With the Wall of Geraardsbergen and Bosberg inside the last 20 kilometres the Omloop serves the old finale of the Tour of Flanders for the fifth consecutive year. The revamp of 2018 led to compelling racing with four different outcomes. Last year, Davide Ballarino won the spint of of decimated peloton, Jasper Stuyven outgunned Yves Lampaert in 2020 in a two-up sprint, while Zdenek Stybar (2019) and Michael Valgren (2018) took the spoils after late attacks.
The 2022 parcours is similar to last year’s, although not entirely the same. The Marlboroughstraat climb replaces the Molenberg and there are seven cobbled sectors instead of nine. Haaghoek accounts for the lion’s share in terms of pavé, as this sector is tackled tree times.
Climbing begins after 46 kilometres on the Leberg and around the midway marker the riders crest the Kattenberg . From then on the race intensifies with every 10 kilometres or so another hill. Leberg again, Hostellerie, Valkenberg and Wolvenberg follow in quick succession.
After two cobbled sectors in the village of Mater the finale is well underway and five hellingen appear at even shorter intervals. Within 12 kilometres the riders tackle the Marlboroughstraat, Biesestraat, Leberg, Berendries and Elverenberg-Vossenhol, while the cobbles of the Haaghoek are also thrown in.
Still roughly 30 kilometres to go when the Omloop heads for the one-two punch of the Wall of Geraardsbergen and Bosberg. The steep and cobbled Wall is just 475 metres long, but averages 9.3% and ramps up to almost 20%. No time for a breather at the top, as the Bosberg appears 3 kilometres later. The partly cobbled climb is 980 metres long and slopes at 5.8%.
After that final test comes a 12.8 kilometres long flat run-in to the finish line in Ninove.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX Omloop het Nieuwsblad.
Other interesting reads: results/race report and start list 2022 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2022: route, profile, more
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Muur van Geraardsbergen interactive
streetview Muur van Geraardsbergen
Muur van Geraardsbergen at Strava 
