Spring Classics Bike Tours

Today is one of the biggest cycling events in Belgium. The Ronde Van Vlaanderen Cyclo aka Ride Flanders Citizen Ride is a difficult and increasingly popular race that attracts upwards of 15,000 participants. Today, you are one of them! It’s an early morning with a shuttle to the start in Oudenaarde. You can choose between the short or longer course. Both routes test your mettle throughout the rolling countryside of West Flanders on the same roads where the pros will do battle tomorrow. Ride the iconic climbs and cobblestone sections of the race like Eikenberg, Oude Kwaremont, Koppenberg, Valkenberg, and Paterberg with the support, encouragement, and expertise of your Trek Travel guides. Triumphant and tired, enjoy a well-deserved lunch in the centre of Oudenaarde. After, we will head back to the comforts of our hotel to shower and relax. Tonight you will have a chance to enjoy the evening at your leisure.

It’s all about the Tour of Flanders today! Get up close to the action to watch the pros battle it out and soak up the atmosphere of this historic and festive event as you wait with anticipation for the riders to fly by. This is Belgium, and cycling is not just a sport, it’s an obsession! Enjoy the spectacle from the comfort of our VIP luxury viewing area right on the summit of the Oude Kwaremont. This is the hill where only the best riders can make a difference on the outcome. You will have a front-row seat, not once, not twice, but three times as the men's teams pass through and you can witness the blood, sweat, and tears on their faces. It's truly a live experience you don’t want to miss, especially because you will also have the privilege of watching the women's race, too! After the excitement of seeing the Tour of Flanders live, enjoy your evening in Ghent, where you are on your own to explore a quaint restaurant for dinner.

After a delicious breakfast and a good cup of coffee, we head south of Ghent to ride some famous cobbled climbs from earlier editions including the famous Muur van Geraardsbergen, the Kapelmuur, where cycling history was written. In Geraardsbergen we stop for a lunch in a famous Bar Gidon located on the market square. The cycling café bar is owned by ex-professional Frederic Penne who was active in cycling for 20 years. It’s a perfect place to taste the unique regional cake, Mattentaarten, a Flemish specialty. We continue to Oudenaarde, the gateway to the Flemish Ardennes. You will visit The Tour of Flanders Centre and Museum. On our guided tour learn everything about the famous race and feel the enthusiasm and sense the triumph of the tour. After our visit, we will drive back to Ghent and dine together in one of our favorite restaurants in the town.

This morning we'll cycle around Ghent and its surroundings and visit one of the local breweries to taste the ultimate Belgian beer. Ghent is famous for its hopless beers and herb flavoured ales. This afternoon, take the time to explore this unique city. Sit along the Graslei canal, visit Bue The Warrior’s mural walls, or sip a beer outside the Marimain. Walk across The Ghent’s most famous bridge and you will fall in love with the city while you soak up postcard-perfect views of Graslei and Korenlei, the Old Fish Market, and St. Michael’s Church. Tonight, enjoy dinner of your choice in one of the local bistros.

Today you'll say farewell to the Harmony Hotel by enjoying one last breakfast before you go. Then it's on to our next adventure with a ride to the town Deinze and a visit to the Trek Segafredo Service Course in Belgium. The Service Course is where the team stores its gear and tools, and during our private tour you'll have a chance to see what happens behind the scenes of the Trek Segafredo only days before one of its biggest races. After lunch we'll head to Kortrijk, your home for second half of the trip. Tonight you’ll explore this charming medieval town for dinner.

This morning’s ride takes us toward Ypres, with its stunning architecture and strong WWI history. From here, you’re off to climb the likes of the Kemmelberg and Castleberg on our route, which mimics the Gent-Wevelgem race. The ride meanders through Flanders Fields and touches into France before finishing at one of our favorite breweries for a well-deserved local beer. Tonight we’ll gather again to enjoy dinner at a carefully selected local bistro.

Prepare yourself for race lover's nirvana as you head out on your Trek bicycle today for a little warm-up before tomorrow. Enjoy a ride in the Flemish countryside and feel free to stop for a coffee or beer along the way. In the afternoon, you may decide to hit the beautifully designed Wellness Avenue Spa for a massage or to relax in the pool. Check in with your guides to discuss final adjustments and fine-tuning for your bike to ensure you're completely ready for tomorrow’s epic event. Dine in the restaurant of your choice tonight before heading to bed early in anticipation of an incredible (and early) day tomorrow.

Welcome to the Hell of the North . It’s an early start with a morning shuttle to the beginning of the Roubaix Challenge. Test your mettle on the full (or partial) Paris-Roubaix racecourse over which the Pros will battle for supremacy tomorrow. You’ll have the chance to experience for yourself the iconic cobblestone sections of the race with the support, encouragement, and expertise of your Trek Travel guides on amazing Trek Domanes—the perfect bike to enjoy a ride on one of the oldest and most grueling races on the professional cycling calendar! You can choose between shorter and longer course. Both of them include legendary sectors such as the infamous Arenberg Forest and Carrefore de l’Arbre. Later, you’ll enjoy a well-deserved lunch near the finish of the ride before heading back to the comforts of your Kortrijk hotel. Shower and relax before sharing your race stories and insights tonight during dinner together at another handpicked Belgian bistro.

DP:Today is Roubaix day, and don't be surprised if you feel the same butterflies as the pros as we prepare for an exciting day of spectating. You’ll experience the thrill of watching men’s and women’s peloton race into Roubaix on the same day. An early departure will allow you to choose your own vantage point along the course and feel the electric atmosphere of the crowds as you await the first glimpses of the leaders. You’ll have a chance to see some racers flying by before heading to the famed Roubaix Vélodrome to watch the explosive finish from your VIP seats! Tonight, toast to great riding, new friends, big achievements, and an unforgettable race experience on your Spring Classics cycling tour!

Feel free to sleep in and ease into your day with a warm pain au chocolat and café au lait. You will say farewell to your guides at 10:00 AM at the Park Hotel before taking the train from Kortrijk to your final destination. Please allow adequate connection time for a flight or train to accommodate possible traffic delays.