{"id":26349,"title":"Flemish Ardennes Cycle Ride","description":"Fancy a scenic cycle ride from the heart of the Belgian city of Gent around the famous lanes of the Flemish Ardennes? Join cyclocross champion Jana Dobbelaere on one of her favourite training rides.","content":"

Fancy a scenic cycle ride from the heart of the Belgian city of Gent around the famous lanes of the Flemish Ardennes? Join cyclocross champion Jana Dobbelaere on one of her favourite training rides.<\/p>

\"ImageAs an amateur racing cyclist, I\u2019m always interested in learning more about how successful riders train.<\/p>

Whilst it\u2019s fascinating to gain an insight into how someone like Mathieu van der Poel trains, it\u2019s more relevant to me to look at someone who works full-time.<\/p>

So whom better to ask than the reigning Belgian National Cyclocross club champion for elite women, Jana Dobbelaere?<\/p>

In a previous interview with Jana<\/a>, she explained how she mixes racing against the top women cyclocross riders with working as an IT specialist.<\/p>

Favourite Training Ride<\/h3>

I asked Jana to guide us through one of her favourite training rides from her home in Gent.<\/p>

\"wzdg3j9roqqpqbcv4bsaqzjlarfycz08hlm2x6oofyayj85t.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"Meet Jana Dobbelaere, the full-time worker who races against the world\u2019s best cyclocross riders on the tough European scene.<\/a><\/p>

\"Link<\/u><\/a>\"wzdg3j9roqqpqbcv4bsaqzjlarfycz08hlm2x6oofyayj85t.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"<\/p>

It takes her from the heart of Belgium\u2019s third largest city, along the banks of the river Schelde (or Scheldt) out into the beautiful and famous countryside of the Vlaamse Ardennen (Flemish Ardennes).<\/p>

The route takes her in a large loop, returning some 114 kilometres later where in the summer she might reward herself with ice cream.<\/p>

\"ImageThe ride starts close to the centre of Gent<\/em><\/p>

Much of the course follows the banks of waterways and uses the extensive network of cycle paths or the quiet back roads of the Flemish Ardennes. It features famous climbs such as the Tenbosse, La Houppe and Kanarieberg.<\/p>

Whilst it doesn\u2019t include any well-known sections of cobbles, there\u2019s plenty of opportunity to add them to your own route. At the end of the article, we suggest some sections of cobbles that you can easily include should you wish.<\/p>

Below, you\u2019ll find links to the ride on Strava, Google Maps and the GPX file.<\/p>

\"ImageJana racing cyclocross in Flanders<\/em><\/p>

Indeed, it\u2019s one of the reasons that Jana likes this ride. Once you reach the Flemish Ardennes, there is a web of little-used, narrow lanes that offer up the opportunity to explore and let serendipity take over.<\/p>

It makes an ideal training ground for Jana, providing a variety of short climbs that she can sprint up and longer ones that require a more measured effort.<\/p>

About Gent<\/h3>

I always feel that Gent is overlooked by English-speaking visitors to Flanders. Up to 60% of visitors to Ieper<\/a> (Ypres) are from the UK due to its historical connection with the First World War and the remembrance of \u201cthe fallen\u201d.<\/p>

\"ImageGent\u2019s Gravensteen Castle<\/span><\/em><\/p>

Then there\u2019s the photogenic beauty of Brugge (Bruges) which is often described as the \u201cVenice of the North\u201d. But Gent has much to offer cyclists looking for some off-the-bike relaxation. Visit Flanders<\/a> describes Gent as \u201cEurope\u2019s Best-kept Secret\u201d.<\/p>

\u201ca lamp post that flashes when a baby is born.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

It has a castle (Gravensteen<\/span>), world-famous paintings by Flemish masters, an eclectic mix of mediaeval and modernist architecture, lots of bars and even a lamp post that flashes<\/a> when a baby is born.<\/p>

I stood for ages watching the lamp post on a visit a few years ago and sadly it didn\u2019t flicker once. Maybe the Flemish Ooievaar (Stork) was busy elsewhere that day.<\/p>

