Day 1 > Friday 31st March 2023 - Arrival day
Please contact us for extra nights if you'd elike to arrive before today. hello@sportivebreaks.com
Please make your own arrangements to arrive at our hotel in Kortrijk today. Our team will be available to meet you at the hotel. If you plan to fly then we offer airport transfers for you, your luggage and your bike from Brussels International airport.
Our optional airport transfer will depart from Brussels Airport at 11.00. Please arrive at Brussels airport by 10.00 to allow time for baggage collection and passport control.
Our hotel
We are staying at 4* hotel Messeyne in Kortrijk centre. Your stay will be for 6 nights and will be on a bed and breakfast basis so with breakfasts included. You will have an early breakfast on We Ride Flanders day
What about my bike?
You can bring your own bike as we have made arrangements to transport bike boxes on our airport transfers. Alternatively, you can rent a bike with us for the weekend. Our mechanic will be available this afternoon at the hotel to assist you with fitting your rental bike or building your own bike after travel.
Bikes can be safely stored at the hotel.
This evening our bike guides will do a race briefing to run through We Ride Flanders logistics and of course the route.
The evening is free for you to eat out in one of Kortrijk's many restaurants or you can choose to eat at the hotel (not included).
Day 2 > Saturday 1st April - We Ride Flanders Sportive
We have an early start this morning. Early breakfast is arranged in the hotel restaurant. The long distance starts from Brugge and the other distances start and finish in Oudenaarde so we offer transport to get there this morning.
Start & finish / location & hours
START Cyclo 249km
Bruges
START 177km, 144km, 75km
Oudenaarde (Lindestraat, Oudenaarde)
- Cyclo 177 km: 07.00 – 08.30
- Cyclo 144 km: 08.30 – 10.00
- Cyclo 75 km: 10.00 – 11.00
FINISH
The finish of all distances is on the Markt in Oudenaarde. The last aid station closes at 19:00. If you arrive here later, you are no longer an official participant and you are obliged to take the shortest route to the finish. The finish in Oudenaarde officially closes at 20h00.
Once you finish in Oudenaarde, we provide transport back to Kortrijk.
The evening is free for you to eat out in one of Kortrijk's many restaurants or you can choose to eat at the hotel (not included).
Day 3 > Sunday 2nd April 2023 - Tour of Flanders
Today is the day of the Tour of Flanders. Below we have listed a few different options for you today.
We will transport you to Oudenaarde from Kortrijk after breakfast to enjoy the action at the 2023 Tour of Flanders. Once there you can choose the below
Stay in Oudenaarde
In the last 75 km, the most notorious passages are lurking: from the Koppenberg and the Hotond to the Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg. Riders and fans are eagerly looking forward to the finish in the centre of Oudenaarde. The champions sprint to the finish line. In Oudenaarde you experience it from the front row: live and on the big screen. The Donkmeer and the Markt are the place to be. You can see the race live 4 times. If you walk up and down between the market square of Oudenaarde and the arrival area you will see the race pass by and be able to witness two finishes (men and women).
Shuttle bus to Oude Kwaremont
There is a free shuttle bus from Oudenaarde station up to the public village on the Oude Kwaremont where you can see the riders 3 times. There are pubs, food and beer vans and a big screen so you can alternate between standing by the road-side and watching the big screen.
We will provide transport back to Kortrijk late afternoon after the finish.
The evening is free for you to eat out in one of Kortrijk's many restaurants or you can choose to eat at the hotel (not included).
Day 4 > Monday 3rd April 2023
Guided Ride and Ronde van Vlaanderen Museum
After yesterday’s exertions we’ll take it a bit easier today. This morning we offer an optional guided ride of about 50 - 70km.
This afternoon, we will take you on a guided visit of the Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen Museum.
The evening is free for you to eat out in one of Kortrijk's many restaurants or you can choose to eat at the hotel (not included).
Day 5 > Tuesday 4th April, 2023
Itinerary TBC
Day 6 > Wednesday 5th April, 2023 : Visit the city of Antwerp plus the finish of the Scheldeprijs in Schoten
The Scheldeprijs is also known as the unofficial World Championship for sprinters. The finish is in Schoten near Antwerp. After visiting the port city of Antwerp, we’ll travel the short distance to Schoten to watch the sprint finish.
The evening is free for you to eat out in one of Kortrijk's many restaurants or you can choose to eat at the hotel (not included).
Day 7 > Thursday 6th April, 2023 : Ypres
After breakfast it's time to leave Kortrijk. We will spend the day in Ypres before moving to Roubaix for the next 4 nights. We will stay at the Hotel B&B Lille Roubaix in Roubaix on a bed and breakfast basis so with breakfasts included.
