The new mid week semi Classic on the BiciSport calendar and a day after Nokere so 14 March is the Denain Grand Prix on 15 March just over the Belgian-French border (a short 75 minute drive from Nokere) in Paris Roubaix cobbled country
The Grand Prix Denain has three distinct loops - the blue loop first, then the orange loop & finishes with the red loop. Accommodation is at the end of the red loop in the village of Haspres.
BiciSport co sponsors this Junior race on 17 March in the village of Velle-Temse near Antwerp.
The race organisation is led by the VerHulst brothers who are long time BiciSport supporters..
Dwars Vlaanderen 2024 @ 28 Mar
Sunday in Hell just got better with both Under 19 and Under 23 races added to the Sunday professional program. The Roubaix Cyclosportive & Women’s race is on the Saturday.
The Paris Roubaix Classic for Under 19 riders is now held on the same day as the professionals
The U23 Paris Roubaix starts in the town of Le Cateau Cambresis
The Womens Paris Roubaix Classic 2024 starts in Denain on the Saturday
An interesting exposition at Wallers Arenberg from 4-15 April
BiciSport to the Belgium Spring Classics in 2025
13 Mar - Nokere Course 14 Mar - Denain Grand Prix 15 Mar - Monsere Anniversary Tribute
16 Mar - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive, 17 Mar - BiciSport Velle Junior Race
22 Mar - E3 Grand Prix 23 Mar - Gent Wevelgem Cyclosportive 24 Mar - Gent Wevelgem
27 Mar - Dwars Vlaanderen 30 Mar - Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclosportive 31 Mar - Ronde van Vlaanderen
April
6 Apr - Paris Roubaix Cyclosportive, Paris Roubaix (Women) 7 Apr - Paris Roubaix (U19, U23, Professionals)
10 Apr - Brabant Arrow 14 Apr - Amstel Gold Race
FLANDERS FOLLIES OVERVIEW
Accommodation is at the Kokerelle B&B in the village of Maarke Kerkem near the Eikenberg climb.
Kokerelle B&B is just 5k from Oudenaarde (Oudenaarde translates to ‘Old Fields’ in Flemish). Kokerelle has been used by BiciSport for nearly 10 years.
Semi Classic races are usually held mid week on a Wednesday or a Thursday @ 200k. Classics are on the weekend @ 250k usually on the Sunday.
NOKERE COURSE - 13 Mar
Course
Starting in Deinze, with a big rural loop through rural Flanders, over the Holleweg cobbles near Oudenaarde, then several laps around the Wannegem-Lede cobbles to finish in the tiny nearby village Nokere.
Seeing the action
Vantage points are pretty good.
Seeing the start in Deinze is not practical (too far away) but if the weather is good then its possible to see Holleweg & Wannegem-Lede cobbles by bike then maybe head to Nokere village by bike.
If its wet - its a car to Holleweg cobbles then to the finish at Nokere and find a beer tent. The late afternoon is a drive to Haspres near Denain in northern France for the race next day.
DENAIN GRAND PRIX - 14 Mar
Course
A mini Paris Roubaix Classic at 200k with 12 pave (cobbled) sections and several pave sections used in the Paris Roubaix Classic (around Quivey & Viesly).
Denain is ‘famous’ for coal mining & a steelworks (which closed in 1978).
The race starts & finishes in Denain with one big (northern) loop out of Denain, then local laps around Denain, then a southern loop with Paris Roubaix cobbles south of Denain around Quivey, Viesly & Haspres.
Seeing the action
Vantage points are endless, and even more so on a bike. The Police dislike cars - so seeing the race by bike is the best.
A new event on the BiciSport Belgian Classics calendar but only a 75 minute drive from Oudenaarde and well, why not.
Options are to see the Denain start, then two more viewings on the northern loop just after the start, then watch the local laps just outside Denain, then head to the Haspres cobbles.
Accommodation is at the village of Haspres
Jean Pierre Monsere won the World Professional Road Championship at Leicester (UK) in August 1970 and was tragically killed in a race in March 1971
Jean Pierre Monsere Memorial celebration on 15 March 2024
Jean Pierre Monsere was the reigning World Professional Road Champion from 1970 - in the following season in 1971 was competing in a local professional race near Antwerp and was killed in a head on collision with a motor car on 15 March 1971 MOR with attend the Monsere Memorial on 15 March to pay respects.
BiciSport Velle Junior Race circuit on 17 March always attracts a high quality field
BICISPORT sponsored VELLE JUNIOR RACE - 17 Mar
The second year of the BiciSport sponsored Junior Race which starts & finishes in the village of Velle.
Velle is 20k from Antwerp
E3 GRAND PRIX - 22 Mar
Course
A mini Ronde van Vlaanderen with numerous climbs used that are also in the Ronde on 31 March. The race starts & finishes in Harelbeke then the usual rural Flanders loop in and around Oudenaarde.
Every cobbled berg in the region is used in some shape or form.
Seeing the action
Vantage points are just everywhere.
No seeing the start finish in Harelbeke (not practical) but choices on bike or car are simply endless (it can get a bit confusing as there are so many viewing options).
The E3 race actually passes the Kokerelle B&B front door - so … go see it at the Holleweg cobbles then either linger around the village of Maarke Kerkem or head out towards Kluisbergen or Ronse.
Bike is better than a car. At the end go find a pub with a tv.
GENT WEVELGEM - 23 + 24 Mar
Course - a weekend in two parts
Wevelgem Cyclosportive @ 23 Mar
Accommodation is on a lovely barge on the Schelde River in Menen
The Wevelgem township is no tourist destination and certainly no oil painting (yes, it is very ordinary), but the cyclosportive is (within just two kilometres of the start) a stunning loop in the rural Flemish countryside.