\"ImagePink elephants. Image: <\/em>Diogo Brandao<\/em><\/a><\/p>

What I like about Gent is the riverside bars and the simplicity of letting the bustle of a busy modern city just flow by. Gent\u2019s oldest brewery still in business is the Huyghe Brewery which produces Delirium Tremens beer, distinctive for its pink elephant logo.<\/p>

Start<\/h3>

We start outside the Cafe De Redding which is close to the Coupure Canal. Then head northwest along Phoenixstraat for a short while before turning left into Weverstraat where we continue until it becomes the N466. Of course, being Belgium there\u2019s a decent cycle path that runs parallel.<\/p>

\u201ccycle paths are compulsory to use in Belgium\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

Where they exist, cycle paths are compulsory to use in Belgium, even if they are on the opposite side of the road. But don\u2019t worry, most cycle paths in Flanders are well thought out and nothing like those in places such as the UK.<\/p>

Joining the R4 Cycle Route<\/a> which runs along the bank of the Ringvaart Canal, we head due south for about 5 km where we turn south-west on the cycle path next to the N60 for one kilometre. Then it\u2019s south again on the cycle path next to the N469.<\/p>

River Schelde<\/h3>

After 1.75 km we meet the famous River Schelde. For approximately nine kilometres we follow the course of the Schelde before heading south on the cycle path next to the N452.<\/p>

\"ImageThe Schelde runs through the centre of Oudenaarde<\/em><\/p>

The 435-kilometre Schelde stretches from France, dissects Belgium and reaches the North Sea in the Netherlands. It\u2019s such an important transport route that it\u2019s been fought and argued over since the Romans ruled most of Europe.<\/p>

\u201cKettle War\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

It was the scene of the brief but fortunately, bloodless Kettle War of 1784 when the independent-minded Dutch Republic faced up to the Holy Roman Empire.<\/p>

The result was a single shot from the Dutch Republic which damaged the kettle onboard the Emperor\u2019s ship Le Louis.<\/p>

Nowadays, as well as being an important transportation artery, the Schelde is well known as the home of the Scheldepeloton, a group of professional and amateur cyclists who train up and down the side of the river.<\/p>

The Hills Start<\/h3>

We\u2019re about 20 kilometres into our ride and so far the highest elevation has been eight metres. That\u2019s my type of cycling but sadly it can\u2019t last.<\/p>

As we turn off the N452 onto a minor road on the outskirts of Gavere the road rises and a succession of climbs follow but none more than 80 metres high.<\/p>

If the name Gavere seems familiar it\u2019s because it\u2019s the home to a round of the UCI World Cup held in the grounds of the Kasteel Grenier. You\u2019re never very far away from the route of a classic or cyclocross race in East Flanders.<\/p>

The Tenbosse<\/h3>

Briefly, we join the cycle path alongside the N8C heading towards Brakel before turning south and after a few twists and turns to join the Tenbossestraat.<\/p>

\"ImageThe Flemish Ardennes is a web of quiet lanes and verdant countryside<\/em><\/p>

The climb of the Tenbosse will forever be linked in my mind with Peter van Petergem\u2019s victory in the 2003 Ronde van Vlaanderen. It\u2019s not that remarkable a climb. 500 metres of asphalt with a maximum gradient of 8% through the centre of the town of Brakel does not sound overly exciting.<\/p>

\u201cwildly cheering fans\u201d<\/p>

But imagine the pavements packed with wildly cheering fans as they urge on local man Van Petegem. It was here on this very street that he launched the move that would form the winning break. Van Petegem would outsprint Frank Vandenbroucke in Ninove to take his second victory in the Flandrian monument.<\/p>

The Flandrien Hotel<\/h3>

Following two kilometres of descent from the top of the Tenbosse the road rises steadily for the next 5.5 kilometres at about a 3% gradient. It\u2019s near the start of this drag in the tiny village of Parike we find our friends at the Flandrien Hotel.<\/p>

It\u2019s 50 kilometres into the ride and an ideal opportunity to stop for a quick coffee. As well as being a hotel dedicated to cycling, they have a clubhouse which is open to all from 11:00 to 18:00 at the weekends. Check out their amazing collection of racing bikes and art.<\/p>

