The cobbles are ready for the 99th Tour of Flanders. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Image 11 of 31
The Koppenberg awaits. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Image 12 of 31
Marco Marcato (Wanty Groupe Gobert). (Image credit: Sirotti)
Image 13 of 31
IAM Cycling's Sylvain Chavanel. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Image 14 of 31
IAM Cycling's Heinrich Haussler. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Image 15 of 31
IAM Cycling riders on the bergs. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Image 16 of 31
Oscar Gatto (Androni Giocattoli) (Image credit: Sirotti)
Image 17 of 31
Tom Van Asbroeck (Lotto NL-Jumbo) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
Image 18 of 31
Sep Vanmarcke and Maarten Tjallingii (Lotto NL-Jumbo) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
Image 19 of 31
Silvan Dillier of BMC Racing Team, Greg Van Avermaet, Marcus Burghardt, Jempy Drucker and Daniel Oss get in some reconnaissance prior to Sunday's Tour of Flanders.
Image 20 of 31
Geraint Thomas of Team Sky is seen on the Oude Kwaremont during the reconnaissance of Sunday's Tour of Flanders route.
Image 21 of 31
Sebastian Langeveld of Cannondale-Garmin is seen on the Koppenberg during the reconnaissance.
Image 22 of 31
Tom Boonen (Etixx-Quick Step) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
Image 23 of 31
Nikolas Maes and Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
Image 24 of 31
Nikolas Maes and Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
Image 25 of 31
Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
Image 26 of 31
Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
Image 27 of 31
Stijn Vandenbergh and Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-QuickStep) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
Image 28 of 31
Lotto NL-Jumbo (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
Image 29 of 31
Niki Terpstra (Etixx-Quick Step) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
Image 30 of 31
Oscar Gatto (Androni Giocattoli) (Image credit: Sirotti)
Image 31 of 31
Team Sky out training for the Tour of Flanders (Image credit: Team Sky)
Although the winner may be new, the course is littered with the traditional climbs and challenges that have built the race into a Monument. Nineteen climbs dot the 264.2km route, beginning with the Tiegemberg after 87km before the first of three ascents of the Oude Kwaremont 20km later. A long softening up process follows, as the race criss-crosses the Flemish Ardennes by tackling the Kortekeer, Eikenberg, Wolvenberg, Molenberg, Leberg, Berendries, Kaperij and Kanarieberg.
In the final 55 kilometres, the race takes on the Kwaremont and Paterberg as a combination for the first time, before heading straight for the Koppenberg. The Steenbeekdries, Taaienberg and Kruisberg bring the survivors back around to face the Kwaremont and Paterberg for the final time, ahead of the wide, straight 13km run-in to the finish line in Oudenaarde.
Many of the teams took advantage of dry weather leading up to the race to pre-ride the pivotal sections of the course that will decided the winner on Sunday.
Sign up to the Cyclingnews Newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how to do this, and how we hold your data, please see our privacy policy
Thank you for signing up to Cycling News. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.