Overview

Ghent sets the stage for five days at the heart of the Flanders Spring Classics. Your Trek Travel guides will meet you at 10:00 AM at the Ghent Urbanist Hotel for a personalized fit on your Trek Domane, already set up for Flanders with cobble-ready tires and double-wrapped bar tape. A well-stocked snack table keeps you fueled while we dial in each bike, then you'll roll out on a relaxed loop beyond the city. It's an unhurried introduction to the low-lying countryside and a chance to settle into the bike before the cobbles arrive. Back in Ghent, the evening opens with a social hour and carries into a welcome dinner, where your guides will preview the race days ahead and the stories behind the roads you'll soon ride. Rest well. Tomorrow, you'll join thousands of riders on the same roads the pros will race the following day.

Overview

Each spring, thousands of riders turn out for the Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclo, the We Ride Flanders citizen ride raced the day before the pros and one of the biggest cycling events in Belgium. Today, you're among them. After an early shuttle to Oudenaarde, you'll choose between the shorter and longer courses. Both follow the meandering country roads of East and West Flanders and climb the short, steep cobbled bergs that have shaped the Ronde for decades. Your Trek Travel guides support and encourage you throughout the ride. After crossing the finish line, a well-earned lunch waits in the heart of town. Back in Ghent, there's time to shower, rest the legs, and trade stories from the road at the hotel bar. Dinner is on your own tonight, and your guides can point you toward their favorite spots in town.

Overview

The Tour of Flanders is Belgium's most celebrated race, and in Flanders cycling is more than a sport—it's a tradition and a national passion. You'll see it up close from our exclusive VIP viewing area on the summit of the Oude Kwaremont, one of the race’s most decisive climbs. From this prime vantage point, you'll watch the men's peloton pass three times, with the tension building on every lap. Riders come close enough that you can read the determination on their faces while they fight for position over the cobbles. You'll also have the privilege of cheering on the women’s peloton as it passes over the same climb. Lunch is served in the viewing area, so the racing never leaves your sight. After a thrilling day of race action, we'll return to Ghent for a relaxed evening. Dinner is yours to choose, and the guildhall-lined quays of the Graslei and Korenlei, a short walk from the hotel, set an atmospheric scene along the river.

Overview

Today, we head south of Ghent, where the roads turn toward climbs that have defined the Ronde across generations. The centerpiece is the Muur van Geraardsbergen, or Kapelmuur, a steep, cobbled wall that decided the race for decades. In Geraardsbergen, we'll stop at Bar Gidon, the cycling café founded by former pro Frederik Penne and a gathering place for riders and fans alike. It's the place to try mattentaart, the town's pastry specialty. We continue to Oudenaarde, the gateway to the Flemish Ardennes, to visit the Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen, the museum dedicated to the race you watched unfold yesterday. Back in Ghent after a short shuttle, we'll gather for a final social hour and dinner together at one of our favorite restaurants in town. Raise a glass to the cobbles you've conquered and the new friends around the table.

Overview

There's no rush this morning. Sleep in and linger over a warm croissant and coffee, or, if the legs are willing, join a final spin out of Ghent along the canal. We'll say our farewells at 12:00 PM at the Ghent Urbanist Hotel. Please allow adequate connection time for your onward flight or train, as traffic can cause delays.