The Ronde van Vlaanderen, Gent-Wevelegm, and Paris-Roubaix make up the opening week of the big Northern Classics. These ancient races have created as many heroes as they've destroyed, and can only truly be understood in person. We offer this humble attempt to explain why...
The Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) is the most important race on the Belgian calendar. In fact for the Belgian people it ranks above the World Championship RR. Such is its long and storied history, that each year race day grabs national attention in the same way as Super Bowl Sunday in the USA or the World Cup Soccer final.
One week after the Ronde comes the Queen of Classics, the Paris-Roubaix. Sandwiched between the two is the Ghent-Wevelgem. Each of these three races feature horrific stretches of cobbles and more often than not is treated to foul weather with powerful and bone chilling winds blowing in from the North Sea.
The famous – and back-breaking pave – signature of Paris-Roubaix.
Each of the three events fulfills its own role: the Ronde is most important to Belgians, while Paris-Roubaix is the best known internationally and Ghent-Wevelgem ranks as one of the most prestigious of Belgian races. As two of the ‘five monuments’, the Ronde and P-R are century old events that have evolved to become crown jewels of cycling competitions. Together the three comprise the Northern Classics, which unite a people and a region with a history transcending international borders. Victory in any one of the events is sweet; to ride strongly in all three is a dream of the peloton’s strong men. But beyond such triumph lies a greater honor, a more subjective determination reserved for perhaps one Belgian rider each generation: to be crowned the Lion of Flanders.
The Hell Of The North
If the Ronde is characterized by its famous cobbled bergs (relatively short cobbled climbs) then Paris-Roubaix is characterized as a cruel race where luck often plays as much a role as team and individual prowess. There are 26 named sections of pavé (cobbles) with the first section coming at Troisvilles at just about the 100km mark. It is always a brutal crush to get onto this opening section of pave first, for already the first crashes and punctures will hinder those not at the sharp end of the race. From here on we experience the true nature of the ‘Hell of the North’ as the race rattles and slides its way to Roubaix which is still about 160km’s distant. This year the infamous Forest of Arenberg section has been removed from the race route due to a portion of the road sinking - no doubt a result of the deserted subterranean passages that riddle this once major coal mining region.
The dark deep woods of Arenberg will return this year after successful restoration efforts over the past year.
Flanders, the Lion of Flanders, and Hell of the North, are synonymous with the great Northern Classics. Only the locals truly understand that for a rider to be known as the Lion of Flanders is the ultimate compliment and one that he must carry with great pride. To appreciate this you need to go back to around the 12th Century. This was the time of the crusades when the lion passant (the descendant of the dragon) became the symbol of pagans and rebellion against the church. But the lion rampant was also adopted by the Christian knights. How the lion rampant also became the symbol of Flanders is open to speculation and there are many romantic stories surrounding it. However it is generally thought that there was a relatively mundane and very practical reason. The lion rampant, a potent and evocative symbol, became a favorite in heraldry design. In this case the symbol fitted well with the triangular shields of the period. Over time the lion became the symbol of Flemish people and today we recognize the black beast on a yellow background fluttering on thousands of flags lining major race routes.
Most people think of Flanders and Belgium as the same. Flanders actually comprises the flat coastal plains that stretch from Holland (The Netherlands) down to the area of France between Calais and Dunkirk. Inland the region stretches back about 60 miles. In centuries past the whole region was variously occupied by Spain, Austria, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Within today’s Belgium, Flanders represents about half of the country and goes inland to just beyond Brussels. The other half of Belgium is the French speaking Walloon region best known to cyclists for the Ardennes and its Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic. Flanders (Vlaanderen in Flemish) continues south over the border from Belgium and into France to become Flandre. This portion of Flanders occupies the two French ‘departments’ that comprise Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
The Flanders region of Belgium is steeped in history – and beautiful towns like Brugge make a great base for chasing the Classics.
