17 climbs to glory

ByEurosport

Published 27/03/2006 at 11:49 GMT

It's not just about the 258km from Bruges to Aankomst, it's about those grueling cobblestone climbs. Legendary climbs include the 22% Koppenberg, the penultimate 20% Kapelmuur (or Mur de Grammont), and the Bosberg which leaves the riders 12km from glory.

CYCLING 2005 Tour of Flanders Boonen Klier Van Petegem

Image credit: Imago

Course outline:

CYCLING 2006 Ronde van Vlaanderen map

Image credit: From Official Website

The first half of the race is a war of attrition that the peloton wages against the various wind directions. Then the riders must get set for some heavy-duty urban wall-climbing with 17 hills that go are scaled on winding roads. The tallest one of these, the Mariaborrestraat, is a 2100-metre climb, 190 kilometres into the race.

Ronde van Vlaanderen