Pont Gibus
1600 meters - 3 stars
The strip has been in use since 1974 but has been missing in recent history due to its poor condition.
In the autumn of 2012, the strip was restored - for a lot of money - and has been part of the trail again since the 2013 edition.
The strip is characterized by the two bridgeheads halfway through the strip. On one of the bridgeheads it says in large letters: GIBUS.
The official name of the strip is pavé de Wallers à Hélesmes, but has been known as Pont Gibus for years.
Gibus is a pet name for Gilbert-Duclos Lassalle. The tough French hunk from Gap (high mountains, of all places) managed to win the Helle Classic twice and enjoyed great popularity among the French public.
This strip is more or less attributed to Gilbert-Duclos Lassalle by the fans. In the final there is a strip just outside Cysoing and it has been formally named Pave Gilbert-Duclos Lassalle.
The stretch starts at the D40 just to the south where the riders have reached it after crossing the Bos van Wallers.
The strip runs northwest. Almost in a straight line and halfway at the old track there is a pendulum in the strip.
The strip joins the D955
After the restoration, the strip lost a star and is now at three stars. That does not change if you have just passed the Forest of Wallers, this remains a difficult strip.
That is why many riders will be happy with the restoration because before 2012 the strip was very bad and for many riders the intermediate section on the D40 was too short to catch their breath.