Mountain Biking Collection by DirtyDropbars
Flanders Divide - Across Flanders
5 days
6-7 h/day
564km
3,870m
3,940m
Flanders may lack some meters in height, but the cycling culture and diversity in the landscape make up for everything. We know for sure: Flanders deserves its own Divide! And so we set out with our passion for exploring, off-road riding and bikepacking. Thus, the Flanders Divide was created: a journey across Flanders, mostly unpaved, as the crow flies from east to west.
The Flanders Divide showcases the best of what Flanders has to offer. The route is heavy and largely unpaved, made for the true Flandrien. You start in Genk in the east and finish in Ostend on the Belgian coast in the west. From the historic mining region with off-road climbs and hairpin bends in the Terhills nature reserve, via the gravel roads of Limburg, to the hills of the Hageland.
Once past the student city of Leuven, you link the forest areas of Meerdaalwoud, Zoniënwoud and Hallerbos together. For hours you cycle through the dense and ancient forests. With your lungs full of fresh oxygen, you reach the Pajottenland, the Flemish farming land with its typical rolling hills, via small farm roads.
Your calves start to burn as soon as you encounter the famous Flemish cobblestones, with the first section being the notorious 'Muur van Geraardsbergen'. From here, you cycle into the Flemish Ardennes, towards Oudenaarde, the center of the Tour of Flanders. Time to feed your inner Flandrien. Leave the local beer for a moment, because you will need all your energy for the steep cobblestone sections and off-road parts that follow.
Now that most of the elevation is behind you, it's time for the final stretch to the coast. Towards the historic city of Bruges, you follow more unpaved roads, singletracks and gravel sections.
When you smell the salty sea air, the finish is in sight. You cross Ostend, the 'Queen of Seaside Resorts' on your way to the beach. Lean your bike against a beach pole and take a dip in the surf. The Flanders Divide, from East to West Flanders, is over. You are in safe harbor. Time for a Brugse Zot, Flandrien!
Note: The Flanders Divide is made for a gravel bike, mountain bike or touring bike with at least 35 millimeter tires, but preferably even wider. In dry or wet periods, the unpaved roads are difficult to cycle with narrow tires.
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Flanders Divide
558km
3,560m
3,620m
Last updated: November 23, 2024
Do it yourself!
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Ready to get going? Create and customize your own version of this adventure using the full route below as a template.
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Activities
1. Flanders Divide: Stage 1 – From Genk to Lommel
109km
06:40
560m
560m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
2. Flanders Divide: Stage 2 – From Lommel to Meerdaalwoud
112km
06:39
610m
600m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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3. Flanders Divide: Stage 3 – From Meerdaalwoud to Vollezele
105km
06:35
840m
860m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
4. Flanders Divide: Stage 4 – From Vollezele to Oudenaarde
109km
07:02
1,370m
1,410m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
5. Flanders Divide: Stage 5 – From Oudenaarde to Oostende
128km
07:10
490m
500m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
Collection Stats
Activities
5
Distance
564 km
Duration
34:05 h
Elevation
3,870 m
3,940 m
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