This weekend, the Belgian classics will take over the reigns of the de UCI cycling calendar again. 2015's classics season starts - as usual - with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday. For some people, the cycling season really only starts when it's the Omloop. Although the season has been ongoing for weeks now, the season will now really start for them this weekend as well!
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne didn't take place in 2013 due to snow but in 2014 the race was won by Tom Boonen (Mark Cavendish won the race in 2012) and we'll thus see this Sunday who will follow up on the Belgian sprinter. Concerning the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Ian Stannard is the last winner of the race after a duo sprint with Greg van Avermaet last year.
In this article you'll find the time- and route schedules, the profiles with the different mounts and the maps with the race routes of these two Belgian classics on Google Maps/Google Earth.
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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2015
The weekend will thus begin with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad which will see the riders start in Ghent where they'll return a few hours and a bit over 200 kilometer later.After the fictive start on the Sint-Pietersplein the riders will go off neutralised to the Hundelgemsesteenweg in Ledeberg 3.3 kilometers further. From there they'll go south down to Ophasselt before they go back north up above Zottegem. That's where they'll get on the mounts circuit of this race.
After a bit in western direction until Horebeke they go back down to Brakel where they'll find the first mount of this circuit, the Leberg [950 m - 4.2% (max 13.8%)]. When they continue eastwards they'll climb the Berendries [940 m - 7% (max 12.3%)] before they go down to the most southern part of this race, in Geraardsbergen, where they'll climb the famous Muur van Geraardsbergen with its famous chapel.
The riders will go back to Brakel where they'll climb the Valkenberg [540 m - 8.1% (max 12.8%)] and they'll continue to Horebeke from where they go southwards via the climb of the Kaperij [1000 m - 5.5% (max 9%)]. They'll then go find the most western point of the race, in Ronse, where they'll find the climb of the Kruisberg [1800 m - 4.8% (max 9%) - of which 450 m cobbles].
On their way to Oudenaarde they'll climb 3 other mountains: the Taaienberg [530 m - 6,6% (max 15.8%) - of which 500 m cobbles], the Eikenberg [1200 m - 5.2% (max 10%) - fully cobbled] and the Wolvenberg [645 m - 7.9% (max 17.3%)].
They'll then continue towards Brakel where they'll climb the Leberg for the second time [again 950 m - 4.2% (max 13.8%)], from where they'll continue the trip eastwards via the Molenberg in Zwalm [463 m - 7% (max 14.2%) - of which 300 m cobbles]. From there they'll go back to Ghent where the finish will also be on the Sint-Pietersplein.
In order to make it easier to read the map of this race, you'll find the race route cut up in 3 pieces: a red part, followed by a green part and the orange part.
Hereunder you'll find the time- and route schedule, the profile and the map with the race route of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2015 on Google Maps. Click on the different images to open them.
>> Download the race route of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2015 in Google Earth
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2015
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2015 will take place on Sunday 1 March 2015, with several loops in the area from west to east between Kuurne and Ninove. A part of this race route will follow the same roads as the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad the day before and we'll thus find a part of the same mounts.After the fictive start from the Hippodrome in Kuurne, the riders will really go off in the Bavikhoofsestraat at the crossing with the Tweegemeentenweg. They'll then go down to Harelbeke where they'll turn east towards Oudenaarde and then to Edelare where they'll find the first mount of the day, the Edelare Top [1500 m - 4.2% (max 7%)].
When they reach the most eastern point of the race, in Voorde, the riders will go south till Zandberge where they'll again continue west. Via Geraardsbergen they'll continue to the feeding zone in Zarlardinge, after 84 kilometers in the race and with still 112 kilometers to go. Continuing west, they'll climb another 3 of the total of 9 mounts of this race, La Houppe [1880 m - 4.8% (max 10%)], the Kanarieberg [1000 m - 7.7% (14%)] and the Kruisberg [1875 m - 4% (max 9%)].
When they arrive in Russeignies, they'll continue north via the Côte du Trieu [260 m - 7% (max 13%)] and they'll do a short loop east to get on the Oude Kwaremont [2200 m - 4% (max 11.6%)] coming from the north. When they continue north they get back on the roads they followed in the first half of the race, but this time they'll turn west towards the climb of the Holstraat [1000 m - 5.2% (max 12%)].
When they continue to Nokere they get on the Nokereberg [350 m - 5.7% (max 7%)], the last mount of the day. From there, they'll get back to Kuurne (via Waregem en Desselgem) where they'll do two laps on a local circuit of 16 kilometers which goes south down to Courtrai (drawn in orange on the map).
In order to allow you to read the map more easily, you'll find the race route split up in 3 parts: the red part, followed by the green part and the final circuit in orange.
Hereunder you'll find the time- and route schedule, the profile and the race route of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2015 on Google Maps. Click on the different images to open them.
>> Download the race route of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2015 in Google Earth door Thomas Vergouwen
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