'A nightmare' – Koppenberg brings havoc to Tour of Flanders

Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar Team) walks up the slippery slopes of the Koppenberg cobblestones sector at the 2024 Tour of Flanders
Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar Team) walks up the slippery slopes of the Koppenberg cobblestones sector at the 2024 Tour of Flanders (Image credit: Getty Images)

Even the longest races can be distilled to the shortest stretch of road. The Tour of Flanders of 2024 was defined by the wicked slopes of the Koppenberg. Already notorious in the lore of this event, the sharp wall of cobbles outside Oudenaarde added another line to its lengthy rap sheet in Sunday’s rain-soaked edition.

For most, the Koppenberg is a climb to be endured rather than attacked. Here, it was the launchpad for Mathieu van der Poel’s race-winning acceleration with 44km to go as well as the moment most of his rivals’ challenges ground literally to a halt.

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.