**Nokere Koerse pro race is held on** Wednesday 19 March - starting in the town of Deinze, the race progresses out to the Paddestraat cobbles then returns to the Mater-Holleweg cobbles, then comes past the BiciSport B&B at Kokerelle, then heads for the Nokere local finishing laps.

**BiciSport co sponsors this Junior race on Sunday 23 March in the village of Velle-Temse near Antwerp.**
**The race organisation is led by the VerHulst brothers who are long time BiciSport supporters..**

**BiciSport is attending this unique Paris Roubaix function on 11 April 2025 at Wallers**

**The Paris Roubaix Classic for Under 19 riders is now held on the same day as the professionals**

**The U23 Paris Roubaix starts in the town of Le Cateau Cambresis**

**The Womens Paris Roubaix Classic 2025 starts in Denain on the Saturday**

FLANDERS FOLLIES 2025 OVERVIEW

In 2025 the races to see are -
- Nokere Kourse, Velle BiciSport Junior Race, Bredene Classic
- E3 Grand Prix, Ghent Wevelgem, Dwars Vlaanderen
- Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris Roubaix & Brabant Pijl
In 2025 the cyclosportives to ride are -
- Dwars Vlaanderen, Ghent Wevelgem
- Ronde van Vlaanderen & Paris Roubaix.
in 2025 the accommodation being -
- is at the Kokerelle B&B in the village of Maarke Kerkem near the Eikenberg climb. Kokerelle B&B is just 5k from Oudenaarde (Oudenaarde translates to ‘Old Fields’ in Flemish). Kokerelle has been used by BiciSport for some 10 years
- Gent Wevelgem accommodation is at Westouter (2 nights) near the Kemmelberg for Gent Wevelgem weekend
- Paris Roubaix accommodation is at Bachy (7 nights) near Orchies-Cysoing

The races & cyclosportives -

15 Mar - Monsere Anniversary Tribute 19 Mar (Wed) - Nokere Course 21 - Bredene Classic

22 Mar - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive 23 Mar (Sun) - BiciSport Velle Junior Race

28 Mar (Fri) - E3 Grand Prix 29 Mar - Gent Wevelgem Cyclosportive 30 Mar (Sun) - Gent Wevelgem

3 Apr (Wed) - Dwars Door Vlaanderen 5 Apr - Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclosportive 6 Apr (Sun) - Ronde van Vlaanderen

April

11 Apr (Thurs) - Wallers PR Dinner 12 Apr - Paris Roubaix Cyclosportive, Paris Roubaix (Women) 13 Apr - Paris Roubaix (U19, U23, Professionals)

18 Apr - Brabant Pijl

MONSERE ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE @ RETIE - 15 MAR

***Jean Pierre Monsere*** - ***1970 World Professional Road Champion***

***Monsere Memorial Anniversary is 15 March in the Flemish town of Retie.***

NOKERE COURSE - WEDNESDAY 19 Mar

Course
- Starting in Deinze, with a big rural loop through Flanders, over the Mater & Holleweg cobbles near Oudenaarde, then past the BiciSport B&B at the Kokerelle climb, into Oudenaarde, then two laps around the Wannegem-Lede cobbles to finish in the tiny village Nokere.
- A new & safer finish at the village of Nokere.
Seeing the action
- Vantage points are pretty good.
- Seeing the start in Deinze is not practical (too far away) but if the weather is good then its possible to see Holleweg, Kokerelle climb & Wannegem-Lede cobbles by bike then maybe head to Nokere village by bike for the new finish.
- If its wet - watch it at the Kokerelle climb then to the finish at Nokere and find a beer tent..

BREDENE CLASSIC - FRIDAY 21 MARCH

Course
- Starts on the Belgian coast at Bredene and loops out to the Kemmelberg climb (climbed twice) near Poperinge, then returns to the Belgian coast at Koksijde
- Its always windy, flat, hilly around Kemmelberg, then flat to the finish.
- Seeing the action
  - Kemmelberg climb twice (each side) then find a Kemmel cafe with the mandatory TV & Belgian beer

BICISPORT sponsored VELLE JUNIOR RACE - Sunday 23 Mar

The third year of the BiciSport sponsored Junior Race which starts & finishes in the village of Velle.
Velle is 20k from Antwerp

**Velle circuit for the 23 March 2025 event**

E3 GRAND PRIX - FRIDAY 28 Mar

Course
- A mini Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) with numerous climbs used in the Ronde on 6 April. The race starts & finishes in Harelbeke then the usual rural Flanders loop in and around Oudenaarde.
- Every cobbled berg in the region is used in some shape or form.
Seeing the action
- Vantage points are just about everywhere.
- No seeing the start finish in Harelbeke (not practical) but choices on bike or car are simply endless (it can get a bit confusing as there are so many viewing options).
- The E3 race actually passes the Kokerelle B&B front door - so … go see it at the Holleweg cobbles then either linger around the village of Maarke Kerkem or head out towards Kluisbergen or Ronse.
- Bike is better than a car. At the end go find a pub with a tv.

