The Denain CycloSportive is to be held on 16 March 2025
The Denain Grand Prix is a day after Nokere (19 March), so the Denain Grand Prix is on 20 March just over the Belgian-French border (a short 75 minute drive from Nokere) in Paris Roubaix cobbled country
The Grand Prix Denain has three distinct loops - the blue loop first, then the orange loop & finishes with the red loop.
BiciSport co sponsors this Junior race on 22-23 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
Sunday in Hell just got better with both Under 19 and Under 23 races added to the Sunday professional program. The Roubaix Cyclosportive & Women’s race is on the Saturday.
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, Denain Grand Prix, E3 Grand Prix, Ghent Wevelgem, Dwars Vlaanderen, Ronde van Vlaanderen & Paris Roubaix, Ronde van Limberg & Brabant Pijl
In 2025 the cyclosportives to ride are -
Denain, 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 10 years
The races & cyclosportives -
15 Mar - Monsere Anniversary Tribute 16 Mar - Denain CycloSportive 19 Mar - Nokere Course 20 Mar - Denain Grand Prix
22 Mar - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive 22 Mar - BiciSport Velle Junior Race
28 Mar - E3 Grand Prix 29 Mar - Gent Wevelgem Cyclosportive 30 Mar - Gent Wevelgem
3 Apr - Dwars Vlaanderen 5 Apr - Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclosportive 6 Apr - Ronde van Vlaanderen
April
11 Apr - Wallers PR Dinner 12 Apr - Paris Roubaix Cyclosportive, Paris Roubaix (Women) 13 Apr - Paris Roubaix (U19, U23, Professionals) 16 Apr - Ronde van Limberg 18 Apr - Brabant Pijl
MONSERE ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE @ RETIE - 15 MAR
Jean Pierre Monsere
Monsere Anniversary is set for 15 March in the Flemish town or Retie
NOKERE COURSE - 19 Mar
Course
Starting in Deinze, with a big rural loop through Flanders, over the Holleweg cobbles near Oudenaarde, then several laps around the Wannegem-Lede cobbles to finish in the tiny village 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 & Wannegem-Lede cobbles by bike then maybe head to Nokere village by bike.
If its wet - its a car to Holleweg cobbles then to the finish at Nokere and find a beer tent.
DENAIN GRAND PRIX - 20 Mar
Course
A mini Paris Roubaix Classic at 200k with 12 pave (cobbled) sections and several pave sections used in the Paris Roubaix Classic (around Haspres, Quivey & Viesly).
Denain is ‘famous’ for coal mining & a steelworks (which closed in 1978).
The race starts & finishes in Denain with one big (northern) loop out of Denain, then local laps around Denain, then a southern loop with the Paris Roubaix cobbles south of Denain around Quivey, Viesly & Haspres.
Seeing the action
Vantage points are very good, and even more so on a bike. The Police dislike cars - so seeing the race by bike is the best.
Options are to see the Denain start, then two more viewings on the northern loop just after the start, then watch the local laps just outside Denain, then head to the Haspres cobbles.
BICISPORT sponsored VELLE JUNIOR RACE - 22 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 22 March 2025 event
E3 GRAND PRIX - 28 Mar
Course
A mini Ronde van Vlaanderen with numerous climbs used that are also 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 - 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 in 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 - 3 Apr
Course -
The big question is will Remco Evenpoel start in Dwars ?. Dwars Vlaanderen simply translates to Across Flanders
Another epic mid week semi Classic @ 200k - this time starting from the urban and concrete of 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 ugly Flemish 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 - 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 Loop 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 - 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 drivers.
Maybe 4,000 or 5,000 starters (mostly french) and forceful french car drivers are 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
TOUR OF LIMBURG & BRABANT PIJL to be confirmed
The famous Chez Francois Cafe is in Troisville (the French village that hosts the first section of Paris Roubaix cobbles) and the home of the Amis de Paris Roubaix (Friends of Paris Roubaix) who undertake the road repair work on the Paris Roubaix route cobbles each year
Amis de Paris Roubaix are “Friends of the Paris Roubaix” and are the volunteers that maintain the cobbled roads through northern France