\"wzdg3j9roqqpqbcv4bsaqzjlarfycz08hlm2x6oofyayj85t.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"We check out the cyclist\u2019s hotel, the Flandrien Hotel, which is based in the Flemish Ardennes.<\/a><\/p>

\"Image<\/u><\/a>\"wzdg3j9roqqpqbcv4bsaqzjlarfycz08hlm2x6oofyayj85t.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"<\/p>

Dedicated athletes like Jana will be pushing themselves on the Maandaagstraat which becomes the Motte as the road crosses over into French-speaking Wallonia.<\/p>

La Houppe<\/h3>

No sooner have we gently descended into Wallonia than we are climbing again, culminating with the scenic climb of La Houppe through the woods of the Bois de La Houppe to join the N48 heading eastwards.<\/p>

This is the high point of the ride at 142 metres and is just over halfway.<\/p>

\"ImageJana won the Belgian Cyclocross Club Championship in 2022. Image: Jana Dobbelaere<\/em><\/p>

We follow the cycle path alongside the N48 for four kilometres. Best of all, it\u2019s all downhill. The border between Flanders and Wallonia runs down the middle of the road. On one side it\u2019s the Ninoofsesteenweg, on the other it\u2019s the Chauss\u00e9e de Ninove.<\/p>

Kanarieberg<\/h3>

It will come as no surprise that after the lovely descent on the N48, we\u2019re climbing again. This time it\u2019s the delightfully named Kanarieberg (Canary Hill) which peaks out at the melodic-sounding Muziekbos (Music Wood).<\/p>

It\u2019s a one-kilometre climb with a maximum gradient of 14%. You can tell by the change in language that we\u2019re back in Flanders again.<\/p>

Homeward Bound<\/h3>

We\u2019re heading north towards the direction of Oudenaarde now. We climb to the top of the Achterberg before turning east and joining the cycle path next to the N8.<\/p>

After four kilometres and just after passing the Brouwerij Roman we turn left onto the N454.<\/p>

\"ImageJana previously rode for the Star Casino team alongside Anna Kay<\/em><\/p>

All the major climbs are over now and after four kilometres of the N454, we turn north onto a minor road that we follow through Gavere and back to the Schelde. We re-trace our original route before branching off in Gent for the final run alongside the banks of the Coupure Canal.<\/p>

Fietsas Coupure<\/h3>

I can\u2019t end our journey without mentioning the Coupure Canal again, which was first dug in 1751, or more specifically the Fietsas Coupure-Groendreef-Trekweg (Cycle axis Coupure-Groendreef-Trekweg).<\/p>

\u201c10,000 cyclists a day.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

According to the news website AVS<\/a>, two cyclists pass by per second during rush hour, and on the busiest days, 10,000 cyclists a day. Imagine, in the time taken to read this paragraph up to twenty cyclists have just passed by.<\/p>

We\u2019re back to where we started and it\u2019s time for an ice cream or maybe a Delirium Tremens.<\/p>

\"wzdg3j9roqqpqbcv4bsaqzjlarfycz08hlm2x6oofyayj85t.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"What is the Belgian Cyclocross Club Championship for elite men and women and who can win it?<\/a><\/p>

\"Image<\/u><\/a>\"wzdg3j9roqqpqbcv4bsaqzjlarfycz08hlm2x6oofyayj85t.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"<\/p>

Maps and GPX Files<\/h3>

The map of this ride is available on Strava<\/a>, Google Maps<\/a> and as a GPX file<\/a>.<\/p>

The ride is 114 kilometres long and climbs 952 metres.<\/p>

Mix in Some Cobbles<\/h3>

On the Google Map, you\u2019ll find the three climbs on the route that we have named (Tenbosse, La Houppe and Kanarieberg) and a number of other climbs and cobbled sections that you might like to consider including.<\/p>

\"ImageThe Koppenberg - are you tough enough?<\/em><\/p>

We suggest the following which are worth a detour off Jana\u2019s route:<\/p>