Sect Tour of Flanders SE Brabant

Update 3-10-2022: The north slope of the Col van Zesgehugten is somewhat driveable again. At the top of the slope you can continue for 100 meters over gravel / sand and then walk down a staircase. Then you can follow the route by bike.

Furthermore, the route has been adjusted in various places because especially in Veldhoven the crowds were sought out too much.

Update 15-6-2021: The southern slope of the Col van Zesgehugten has now been completely excavated and dismantled. I asked the municipality of Geldrop-Mierlo what the ultimate intention of the project is, but received no answer.

Update 21 January 2021: Homes are currently being built in the middle part of the Col van Zesgehugten. At the top of the slope is a fence. It looks like a connection will be possible soon, because space has been kept along the track. If there is news again I will give an update.

Update 19 Oct 2020: Prorail is excavating the entire middle part of the Col van Zesgehugten slope. What exactly the intention of the project is is not clear to me. As soon as there is more news, a new update will follow. The slope can still be driven to the top, at the top you unfortunately have to turn around again for the time being and continue the route over the parallel road (Losweg).

The Tour of Flanders in miniature in South East Brabant. Six cobblestone strips and a real cobblestone slope, narrow winding roads and small villages. Highly recommended. The route starts in Lierop. Via the hamlet of 't Gebergte the route goes via Mierlo and Nuenen to Nederwetten. This is where the first strip of a few kilometres of cobblestones begins, the Soeterbeekseweg. This is quickly followed by the next strip of 300m cobblestones, the Stationsweg in the hamlet of Eeneind. After a few kilometers past the Collse watermill just over the Hulsterbrug in Geldrop the next strip, the Loskade: 300m along the Eindhovensch canal. At the end of the strip you have to cross a piece of gravel for 100 meters until you end up on a paved bike path again. After a good two kilometers, the cobblestone slope in Geldrop comes into view. At this cobblestone slope, pay attention to the "Col van Zesgehuchten": after the traffic lights in Geldrop, turn left after 50 m onto a driveway. That's where the slope begins. Above just drive on the gravel. The cobblestone road is somewhat overgrown by plants. Just drive on and you will end up on the cobblestone strip again. After the descent (also carried out in cobblestone) you drive through protected villagescape hamlet Riel via nature reserve Gijzenrooi towards Eindhoven. You only visit the city for a small part. You drive a long way along the Dommel. Then in Veldhoven you have to cross some busier roads to reach the next cobblestone strip. This strip is located in the Kempen in Oerle. It is about 250m (Heieind). Then on some narrower roads to Zandoerle. The Brink in Zandoerle is a protected village. Back via Veldhoven on traffic-calmed roads through the Kempen towards Borkel en Schaft. Via a gravel road of about one kilometer in length, the Kapelweg in Borkel is reached, a cobblestone strip of 300m length. The route continues and then heralds the final of the route. Again typical roads for the RvV with a lot of twists and turns. The last strips of cobblestones are located in Leende. They are located in a residential area and cover about 800 meters in length. The final runs back over traffic-calmed roads over the "Vlaamseweg" in Sterksel towards the finish in Lierop. There are three sections of "Strade Bianche" along the entire route. Keep that in mind. However, this only gives the route a more "heroic" character.