhteuflnqbej9cpxmhgo4hulu39dhdaiowyy6dvp.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\" "\\"visual")
READ MORE<\/strong>: Discover Belgian cyclocross club champion Jana Dobbelaere\u2019s favourite ride through the Flemish Ardennes<\/strong><\/a>. Includes maps and GPX file.<\/p>![\"Discover](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/jobifjkngszdahxf4io6vzkma0gf4o75qfinrjnw0zhfr1xf.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\" "\\"Discover")
<\/u><\/a>Easy! Mentally, it was tempting to think that this \u2018challenge\u2019 was not going to be as difficult as we had feared.<\/p>Muur van Geraardsbergen<\/h3>
![\"Cycling](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/bazrvhptfhnryubwcchgvvrcsacqranopkmcovef7b55rbps.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\" "\\"Cycling")
Bar Gidon - Home of the Remco fan club. Image: Dave West<\/em><\/p>Bosberg<\/h3>
![\"Image](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/ckmwkfoq7blprmmsqarivzsc19ltpn604zuzlltzurgtpn0n.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\" "\\"Image")
Muur van Geraardsbergen. Image: Rijden<\/em><\/p>Day Two<\/h2>
Kemmelberg<\/h3>
![\"Image](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/rzn4zx6bihbby1f98pyqoahjjs10ymtxsimufevnrdcf8nwu.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\" "\\"Image")
The Flanders International Rally Challenge did its best to spoil the fun. Image: Dave West<\/em><\/p>Scherpenberg or bust<\/h3>
Day Three<\/h2>
Achterberg<\/h3>
D\u00e9j\u00e0 vu<\/h3>
![\"Riders](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/j3gwmzpxpnwfiakkkhxmvuiang4g1pczwsaspdbq2z6x9che.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\" "\\"Riders")
Have we been here before? Image: Dave West<\/em><\/p>Oude Kwaremont<\/h3>
Koppenberg<\/h3>
![\"Image](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/xlboe7gjnjmvzfrh83ixpqoctkoutqc4ephzifvgejcsztbk.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\" "\\"Image")
This might hurt - The Koppenberg. Image: Rijden<\/em><\/p>Taainberg<\/h3>
Immortality<\/h3>
![\"Image](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/onxilexmtlocgyzwqi9vfmmpklp96ikhe7pkncn1hebsv7pt.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\" "\\"Image")
True Flandriens are added to the wall of honour. Image: Dave West<\/em><\/p>Summary<\/h3>
<\/u><\/a>I strongly suggest that anyone with even the slightest itch to sample the world of Belgian cycling should attempt the challenge. Ride the roads, enjoy the beer, sample the frites, but most of all, embrace the cobbles!<\/p>![\"Rijden](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/grrbpemyywmusal5merxugim70nijvc2vqzqxpkx6vlx83lu.jpg.jpg?w=640&v=2\" "\\"Rijden")
<\/p>
![\"Subscribe](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/e4csubwckhg8szzln5ubes5dpwxwl5bey21wrlfbncih5zeg.jpg\" "\\"Subscribe")
<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>","urlTitle":"flandrien-challenge","url":"\/blog\/flandrien-challenge\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/flandrien-challenge\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/rijden.uk\/blog\/flandrien-challenge\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":true,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1689103096,"updatedAt":1709551500,"publishedAt":1709551500,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":61205,"name":"Rijden_2"},"tags":[{"id":1663,"code":"rides","name":"Rides","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/rides\/"},{"id":1874,"code":"guides","name":"Guides","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/guides\/"}],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/sdavu0irpz5zne0yguztvllndzn3kymr3zqcwusk5xtksbd1.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/sdavu0irpz5zne0yguztvllndzn3kymr3zqcwusk5xtksbd1.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/sdavu0irpz5zne0yguztvllndzn3kymr3zqcwusk5xtksbd1.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"Flandrien Challege | Rijden","metaDescription":"Find out how to take part in the Flandrien Challenge which should be on the bucket list of every road cyclist who has a passion for cycling's classic races.","keyPhraseCampaignId":12282,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":9561,"title":"Guide to Belgian beer","url":"\/blog\/beer-guide-part-2\/","urlTitle":"beer-guide-part-2","division":61205,"description":"Here at Rijden, we love Belgian beer. There's not much better than settling down to watch one of cycling's Spring classics or a top cyclocross race with a Belgian beer in hand. In this article, we describe the different types of Belgian beer.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/utk2mdpa3ebapxomtdmcqm9xze7zpfjpxgzd2ysbsverygri.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/utk2mdpa3ebapxomtdmcqm9xze7zpfjpxgzd2ysbsverygri.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":11771,"title":"Review: North Devon and Kassei Coffee","url":"\/blog\/cycling-in-north-devon-and-kassei-coffee\/","urlTitle":"cycling-in-north-devon-and-kassei-coffee","division":61205,"description":"We cycle the hills and lanes of North Devon and test-taste Kassei Coffee","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/7qr6mknkpajevcrgpis2o1b5dnhgqobcoj9kbjkxodmnlrop.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/7qr6mknkpajevcrgpis2o1b5dnhgqobcoj9kbjkxodmnlrop.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":11805,"title":"Our guide to the wine regions of the Tour de France","url":"\/blog\/wine-guide-to-le-tour\/","urlTitle":"wine-guide-to-le-tour","division":61205,"description":"Our guide to the wine regions of the 2021 Tour de France","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/64pponsah42jmom1uv2mtrkbfarx5vemcowe7qbdhs3f8dlg.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/64pponsah42jmom1uv2mtrkbfarx5vemcowe7qbdhs3f8dlg.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}