The race commences in Oudenaarde and the first 34 kilometres are easygoing. No cobbles, no hills. No crowd either by the way, because the Flemish fans are strictly advised to stay at home.
The first cobbles appear at Lippehovenstraat and continue a little later at Paddestraat before the first uphill takes the shape of the Katteberg after 55 kilometres in the saddle.
The cobbles of the Holleweg continue onto climbs up the Edelare, Varent, Leberg, Berendries and Valkenberg. All hurdles that lie only 4 to 8 kilometres apart.
Time for a breather. Still 50 kilometres and five ‘hellingen’ to go. Following 13 kilometres with no difficulties the Tour of Flanders travels over the Kanarieberg and Taaienberg and into the finale.
The riders tackle the Kruisberg/Hotond (2.500 metres à 5%) wit 26 kiometres remaing to continue onto the illustruous Oude Kwaremont/Paterberg combo. These are the last hills of the day and both are cobbles. Oude Kwaremont is 2.2 kilometres long and slopes at 4%, while it is shortly followed by the Paterberg. Only 360 metres long, the Paterberg is extremely steep. The average gradient sits 12.9% and the toughest ramps go up at an unforgiving 20%.
The Tour of Flanders concludes with a flat run-in of 13.3 kilometres into Oudenaarde.
Last year, Marta Bastianelli, Annemiek van Vleuten and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig were the first riders over the Paterberg. They held off a chasing group before Bastianelli sprinted to the win in Oudenaarde.
Tour of Flanders for women 2020: profiles, more
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