Tour Of Flanders Sportive

mistermatthew · 14-10-2018 7:02pm #1

Looking to do this next year. Does anyone know when the tickets come out? And where?

Also any tips. THink I'm going to do the 174m as it starts and finishes in the same place.

15-10-2018 3:45pm

They went on sale early November last year but I still got one in January. Best not to wait till then though if you definitely want one.

Be prepared to have to walk some climbs due to the sheer volume of traffic and the state of some of the cobbles, Molenberg, Koppenberg and Paterberg being particularly crowded.

07Lapierre · 15-10-2018 3:55pm

+1 Bring cleat covers! if you don't, you run a real risk of wearing out your cleats on the cobbles as you walk! Start as early as possible and try to avoid the crowds. When we did it, we had to drive to the start as we were late and traffic was a nightmare. If possible, stay in Ghent and cycle to the start in Oudenaard along the canal. its a 35k flat spin : https://www.strava.com/activities/280172929#6567234952

Finnrocco · 16-10-2018 8:38am

I did the full distance, my reasoning was why go all the way over there and not get the full experience? Also by the time you get to the hills (after approx 100 k) all the riders on the shorter distance are gone and you only have the riders you are with, so you wont have to walk any climbs.

I had a lift to Bruges and a lift back from Oudenaarde, so I was lucky.

Best bet is to stay in Bruges. There is a bus back from the finish to Bruges, but you need to book it early it fills up quickly.

Another tip is to make sure your bottle cages are tight. There will be bottles everywhere.

magicbastarder · 16-10-2018 9:05am

Finnrocco wrote: »

Another tip is to make sure your bottle cages are tight. There will be bottles everywhere.

no need for bottle cages at all so. just scavenge from other riders' lost bottles.

Brian? · 16-10-2018 9:44am

I've just moved to Eindhoven, so if be stupid not to consider this. There are a few air bnbs close to the start. I'm just wondering if the date is definitely set at the 6th of April.

dastardly00 · 16-10-2018 12:06pm

Finnrocco wrote: »

Best bet is to stay in Bruges. There is a bus back from the finish to Bruges, but you need to book it early it fills up quickly.

How do you book the bus from Bruges?
And I'm obviously presuming it takes your bike?

dastardly00 · 16-10-2018 12:18pm

Brian? wrote: »

I've just moved to Eindhoven, so if be stupid not to consider this. There are a few air bnbs close to the start. I'm just wondering if the date is definitely set at the 6th of April.

The pro race has been confirmed for April 7th. And the sportive is always the day before. So I think it's safe enough to assume it will be April 6th.

lizzylad84 · 16-10-2018 12:32pm

I've flights and accommodation booked. Flying to Brussels, staying in Ghent. Was in contact with organization in charge and enteries due to go out end of October. Heading over with clubmatee. We done roubaix this year and it really is a great experience.

dastardly00 · 16-10-2018 12:36pm

lizzylad84 wrote: »

I've flights and accommodation booked. Flying to Brussels, staying in Ghent. Was in contact with organization in charge and enteries due to go out end of October. Heading over with clubmatee. We done roubaix this year and it really is a great experience.

How are you planning on getting from Ghent to Antwerp for the start (if doing the longer distance)?

KevRossi · 16-10-2018 2:50pm

Plenty of trains going at that time on a Saturday morning, no idea how crowded they will be.

http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/query.exe/en?ld=std&AjaxMap=CPTVMap&seqnr=1&ident=kb.018922113.1539701326&REQ0HafasScrollDir=1

Finnrocco · 17-10-2018 7:18am

dastardly00 wrote: »

How do you book the bus from Bruges?
And I'm obviously presuming it takes your bike?

The long version starts in Bruges, so best to stay close to there if doing the long event.

There is a bus back from Oudenaarde to Bruges for you & your bike, this IIRC was booked on the RVV Sportif website - however I tried to book it quite late in the day and there were no spaces left.