Car parking is easy. The Menin Gate at Ieper is a highlight. At least the event starts in Wevelgem. A must do cyclosportive with great organisation.on closed roads
Wevelgem Pro Classic @ 24 Mar
The race actually starts in Ieper and not in Gent (money does talk).
Ieper is some 50k from Gent. A big loop through rural west Flanders, plus heavy crosswinds in the exposed plains around Poperinge. Wevelgem looks better on the tv than in real life.
Seeing the action
Gent Wevelgem vantage points are few & far between and a real hassle on either bike or car … the only option is the top of the Kemmelberg climb near the village of Kemmel at the local hotel (for three passes) or sit at Menin or go to the finish in central Wevelgem. .Find a Belgian pub.
DWARS VLAANDEREN - 27 Mar
Course -
Dwars Vlaanderen simply translates to Across Flanders
Another epic mid week semi Classic @ 200k - this time starting from the urban and concrete disaster that is Roeselare.
Roeselare is the home of the Koers Cycling Museum (a stunning celebration of the sport) & the home city of Jean Pierre Monsere (ex World Champion but now RIP).
The usual rural loop into Flanders, around Oudenaarde, and the usual cobbled bergs used in the E3 & Ronde van Vlaanderen
The finish is in Waregem (was the home of the Australian cyclist Phil Anderson).
Seeing the action
No going to the Roeselare start unless you want a local council parking ticket for your efforts and stare at ugly Flemish concrete (where are the trees ?).
Will go to the Holleweg cobbles near Maarke Kerkem, then a few other bergs nearby, then find a tv in a local pub and try another Duvel,. A great day out.
RONDE VAN VLAANDEREN - 30 + 31 Mar
Course
Accommodation is in Kluisbergen near the Olde Kwaremont climb
RVV Cyclosporive @ 30 Mar
starting & finishing in Oudenaarde with 19,000 close personal friends.
A cyclosportive without peer over closed roads.
RVV Pro Classic @ 31 Mar
starting in Antwerp with the usual rural Flanders loop then the Berg Loop that is beyond description with multiple laps of Old Kwaremont, Patersberg and the finish at Oudenaarde. Magic.
Seeing the action
Police road closures means the only way to catch the action is by bike. If it rains … tough, bring a rain jacket.
Watch the start from 9am on Flemish tv, get the lycra on and head for the Womens start in central Oudenaarde. After the Women’s start head directly to Melden pub and watch the action on the tv.
The Mens race goes through Melden then its off to a climb at Hotond, then its back towards the Old Kwaremont to watch the men (three times), back to the Koppenberg, and the women just once (coming off the Patersberg).
Go find a cafe to see the finish on tv. Accommodation is in Kluisbergen.
PARIS ROUBAIX - 6 + 7 Apr
Accommodation
BiciSport service course is in the village of Bachy, near the cobbled section of Cysoing (Zone 7) and Wannehein (Zone 6).
Course
Roubaix Cyclosportive @ 6 Apr
start finish is from the old Roubaix Velodrome.
Compared to closed roads at the RVV cyclosportive the previous week, this French cyclosportive is mildly shambolic and potentially hazardous with french drivers.
Maybe 4,000 or 5,000 starters (mostly french) and forceful french car drivers are not your friend.
Iconic, yes you must do it, but caution is at every pedal stroke.
PR Classic @ 7 Apr
Compiegne start with cobbles starting at Troisville. Its epic. This year there is also the Under 19 and Under 23 versions of the same race just before the pro race arrives.
Seeing the action
The Day in Hell - avoid Compiegne all together and stay within the numerous road closures around Bachy & Orchies and go to Cysoing for lunch and see either Zone 15, or Zone 7 cobbles at Cysoing or Zone 6 cobbles at Wannehein
BRABANT ARROW - 10 Apr
Course
Starting in Leuven (a university town) and finishing at Overijse (a hilly Brussels suburb). This French speaking Brussels semi classic and just maybe a local french speaking lad will win it.
There is a long transfer from the Leuven start to the local Overijse finishing laps.
Seeing the action
Not that easy, and just watching it on Belgian TV could be the go
Forget going to the start in Leuven (no car parking, so why bother ?) and maybe head to Overijse for the finishing local laps, maybe a cobbled section, find a pub with a tv. Find somebody (anybody) who speaks English.
Maybe just stay at home and watch it on tv.
AMSTEL GOLD RACE - 14 Apr
The Amstel Gold was first visited in 2023 and what a great day. Valkenberg was a big big party and who could forget the Shimano Experience concept store.
Great memories of 2023 for many reasons when “The Podge” destroyed the pro peloton in damp & cold conditions
Accommodation in 2024 is at the nearby village of Schin op Guel not far from Valkenburg between 14-17 Apr. A great bike shop in the local villages
Course
Hilly, and endless travels up every hill in Limburg.
Some people call it the worlds hillest criterium as there are endless loops over the same roads.
Start is in Maastricht (great shopping there !) with the finish at Valkenburg
Seeing the action
There is a great coffee shop/bike shop just in the centre of Valkenburg town. It has great food & coffee, a big tv, loads of atmosphere. You know the one, it was great in 2023. The Womens race passes 5 times and the Mens race passes 2 times. Perfect
The famous Chez Francois Cafe is in Troisville (the French village that hosts the first section of Paris Roubaix cobbles) and the home of the Amis de Paris Roubaix (Friends of Paris Roubaix) who undertake the road repair work on the Paris Roubaix route cobbles each year
Amis de Paris Roubaix are “Friends of the Paris Roubaix” and are the volunteers that maintain the cobbled roads through northern France