Dwars door Vlaanderen takes in thirteen hills and four stretches of pavé, all packed together in the second part of the race. The opener is relatively easy and the first ‘helling’ appears after approximately 70 kilometres. The riders tackle the Kluisberg from both sides within 35 kilometres and climbs the Nieuwe Kwaremont in between.
After the second time up the Kluisberg the race intensifies with an uphill every 10 kilometres or so, plus, of course, they are jack-hammered by unevenly paved roads. Via the Knokteberg and Kortekeer the route continues onto the cobbles of Mariaborrestraat and Stationsberg before entering the Steekbeekdries without any time for a breather. Up next are the Taaienberg and Berg Ten Houte and 10 kilometres later the Kruisberg-Hotond appears. Over the flat cobbles of the Varentstraat (809 metres) the race continues onto the uphill cobbles of the Vossenhol (800 metres at 6.5%).
With 20 kilometres remaining the riders face two more climbs. First the Holstraat (1,000 metres at 5.2%) and then the last climb of the day, which is the cobbled Nokereberg. This hill is 500 metres long and rises at 5.7%, while it peaks out with 9 kilometres to go.
Only 800 metres of pavé on the Herlegemstraat left plus 5.9 kilometres on the flat before we know who’ll succeed Mathieu van der Poel as the winner of Dwars door Vlaanderen.
Another interesting read: results 2021 Dwars door Vlaanderen.
Dwars door Vlaanderen 2021: routes, profiles, more
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