Historically Flanders is noted for its culture, art and textiles. In Belgian cities like Ghent and Bruges magnificent architecture from the 16th and 17th Centuries survives in abundance. Just over the Belgian border in French Flandre lies Roubaix, another city noted for its art and culture which at one time was the textile capital of the world.
After the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo (just south of Brussels) in 1815 Belgium was handed over to the Netherlands to rule. The Belgians did not take kindly to this and following a major revolution they finally, after centuries of external rule, took control of their own country on 20th January 1831. So modern Belgium includes parts of Flanders while the Hell of the North generally refers to the WWI ravaged landscape of the French portion of Flanders.
Paris-Roubaix starts in Compiegne, where the French surrendered to Hitler in 1940.
If we move south to the start of Paris-Roubaix, the historical and geographical links now become clear. The Queen of the Classics actually starts in Compiegne about 50 miles north of Paris. Compiegne of course was the site of the humiliating German surrender on November 11th, 1918. On exactly the same site and in the same railroad car, Hitler accepted a vengeful surrender from the French on June 21st, 1940.
From Compiegne the race heads about 100km north-east to Troisvilles and its first appointment with the pave. From there it is a sinuous route to the finish over the ‘Hell of the North’. This journey traces almost exactly the line of the Western Front from the Great War (WWI). Starting from the coast between Dunkirk and Ostend, the front went south towards Compiegne before curving off in an Easterly direction through Verdun and on to Germany.
Contrary to popular belief, the term ‘Hell of the North’ was not coined to describe the infernal nature of Paris-Roubaix race. Rather it was first used in 1919 when the race resumed after the war. At the time the landscape was nothing but craters, mud and devastation resulting from one of the biggest catastrophes in human history. About 9 million uniformed soldiers died between 1914 and 1918. The Paris-Roubaix passes right through these killing fields with names like ‘The Somme’, ‘Arras’ and ‘Vimy Ridge’ in France and, just over the border from Roubaix, Ypres and Passchendaele. When journalists and race followers first saw this landscape in 1919 it was described as the ‘hell of the north’. .
The route to Roubaix passes through battle fields from the Great Wars, and sites like this are common.
About 85 years have passed since the Great War but still the gruesome remains of that great struggle are still regularly uncovered. Just a couple of years ago the Paris-Roubaix was diverted from an area where about 50 tons of WWI poison gas containers were being delicately removed. Shells, weapons and human remains are continuously being unearthed by farmers.
Virtually a whole generation of young men perished in The Great War. Among them most of the great pre-war cycling champions. So as today’s modern racers battle over pave, mud, dust and unpleasant weather conditions spare a moments thought for the history of this region immortalized by the words of the most famous WWI poem written by Canadian Army Physician, John McCrae (who also perished):
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Thanks to the guys at CyclingRevealed.com. Check ‘em out for more great cycling features.
Roadside St. 14 When you start each new Giro you understand you’re a year older. You feel a stranger to the village approach and for a moment ... More....
Professional cycling has, over the years, attracted only a few documentary film makers. A few, such as Jorgen Leth’s “A Sunday in Hell,” have even ... More....
I’m just digging out from a few days at the BMC training camp, and while I won’t be reporting on doing Jaeger-bombs and Redbulls with Cadel & George, ... More....
As the final Madison got underway the arena was packed to the rafters, all the talk of Six Days in crisis forgotten for now. The finale was ... More....
Six Day racing comes to Berlin for the 99th time on Thursday, 28th January, 2010 with the great tradition of winter track racing in Germany in a ... More....
American Classic spent the last couple of years reworking their line up and the 420 Aeros are the latest to leave the bench. Take a look at the new ... More....
A couple years in the making, Pez head up to see arguably the top custom builder on the planet. We hit Serotta's NY shop, take a peek at their ... More....
You’ve still got today and all of tomorrow to ‘git ‘er done! Your holiday shopping that is… and armed with the complete set of 4 gift guides ... More....
