Apr 03, 2016
Start of the 100th tour of Flanders
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today marks the 100th tour of Flanders, or De Ronde van Vlaanderen, an annual springtime road cycling race held in Belgium since 1913. The race was put on hold during World War I, but has been held every year without interruption since 1919. The 2016 race covers 255 km (158 mi) with 18 categorized climbs and 7 flat cobblestoned sections — a notoriously bumpy ride for cyclists.
This year’s race starts in Bruges, and Doodler Alyssa Winans has included a famous Belfry in the Grand Place, or Grote Markt where the race begins. Then, riders will head south to Torhout, where De Ronde's founder, Karel Van Wijnendaele was born.
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