The best thing about the long event is that you do 100 k on flat roads, in a big peleton, just rolling along at approx. 32/35 k - then you realise you still have to do 150 k approx and you havent seen a hill or a cobble yet!

lizzylad84 · 17-10-2018 9:20am

Dastardly 00 there's a shuttle option that can bebooked when booking registration. I used this option fir roubaix.

17-10-2018 9:36am

The long route starts in Antwerp these days, a bit of a spin from Bruges if you just realise it that morning.

dastardly00 · 17-10-2018 11:21am

Finnrocco wrote: »

The long version starts in Bruges, so best to stay close to there if doing the long event.

As red ken said, the long version now starts in Antwerp!

Brian? · 17-10-2018 3:28pm

lizzylad84 wrote: »

I've flights and accommodation booked. Flying to Brussels, staying in Ghent. Was in contact with organization in charge and enteries due to go out end of October. Heading over with clubmatee. We done roubaix this year and it really is a great experience.

Sound.

lizzylad84 · 17-10-2018 8:49pm

Registration opens in 3 weeks

dastardly00 · 02-11-2018 8:26am

Registration opens on November 7th at midday

lizzylad84 · 05-11-2018 3:23pm

It's like Christmas Eve eve

lizzylad84 · 07-11-2018 12:06pm

I'm all signed up. 175km option

mistermatthew · 07-11-2018 1:27pm

lizzylad84 wrote: »

I'm all signed up. 175km option

Same here. Excited now. Accomodation seems expensive! Where u planning in staying?

lizzylad84 · 07-11-2018 1:46pm

I've booked accommodation in Ghent. Limited options in oudenaarde.

dastardly00 · 07-11-2018 1:49pm

lizzylad84 wrote: »

I'm all signed up. 175km option

mistermatthew wrote: »

Same here. Excited now. Accomodation seems expensive! Where u planning in staying?

How come ye are not doing the 229 km version?

lizzylad84 · 07-11-2018 2:54pm

Staying 30 k from start. Cycling to start that morning.

dastardly00 · 07-11-2018 2:58pm

lizzylad84 wrote: »

Staying 30 k from start. Cycling to start that morning.

And 30 km on the way back too. Makes sense to do the 175 km option alright

lizzylad84 · 07-11-2018 5:20pm

Has anyone that's registered for this received any confirmation email

07-11-2018 5:51pm

Yeah, email within minutes of registering

lizzylad84 · 07-11-2018 6:29pm

Just rechecked spam folder. Email received. Panic over

WMP · 08-11-2018 2:00pm

Which website did you lads use to register? I did LBL a few years back and it was great. This is on the list also.

lizzylad84 · 08-11-2018 2:58pm

I googled we ride Flanders. There's also a link through their Facebook page. I done roubaix last year and I'm very very tempted to go back

WMP · 09-11-2018 9:32am

lizzylad84 wrote: »

I googled we ride Flanders. There's also a link through their Facebook page. I done roubaix last year and I'm very very tempted to go back

Thanks yes this is official website which I strangely I didnt see when I googled tour of Flanders. There are many other websites you can book through but they probably charge a commission.

http://www.sport.be/werideflanders/

dastardly00 · 08-01-2019 6:55pm

Anybody know where the sportive starts in Antwerp?

dastardly00 · 06-02-2019 4:55pm

The courses are up on the website now

http://www.werideflanders.com/en/parcours/

Only 2 months to go!

lizzylad84 · 20-02-2019 10:40am

How's everyones preparations getting on?

dastardly00 · 20-02-2019 11:02am

lizzylad84 wrote: »

How's everyones preparations getting on?

I've been using Trainer Road since October for the majority of my training. Doing a quick bit of maths... I am averaging one session per week, along with two strength & conditioning sessions per week, one swim every second week, and one hilly outdoor spin every 2-3 weeks). I'm happy enough with my progress so far as I had to take a few weeks off in December because of a back injury, and I've had a bit of a head cold for the last couple of weeks.

From this weekend on my main goal is to get outside on the bike more, and increase the distance week-by-week. I'm done with the pool until after the sportive and I'll start tapering down my strength & conditioning work soon.

