Spring Classics

Today is one of the biggest cycling events in Belgium. The Ronde Van Vlaanderen Cyclo (Flanders Citizens Ride) is a hard 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 a distance of 134km and 75km. Both courses 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 and visit the Ronde van Vlaanderen interactive museum. 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 race 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 a sport, it’s an obsession! Enjoy the spectacle from the comfort of our VIP area right on the summit of the Oude Kwaremont. This is the hill where only the best can make a difference. You will have a front row seat, not once, not twice, but three times as the cyclists pass through and you can witness the blood, sweat and tears on their faces. A live experience you don’t want to miss. Tonight enjoy your evening in Bruges where you are on your own to explore a quaint restaurant for dinner.

After all the excitement of the past two days, it's time to discover a softer side of Belgium-and a chance to sample the ultimate beer! We start this morning spinning our wheels along the canal and through enchanting Belgian villages en route toward the town of Diksmuide. On our way, we'll stop to explore the World War I heritage site of De IJzertoren before we continue to the legendary Sint Sixtus Trappist brewery, home of the holy grail of beer drinkers–‘Westvleteren 12’–an exclusive brew considered by aficionados as the best beer in the world. After enjoying the Abbey and a hearty lunch of local specialties, we'll make our way back to Bruges where we'll dine together at a local bistro.

This morning we'll cycle around Bruges and its surroundings, tracing some of the canals that have made the city famous. This afternoon, take the time to explore this unique city. Considered the Venice of the North, Bruges boasts a wide variety of museums, chocolate shops and pubs. Or you can take a boat ride along the many waterways to see the city from a different perspective. Tonight, enjoy dinner of your choice in one of the local bistros.

This morning we will say goodbye to Bruges and cycle toward the start of the Scheldeprijs race. The Grote Scheldeprijs is Flanders oldest classic, dating back to 1908. The event is a race for sprinters held on 200 km of flat roads around Antwerp and includes seven cobbled sections. We'll be back fro a race viewing later in the day, but first, after a light lunch, we'll drive to Deinze to visit the Trek-Segafredo Service Course. During our private tour, you'll have a chance to see what happens behind the scenes of the Trek-Segafredo team only days before one of its biggest races. Then it's time to move to Kortrijk, a town close to the French border and your home for second-half of the trip. Tonight is yours to explore Kortrijk for dinner.

Today you'll ride part of the historic Gent-Wevelgem race course. You'll surely recognize the names of some of today's climbs, including Kemmelberg or Cassellberg. Take this opportunity to test yourself on the cobbles before the Paris-Roubaix challenge on Saturday. We'll also discover the town of Ypres and its many memorials dedicated to World War I, cross the French border to get some more miles and enjoy a well-earned post-ride beer. Tonight we toast and enjoy a fantastic meal together in a local restaurant.

Prepare yourself for race-lover’s nirvana as you head out on your Trek bicycle today as we'll be doing 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 brand new Wellness Avenue Spa for a massage or relax in the pool. Check in with your guide to discuss final adjustments and fine-tuning for your bike to ensure you're completely ready for tomorrow’s epic event. We'll have the tires setup specifically for riding cobbles as well as extra bar tape for additional padding. Dine in the restaurant of your choice before heading to bed early in anticipation of an incredible-albeit 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 race course 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 bikes—the perfect way to enjoy a ride on one of the oldest and most grueling races on the professional cycling calendar! You can choose between the 145km course or 70km 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 our Kortrijk hotel. Shower and relax before sharing race stories and insights tonight during dinner together at another handpicked Belgian bistro.

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. 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 adventure!

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 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.