Vitesse 9000: Ghent - Flemish Ardennes - Ghent 156 km

The starting point for this beautiful ride towards the forest-rich language border and some of the most beautiful and longest climbs of the Flemish Ardennes is our favorite café De Roos. The Scheldt is the shortest way south. Via the Ringvaart and Merelbeke, where we experience the first elevation gain, we ride over the Zink towards Munte and Heet. Until Meilegem, we have some time to warm up on the relatively flat country roads, but as soon as we cross the banks of the Zwalm in Nederzwalm, the better Flemish cycling begins. The Ronsen Heerweg forms a long approach to the Kerkgate and - as the name suggests - the Karel Martelstraat, over 3 km of unpublished climbing and cobblestone enjoyment! The descent from the Kapelleberg quickly brings us to the base of the next climb, the Eikenberg. The following reward is the descent from the Ladeuzestraat, which takes us to Etikhove. There we make a small loop to enjoy an 800 m long cobblestone ascent known as Taaienberg. The Flemish Ardennenstraat and Hof te Fiennestraat connect to the shortened version of this route. The true connoisseurs ride over the Donderij to Nukerke and Melden, where an old railway embankment briefly provides some peace. We can't leave out the cobblestones of the Oude Kwaremont before conquering the southernmost and highest ridge of the Flemish Ardennes. The Kluisberg is next on the agenda, whose summit cuts through the beautiful Kluisbos. Shortly after follows the Cote de Trieu, also known as Knokteberg on the Flemish side. In the Karnemelkbeekstraat, we literally ride along the language border, but not much further away is the next ascent, the Riekestraat, one of the hidden climbing gems on the southern side of the Hotondberg. Afterwards, we dive into Ronse twice to consecutively climb the Broekestraat and Dammekensstraat. The descent from the Kanarieberg brings us back to Wallonia, where we briefly enjoy the rolling landscape of Pays des Collines via Beaufau, Ellezelles, and Bruyère. As a cherry on top, we get to enjoy the beautiful, tree-lined ascent of La Houppe. After a possible stop at Chalet Gerard, we head downwards towards Brakel, where we leave the Flemish hills behind via the Mijnwerkerspad. In Rozebeke, a last little hill awaits us with the Boembekestraat. We (sadly) skip the cobblestones of the Paddestraat because we trot stretched out towards the banks of the Scheldt over Munkzwalm. Satisfied and with over 1350 meters of elevation in our legs, we fire our last cartridges towards De Roos on the dike road.