All travel arrangements, eg. flights, hotel etc. are all booked. The only thing I have left to do on that front is to book the rental of a bike box. The lbs here in Galway only have a bike bag, so I'll have to rent from somewhere in Dublin and collect it when I'm on the way to the airport.

How is it going for you lizzylad84?

lizzylad84 · 20-02-2019 12:40pm

FYI I'm using a chain reaction bike bag this year, there easier to lug around the airport. Last year a clubmste used a cardboard box fir his on our trip to roubaix.

All sorted, just have to check out train times from airport to accommodation in ghent

mistermatthew · 20-02-2019 8:31pm

lizzylad84 wrote: »

How's everyones preparations getting on?

Everything sorted except car rental. Got 90km done on the road Sunday so was happy with that. I'm renting bike over there so hopefully all is sorted.

Looking forward to it now. Hopefully weather is kind next few weekends and I can get out on road consistent with potentially sat Sunday long spin at least one weekend to get the legs ready

lizzylad84 · 20-02-2019 9:10pm

What distance are you signed up for

dastardly00 · 20-02-2019 11:51pm

lizzylad84 wrote: »

What distance are you signed up for

229 km

*gulp*

lizzylad84 · 21-02-2019 8:35am

170k for me, staying in Ghent, cycling down to oudenaarde that morning

dastardly00 · 21-02-2019 12:00pm

lizzylad84 wrote: »

170k for me, staying in Ghent, cycling down to oudenaarde that morning

Yeah I don't think you are missing anything by not doing the extra 60 km.

mistermatthew · 21-02-2019 2:14pm

lizzylad84 wrote: »

170k for me, staying in Ghent, cycling down to oudenaarde that morning

Same here. Think it's 30k from Ghent. Right spin

lizzylad84 · 21-02-2019 3:41pm

Mistermathew 30 odd k spin along the canal.

mistermatthew · 21-02-2019 6:59pm

lizzylad84 wrote: »

Mistermathew 30 odd k spin along the canal.

AHH cool. Might see you on it so. Is there a start time officially or is it just turn up whenever suits

lizzylad84 · 21-02-2019 7:08pm

iirc start time is from 7am? Was at roubaix anyway?

dastardly00 · 21-02-2019 9:17pm

lizzylad84 wrote: »

iirc start time is from 7am? Was at roubaix anyway?

Start time for 174 km is from 7-8am.

Paris-Roubaix was 8-10am I think?

lizzylad84 · 28-02-2019 11:38am

Any plans /suggestions as to where's best to watch the race on Sunday?

dastardly00 · 01-04-2019 10:04am

5 days to go! How are we all set?

I did a 125 km (~1,400 m elevation gain) solo spin yesterday which will be my last ride before the event. I'll be riding a Canyon Endurace with disc brakes and 28 mm tyres, and I have fitted SPD MTB pedals for ease of unclipping if required. I've watched a few YouTube videos of people with GoPro footage from the sportive, and it is really is narrow on the climbs.

nak · 01-04-2019 3:35pm

dastardly00 wrote: »

5 days to go! How are we all set?

I did a 125 km (~1,400 m elevation gain) solo spin yesterday which will be my last ride before the event. I'll be riding a Canyon Endurace with disc brakes and 28 mm tyres, and I have fitted SPD MTB pedals for ease of unclipping if required. I've watched a few YouTube videos of people with GoPro footage from the sportive, and it is really is narrow on the climbs.

Just shout at people to get out the way. Managed to get up the climbs easy enough, even in the wet.

Kwaremont is a great place to watch on Sunday.

lizzylad84 · 02-04-2019 10:25am

Nerves starting to kick in. Looking forward to Saturday. It's all about crossing the finish line

GlennaMaddy · 02-04-2019 12:29pm

Staying in Ghent and driving down to Oudenarde with bike in the boot, can't face the extra 22km there and back. Going to watch race in the Oudenarde suburb of Leupegem, where I think I'll see the race three times including the finish, albeit not on one of the classic bergs. Did 160km on Saturday and felt good so looking forward to this now

Tour Of Flanders Sportive

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