Visit Flanders Fields in Ypres. 4 hr bike tour including historical sites and the Commonwealth cemetery. Visit Koers Cycling Museum in Roeselare and afterwards we will make our way to Roubaix.
Take evening meal at a local restaurant (not included).
Day 8 > Friday 7th April, 2023
Visit the Arenberg Forrest cobble section, either ride there and bus back or vice versa. We will finish with a ride in the velodrome and a visit to the famous showers.
Evening meal at a local restaurant (not inluded)
Day 9 > Saturday 8th April, 2023 : Roubaix Challenge day
You will be able to see how the riders of the Men’s and Women’s cycling elite handle the cobbled sectors of Roubaix tomorrow. Today it’s your turn. 24 hours before the professionals, amateurs from around the world will have the opportunity to measure themselves against the legend of the Hell of the North with its mythical cobbled sections like the "Carrefour de l'Arbre" and the "Trouée d'Arenberg".
You have a choice of 3 sportive distances today. The 70km and 145km start and finish at the velodrome. After an early breakfast and preparing the bikes, we will guide you the short distance to the velodrome for the start.
The 170km long distance Roubaix Challenge starts from the small town of Busigny. The entry fee includes transport to the start directly from our hotel if you book your entry with us.
All sportive distances finish at the Roubaix velodrome. From here it’s just a short distance to get back to our hotel.
The premium 170 km event is back in 2023. However, the number of places is limited due to the fact that Paris–Roubaix Femmes will be taking place on the same course and day as the Paris–Roubaix Challenge. This distance is accessible only to experienced cyclists, average speed required of 21.2 km/h over the 170 km course including around 50 km of cobblestones to arrive before 3:00 p.m. at the Velodrome.
The Hell of the North and its fabled cobbled sectors, including the Carrefour de l'Arbre and the Trouée d'Arenberg. There are three increasingly difficult routes on offer, on roads which are open to traffic but secured by numerous volunteers and motorcyclists. There is a legendary race for everyone, covering distances from 70km, 145km or 170km.
This afternoon and early evening we’ll assist you with re-packing your bikes ahead of travel and you’ll also be able to return your rental bikes. Unless you are using your bike tomorrow of course.
Evening meal at a local restaurant (not inluded).
Day 9 > Sunday 9th April : The 2023 Paris – Roubaix
Today you have 3 options. You can join us on our guided, supported ride or you can come on our start to finish experience (no cycling). Alternatively, if you want a really easy day, you can walk to the velodrome from the hotel in time for the finish.
Guided ride
After a relaxed morning, our bike guide will guide you out of Roubaix. We will ride to a venue on the route to watch the riders come past. Please note that choosing this option will mean that you’ll miss the finish.
Start to Finish Experience
After breakfast we offer our start to finish experience. We’ll take a packed lunch and plenty of water along as it can be difficult to buy food and drink en-route. Our minibus will collect us from the hotel at about 06.00 this morning. The journey is about 2 ½ hours and we aim to get to Compiegne for about 08.30. The race usually starts at 11.00 with preparations from about 09.30.
08.30 > Compiegne
Since 1977, Compiègne has been host to the start of Paris-Roubaix. Opposite the Palace, on the Place du Général de Gaulle, 25 teams will line up for the start of the «Queen of the Classics». 175 riders will be preparing to reach the Roubaix velodrome but just a few will be nourishing hopes of victory.
You will be able to visit the team paddock, admire the special machines selected for this race and rub shoulders with the riders. You will feel the excitement growing as the start time approaches.
11.30 > Depart Compiegne
We will gather and depart Compiegne for about 11.30. We will drive straight back to the velodrome in Roubaix where we will take our place in the velodrome. Time and traffic permitting we will stop at a viewing point en-route.
14.30 > Velodrome
A victory in Roubaix guarantees the rider his place in the rich history of cycling and his nameplate in one of the iconic shower stalls. On finally reaching Roubaix, the riders head to the town’s velodrome for one and a half laps in front of a crowd of enthusiasts. Whether the arena is the scene of a bunch sprint or a lap of honour by a solitary leader, it’s always an exceptional spectacle marking the fitting end to a perfect race.
Evening meal at a local restaurant (not inluded).
Day 10 > Monday 10th April, 2023 : Departure
After breakfast our optional airport transfer leaves Roubaix at 09.00 to arrive at Brussels Airport for 11.00. Please book flights to depart Brussels after 13.00 Alternatively please make your own arrangements.
