
Where is Muur van Geraardsbergen?
Belgium, europe
107 km
18 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, cycling fans, listen up! You HAVE to experience the Muur van Geraardsbergen, aka "The Wall," in western Belgium.
Picture this: you're smack-dab in the heart of Geraardsbergen, East Flanders, ready to tackle cycling history. This climb? Legendary! It's a cobbled beast often featured in the Tour of Flanders, and for good reason.
We're talking seriously steep – gradients that crank past 20%! It's only about a kilometer (0.66 miles) long, but those cobblestones will have your legs screaming. You start practically at the Dender River (18m above sea level) and claw your way to the top of the Oudenberg (110m). The average gradient is a solid 9.3%.
Oh, and did I mention the Chapel of Our Lady of the Oudenberg waiting for you at the summit? It's the perfect reward after conquering this monster. Trust me, the views (and the bragging rights) are totally worth the burn!
Road Details
- Country
- Belgium
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 107 km
- Max Elevation
- 18 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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