Check out six of the key Tour of Flanders climbs on Strava
Eighteen climbs make up the modern Tour of Flanders, each of them with their own characteristics. Here are six of the key ascents of the famous Classic as Strava segments

Paterberg
Length: 400m
Gradient: 12 per cent (avg) 20 per cent (max)
KOM: Eli Iserbyt 53sec
Riders ascend the Paterberg twice on the 260.8km route: once with 51km to go and again as the last climb of the day, 13km before the finish.
With 11 climbs already in the legs when the riders first go up it the 20 per cent gradient is tough, but in the heat of the final kilometres it becomes even harder.
Taaienberg
Length: 800m
Gradient: Seven per cent (avg), 18 per cent
KOM: Daniel Oss 1-12
The Taaienberg is by no means the longest climb on the route, but with a gradient of 18 per cent in places and coming 36km from the finish it's a prime place to make an attack.
>>> Tour of Flanders 2017 preview
Kruisberg
Length: 1,825m
Gradient: Five per cent (avg), nine per cent (max)
KOM: Daniel Lloyd 4-03
What the Kruisberg lacks in steepness it makes up for in length. At over 1,800m long the climb takes over four minutes at a crucial point in the race. With 26km to go to the finish the action has more than heated up by that point.
Koppenberg
Length: 600m
Gradient: 13 per cent (avg), 22 per cent (max)
KOM: Cameron Bayly 1-39
When it comes to cobbled climbs, few can compare to the Koppenberg for difficulty. Again, it's not massively long, but with gradients of up to 22 per cent it's an incredibly challenging climb, even for the professionals.
There's only one ascent of the Koppenberg in the Tour of Flanders, but it comes with 44km to go, so no-one can afford to take it easy.
>>> The Koppenberg and the defining cobbles, bergs and climbs of the Belgian Classics
Oude Kwaremont
Length: 2,500m
Gradient: Four per cent (avg), 12 per cent (max)
KOM: Niki Terpstra 4-55
The Oude Kwaremont may be incredibly long, but thankfully it's not hugely steep. When you've climbed it three times, though, you may be glad to see the back of it.
Sitting at 2,500m long, it is the second and also the penultimate climb in the race, with riders also taking it in at the 54km to go mark for good measure.
>>> Tour of Flanders live TV guide
Kanarieberg
Length: 1,000m
Gradient: Eight per cent (avg), 14 per cent (max)
KOM: 'Strava athlete' 2-24
Unlike the other climbs on this list, the Kanarieberg is slightly kinder to the riders in the fact that it's not cobbled. With the standard of Belgian asphalt, though, that might not make that much difference, but it's slightly less bone jarring.
At 1,000m long, the climb is the final climb before the brutal final section. It comes with 70km to go, but all the hills after it are pretty unappealing and are all cobbled.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
Rapha Men's Pro Team Aero jersey review
Fast, aero and smart are not just the intended benefits but also the eventual results
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Giro Donne 2022: Everything you need to know about the 33rd edition
The race, formerly known as the Giro Rosa, will take place across ten stages in Italy
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
From the cobbles to the race track: Tom Boonen is living his best life
Classic legend Tom Boonen on race car driving, Mathieu van der Poel and modern cycling
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar apologised to Dylan van Baarle after Tour of Flanders frustration
Video shows Slovenian angry at Dutchman following Sunday's sprint
By Adam Becket • Published
-
The day the crowds returned: From viking horns to the smell of beer at the Tour of Flanders
Crowds packed the start, the finish, and every key climb to catch a glimpse of the Ronde
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'I hope this will get a lot of young riders on their bikes' — Lotte Kopecky on her huge Tour of Flanders win
Belgian champion hopes to drive girls to cycling with victory
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Five talking points from the Tour of Flanders 2022
The key talking points from a thrilling day of racing in Flanders
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
'Winning is not as easy as everyone thinks' — Mathieu van der Poel after second Tour of Flanders victory
Dutchman says he was calm heading into the sprint on Sunday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Belgian champion Lotte Kopecky takes momentous Tour of Flanders 2022 victory
Kopecky becomes only the second Belgian woman to win Flanders, out-sprinting Van Veluten for the title after a remarkable race
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel sprints to victory at Tour of Flanders 2022
The Dutchman took his second Tour of Flanders title in a dramatic final sprint
By Richard Windsor • Published