The cobbles are ready for the 99th Tour of Flanders. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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The Koppenberg awaits. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Marco Marcato (Wanty Groupe Gobert). (Image credit: Sirotti)
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IAM Cycling's Sylvain Chavanel. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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IAM Cycling's Heinrich Haussler. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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IAM Cycling riders on the bergs. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Oscar Gatto (Androni Giocattoli) (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Tom Van Asbroeck (Lotto NL-Jumbo) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Sep Vanmarcke and Maarten Tjallingii (Lotto NL-Jumbo) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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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.
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Geraint Thomas of Team Sky is seen on the Oude Kwaremont during the reconnaissance of Sunday's Tour of Flanders route.
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Sebastian Langeveld of Cannondale-Garmin is seen on the Koppenberg during the reconnaissance.
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Tom Boonen (Etixx-Quick Step) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Nikolas Maes and Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Nikolas Maes and Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Stijn Vandenbergh and Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-QuickStep) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Lotto NL-Jumbo (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Niki Terpstra (Etixx-Quick Step) (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Oscar Gatto (Androni Giocattoli) (Image credit: Sirotti)
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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.
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