If the stocking's not full - somebody's not doing their job. Good thing we're here to help with a big ol' bag full of the kind of stuff we'd love to ... More....
Winter riding is almost upon us - except for you lucky Aussies - and that means less riding outdoors. But with an indoor trainer and a Netflix ... More....
Many ergogenic aids, both legal and illegal, have been touted as the magic bullet that will improve cycling performance. What about something that ... More....
Having goals is one of the important first steps in achieving your dreams. They can be small goals or they can be big goals, but without them you’ll ... More....
Is cycling your religion, or at least one of them? If so, you’re not alone. Many people define themselves as “spiritual,” even if they don’t practice ... More....
Post-Giro Roadside: I love Scotland; but there’s no Gazzetta in the morning, most of the coffee tastes like John Wayne brewed it beside the ... More....
Sunday July 20th 1969; that’s 40 years ago now but I remember it clearly as the day that I first became aware of professional bicycle racing – I was ... More....
Roadside Recap: As we make our merry way through the rounds of the PEZ Looks Back, Ed is up for his retrospective on the Tour that was. As the ... More....
Coming on four years ago, Saul Raisin was one of THE big things in US pro cycling. Top 40 in a hard Tour de Suisse and mountain king at the Tour de ... More....
The last time we spoke to Garmin's Steve Cozza was after the 2008 Paris - Tours; where he produced another solid performance from a consistent and ... More....
Just about to start his second season with Cervélo - thanks to strong Classic rides and his first Grand Tour finish, in the Giro - Englishman, Dan ... More....
In October, nine-time Tour de France rider Frankie Andreu announced that he would be Director Sportif of the Ohio-based KENDA Pro Cycling p/b ... More....
With so many (too many?) others looking back to best-of-2009 or decade highlights, why not look ahead? A new decade beckons, after all, so who better ... More....
We first talked with Lostende Bike Tours owner and avid cyclist Allan Reeves about his Pyrenees Cycling Challenge, from the Atlantic to the ... More....
So, riding in Texas is mostly flat, with only tumbleweeds and armadillos to avoid right? Well, not exactly. You see, Austin is situated in what’s ... More....
Roadside St. 14 When you start each new Giro you understand you’re a year older. You feel a stranger to the village approach and for a moment ... More....
Professional cycling has, over the years, attracted only a few documentary film makers. A few, such as Jorgen Leth’s “A Sunday in Hell,” have even ... More....
I’m just digging out from a few days at the BMC training camp, and while I won’t be reporting on doing Jaeger-bombs and Redbulls with Cadel & George, ... More....
Race report: Alejandro Valverde stayed upright to seal his Vuelta victory – the first Grand Tour win of his career. On such a short stage, ... More....
Race Report: Today David Millar won his 5th stage in all his Vuelta’s, he was given one of the swords that Toledo is famous for along with the ... More....
The loss of Franco Ballerini is not one that will be forgotten anytime soon. The sport's best are at a loss and two of the greatest riders of our ... More....
Updated! Hallelujah, they're racing in Qatar, and I just got back from celebrating with every other New Orleanian on Bourbon Street. There's ... More....
It was a dark Sunday morning in Italy when the news services announced that Franco Ballerini, ex-professional, former dual Paris-Roubaix winner and ... More....
The maracas shake, 'Cara mia, mine !' blasts from the PA. Bang! The little cannon fires and the hall fills with smoke. Yes, this is the right place, ... More....
When the K-Mart Classic of West Virginia stormed through the state in the mid-90s, it opened awareness as to just how great the bike riding is in ... More....
After riding the final 17 sectors of Paris-Roubaix yesterday, and typing to you with still swollen, sore, and blistered hands, I understand to my ... More....
![](javascript:showpic("http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/tech/amclass/amc420alarge.jpg",900,698);)
![](javascript:showpic("http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/tech/serotta/meilarge.jpg",2000,1244);)