GENT WEVELGEM WEEKEND - 29+30 Mar

Course - a weekend in two parts
- Wevelgem Cyclosportive @ 29 Mar
  - The Wevelgem township is no tourist destination and certainly no oil painting (yes, it is very ordinary), but the cyclosportive is (within just two kilometres of the start) a stunning loop into the rural Flemish countryside.
  - Car parking is easy. The Menin Gate at Ieper is a highlight. At least the cyclosportive event starts in Wevelgem. A must do cyclosportive with great organisation.on virtually closed roads
- Wevelgem Pro Classic @ 30 Mar
  - The race actually starts in Ieper and not in Gent (money does talk).
  - Ieper is some 50k from Gent. A big loop through rural west Flanders, plus heavy crosswinds in the exposed plains around Poperinge. Wevelgem looks better on the tv than in real life.
Seeing the action
- Gent Wevelgem in 2025 and a change in strategy with 6 or 7 vantage points - early one in a car but latter viewings by bike.
- Accommodation is based at Westouter near the Kemmelberg climb.
- Start is in Ieper, then a viewing at the village of Vlamertinge. After the start then its off to the village of Westouter for three viewings and a further two viewings at the Kemmelberg climb near the village of Kemmel.

DWARS VLAANDEREN - WEDNESDAY 3 Apr

Course -
- Another epic mid week semi Classic @ 200k - this time starting from the urban concrete that is Roeselare.
- Roeselare is the home of the Koers Cycling Museum (a stunning celebration of the sport) & the home city of Jean Pierre Monsere (ex World Pro Road Champion but now RIP).
- The usual rural loop into Flanders, around Oudenaarde, and the usual cobbled bergs used in the E3 & Ronde van Vlaanderen
- The finish is in Waregem (was the home of the Australian cyclist Phil Anderson).
Seeing the action
- No going to the Roeselare start unless you want a local council parking ticket for your efforts and stare at concrete (where are the trees ?).
- Will go to the Holleweg cobbles near Maarke Kerkem, then a few other bergs nearby, then find a tv in a local pub and try another Duvel,. A great day out.

RONDE VAN VLAANDEREN WEEKEND - 5+6 Apr

Course
- RVV Cyclosporive @ 5 Apr
  - starting & finishing in Oudenaarde with 15,000 close personal friends.
  - A cyclosportive without peer over closed roads.
- RVV Pro Classic @ 6 Apr
  - starting in Antwerp with the usual rural Flanders loop then the Berg Loops that is beyond description with multiple laps of Old Kwaremont, Patersberg and the finish at Oudenaarde. Magic.
Seeing the action
- Police road closures means the only way to catch the action is by bike. If it rains … tough, bring a rain jacket.
- Watch the start from 9am on Flemish tv, get the lycra on and head to Melden pub and watch the action on the tv.
- The Mens race goes through Melden then its off to a climb at Hotond, then its back towards the Old Kwaremont to watch the men (three times), back to the Koppenberg, and the women just once (coming off the Patersberg).
- Go find a cafe to see the finish on tv.

PARIS ROUBAIX WEEKEND - 12+13 Apr

Accommodation
- BiciSport service course is in the village of Bachy, near the cobbled section of Cysoing (Zone 7) and Wannehein (Zone 6).
Course
- Roubaix Cyclosportive @ 12 Apr
  - start finish is from the old Roubaix Velodrome.
  - Compared to closed roads at the RVV cyclosportive the previous week, this French cyclosportive is mildly shambolic and potentially hazardous with french car drivers.
  - Maybe 4,000 or 5,000 starters (mostly french) and forceful french car drivers are certainly not your friend.
  - Iconic, yes you must do it, but caution is at every pedal stroke.
- PR Classic @ 13 Apr
  - Compiegne start with cobbles starting at Troisville. Its epic. This year there is also the Under 19 and Under 23 versions of the same race just before the pro race arrives.
Seeing the action
- The Day in Hell - avoid Compiegne all together and stay within the numerous road closures around Bachy & Orchies and go to Cysoing for lunch and see either Zone 15, or Zone 7 cobbles at Cysoing or Zone 6 cobbles at Wannehein