Forest Street

Although Flanders is known as 'the flat country', cycling enthusiasts can climb and conquer quite a few 'mountains' in various places. Somewhere between Brussels and Antwerp, there is also a nice slope for cycling fans: the Bosstraatlei in Boom. Traditionally, cycling races have been organized in Boom. In every race, participants had to ride through 'the Bosstraat neighborhood' because of the climb on the Bosstraatlei, which is like the 'wall of the Rupel region'. The height difference from the bottom of Kapelstraat to the top of the neighborhood is 30 meters over less than a kilometer. Especially during the period when the road was still cobbled, this meant an extra effort for every round racer. During one of the annual market races, Eddy Merckx also started, but he got off his bike early in the race, along with Roger De Vlaeminck. There is no definitive explanation for the reason. Today, the 6% incline over a distance of 700 meters remains a challenge for every cycling tourist. The cycling tourists 'De Reetzweters' honor the importance of the Bosstraatlei by organizing 'the storming of the Bosstraat', a short but challenging time trial for cyclists every year.

Dromos