Outside of the Paterberg and the Oude Kwaremont, the Koppenberg (at kilometer 210) might be the best-known of the Flandrien climbs, snaking up of the steep, dreaded pavés. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
Welkommen to the hills and pavés of Flanders — the 100th edition of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen is fast approaching. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
Cobbles. Pavé. Kasseien. This is what Flanders racing is all about. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
Zdenek Stybar tested out the new kasseien, Huisepontweg, the first cobble section of the 2016 Ronde (pictured here during the 2016 Etixx – Quick-Step course recon). Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com | brakethroughmedia.com
Oude Kwaremont — helling 1, 11, 17 — viewed in it’s entirety during the Etixx helicopter course preview, showcases the grandeur of this cobbled climb which will host thousands of fans on Sunday in biergartens and along the course. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
Riders test the 2,200-meter-long Oude Kwaremont alongside the enormous VIP tents and biergartens being staged for the race day (pictured here during the 2016 Etixx – Quick-Step course recon). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
The peloton approached the base of the Kortekeer, helling 2 of the 2016 Ronde, which comes 114km into the race (pictured during the 2015 E3 Harelbeke). Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The beginning of the Kortekeer, the second climb in the 2016 Flanders route snakes through fields and some houses along paved roads (pictured here during the 2015 Etixx – Quick-Step course recon). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com | brakethroughmedia.com
The cobbled Eikenberg, helling 3 of the 2016 Ronde, appears at kilometer 121. It is 1,200m long with an average grade of 5.3 percent and max 10 percent. One of the main features of the Eikenberg is the wide paved shoulder that the breakaway and front of the race often takes advantage of (pictured here during E3 Harelbeke 2015). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The top section of the 1,200-meter-long cobbled Eikenberg, helling 3 of the 2016 Ronde (pictured here in the 2015 Ronde van Vlaanderen). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The smooth grade of the Wolvenberg, helling 4 of the 2016 Ronde, comes at kilometer 124 and tops at over 17 percent grade (pictured here during the 2015 Ronde). Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
Although the Wolvenberg is early in the race, the pace and intensity can be high at almost 18 percent gradient. (pictured here during the 2015 Ronde). Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The Ruiterstraat, kasseien 2, winds through the typical Flandrien countryside at kilometer 125. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
Strong winds and darkening skies are common and foreboding in the spring cobbled classics as De Ronde banners fly above kasseien 3, Kerkgate, at kilometer 128. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
A cluster of homes line the pavés of Jagerij, kasseien 4 at kilometer 131. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
The sweeping turn in the middle of the Molenberg, helling 5 of the 2016 Ronde, appears at after 137km and is 300m of cobbles (pictured here during the 2015 Etixx recon). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The Molenberg, helling 5 of the 2016 Flanders route, has an average grade of 7 percent and max 14.2 percent (pictured here during the 2015 Ronde). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The Paddestraat is a 2,300-meter-long sector of cobbles at kilometer 142 (pictured here during the 2015 Ronde). Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The Haaghoek, kasseien 6 of the 2016 Ronde, appears after 154km and is 2,000m of smooth cobbles with a long dip (pictured here during the 2015 Ronde). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The paved Leberg, helling 6 of the 2016 de Ronde, appears at kilometer 157. It is 950m long with an average grade of 4,2 percent and max 13,8 percent (pictured here during E3 Harelbeke 2015). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The Berendries, helling 7 of the 2016 Ronde, comes in at just under a kilometer with a max grade of almost 13 percent. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
Valkenberg, helling 8 of the 2016 Ronde, is probably the most urban of the Flanders climbs but it is short and steep topping out at 12.8 percent at 540 meters. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
The bucolic approach to the Kaperij, helling 9 of the 2016 Ronde. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
The long slope of the Kaperij, helling 9 of the 2016 Ronde, appears at kilometer 177. It is 1,000m long with a max grade of 9 percent (pictured here during the 2015 Etixx recon). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The base of the Kanarieberg, helling 10 of the 2016 de Ronde, is 1,000m of paved climb that maxes out at 14 percent (pictured here during the 2015 Ronde). (Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
Descent of the Kanarieberg, helling 10 of the 2016 de Ronde, which summits at kilometer 185. The descent has seen some nasty crashes in years past (pictured here during the 2015 Ronde). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The Oude Kwaremont, helling 11 of the 2016 de Ronde, is 1,500 meters of pavé with a max gradient of 11.6 percent, lined with fanatical fans (pictured here during the 2015 Ronde). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The infamous and feared Paterberg, helling 12 of the 2016 Ronde, comes after 204 kilometers of racing and appears almost tranquil when viewed from above (pictured here during the 2016 Etixx recon). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
Outside of the Paterberg and the Oude Kwaremont, the Koppenberg (at kilometer 210) might be the best-known of the Flandrien climbs, snaking up of the steep, dreaded pavés. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
Come race day, this carpet of spring green will be lined with fans clamoring for a view of the race hitting the infamous 600 meters of pavé on the Koppenberg, helling lucky number 13 of the 2016 Ronde. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
The middle of the Koppenberg puts the screws to riders as they struggle to stay upright on the slippery, smooth cobbles and 22 percent gradient (pictured here during the 2016 Lotto-Soudal course recon). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
The culture of De Ronde is deep, and many fans and enthusiasts take to the climbs and cobbles during the week-long build to the Gran Fondo where they may see the pavés for the first time. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
Kasseien 7 is the Mariaborrestraat, a wooded section of 2 kilometers of cobbles at 215km in the 2016 course (pictured here during the 2016 Etixx recon). Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com | brakethroughmedia.com
Steenbeekdries, helling 14 of the 2016 Flanders route, comes immediately after the cobbles of Mariaborrestraat at kilometer 216. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
The cobbles on the descent of the Steenbeekdries, before it curves around at the bottom and crosses the Stationsberg train tracks, where many crashes have been known to occur in inclement weather. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
The Taaienberg, helling 15 of the 2016 Ronde, appears at kilometer 218 and is deceptively short at 530m long. Riders typically vie for position to take advantage of the smooth paved gutter (pictured here during the 2015 E3 Harelbeke). Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media
The Taaienberg, helling 15 of the 2016 Ronde, features a brutal 500m of cobbles that max out at nearly 16 percent gradient (pictured here during the 2015 Ronde). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The mural marks the ascent of the Kruisberg, helling 16 of the 2016 route, which is a major road between Ronse, Oudenaarde, and Kluisbergen and has been featured in the race off and on since 1928. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
The top of the Kruisberg at kilometer 229 climbs up through a wooded section after leaving the urban streets. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
The Oude Kwaremont, helling 17 of the 2016 Flanders route, is a critical juncture in the race at kilometer 238 just before the last pass up the steep Paterberg (pictured here during the 2015 Ronde). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The Paterberg, helling 18 in the 2016 de Ronde, puts all riders to the test with a punishing 20.3 percent grade in just under 400m (pictured here during the 2015 Ronde). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
The Paterberg, helling 18 of the 2016 de Ronde, comes just 14km from the finish and is known for being the last opportunity to break the race apart (pictured here during the 2015 Ronde). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com
And once the climbs and cobbles are over it’s time to think about doing it all again next year. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com
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