Spring Classics
Spring Classics
Are you a fan of the Classics? If so, this is your trip. No-one does the Classics like Thomson!
Real bike racing, rough roads, questionable weather, frites and great beer, welcome to the Classics! Not for the faint of heart, only a spot on the Quick-Step Team would get you a more intense Classics experience!
Featured Climbs
Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont, Koppenberg, Mur de Huy, Cote de la Redoute, Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons
Overview
Details
Next Departure
April 5th 2024
From
USD $6,895
Duration
11 days / 10 nights
Non-Rider Friendly
Yes
Rental Bike
USD $600
Ride Program
Total Distance
Total Elevation
Daily Av. Distance
Daily Av. Elevation
Overview
Over the course of the trip, you’ll conquer the cobbles, catch premier pro race action, and immerse yourself in the rich history and culture that define the Classics.
You’ll start this epic trip by riding the Official Tour of Flanders Gran Fondo. The trip then continues the next day with live viewing of the Tour of Flanders on the Paterberg! Witness the sheer grit of the peloton as they battle to claim one of the oldest and most prestigious titles in the history of cycling. After watching the pros in action in the Tour of Flanders, you’ll spend the next four days riding the final 100 km (62 miles) of Gent-Wevelgem, then each of the Ardennes Classics: Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Amstel Gold and La Flèche Wallonne, before returning to Roubaix.
Learn how to ride the Roubaix cobbles with our expert ride leaders then the following day, ride the Official Paris-Roubaix Gran Fondo, a gruelling 170 km ride with 28 cobbled sections! Finally, you’ll cap off a thrilling cycling week with VIP race viewing of the “Hell of the North,” Paris-Roubaix. Our relationship with ASO will get you VIP Access to the Race Start, a mid-race cobble section and then VIP access to the Race Finish in the famous Velodrome.
Have a non-riding partner who’d like to join you? No problem, bring them along – we have a full itinerary specifically designed for non-riders. Race viewings, town visits, cultural tours – all managed by Jacinta, our Spectator Trip Manager!
Brian Schmidt, USA — 2018
Paul Vanderheyden, USA — 2017
Tony Brunelli, USA — 2017
Itinerary
| Day | Description | Distance | Elevation | Hotel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Bienvenue en France! | Hotel Mercure Lille Marcq Baroeul | |||
| 02 | RIDE Tour of Flanders Gran Fondo | Hotel Mercure Lille Marcq Baroeul | |||
| 03 | LIVE Viewing: Tour of Flanders | Hotel Mercure Lille Marcq Baroeul | |||
| 04 | Gent-Wevelgem: Ride the last 100km | Van der Valk Hotel Verviers | |||
| 05 | Amstel Gold Race: RIDE the last 100km | Van der Valk Hotel Verviers | |||
| 06 | Fleche Wallone: RIDE the last 100km | Van der Valk Hotel Verviers | |||
| 07 | Liege-Bastogne-Liege: RIDE the last 100km | Van der Valk Hotel Verviers | |||
| 08 | From the Ardennes... to Hell | Hotel Mercure Lille Marcq Baroeul | |||
| 09 | RIDE Paris-Roubaix Gran Fondo | Hotel Mercure Lille Marcq Baroeul | |||
| 10 | LIVE Viewing: Paris-Roubaix! | Hotel Mercure Lille Marcq Baroeul | |||
| 11 | Au Revoir! | ||||
| Daily Averages |
Itinerary Detail
Day 1
Distance
Elevation
Bienvenue en France!
Your trip starts at Lille Europe Train Station where our staff will meet you before the short transfer to your hotel in Lille.
After lunch, orientation meeting and bike build-up, you’ll head out onto the narrow lanes for your first taste of riding in Northern France.
Day 2
Distance
Elevation
RIDE Tour of Flanders Gran Fondo
The first of our 2 Gran Fondos sees you on the Start Line in Oudenaarde for one of the top gran fondos in the world. Thousands of cyclists line up to ride the same routes that the pros will ride tomorrow, over the bergs that make the Tour of Flanders so unique and special.
The Gran Fondo route covers the same famous cobbled bergs as tomorrow’s pro race: Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont, Koppenberg and Muur van Geraardsbergen – you’ll ride them all! The atmosphere at the fondo is fantastic – the Belgians love their cycling! We recommend the 174km route – but there are also 74km, 139km and 229km options.
Day 3
Distance
Elevation
LIVE Viewing: Tour of Flanders
Today is definitely one of those must-do, bucket list items for the passionate cyclist! Witness the pros fight it out on the Paterberg, one of the key climbs in the Tour of Flanders!
You rode it yesterday so you now know what it’s all about – and you can now watch the pros with a new sense of appreciation.
You’ll head over to the Paterberg, the best location to witness the pros fight it out. Feel the atmosphere grow as the race approaches, enjoy a Belgian beer with sausage & pommes-frites and get ready to witness the locals go crazy if a Belgian rider powers up the 20% climb near the front.
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Map & Profile
| Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No major climbs today | |||||
| Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leberg |
3.4% | 4 | |||
| Valkenberg |
4.5% | 4 | |||
| Kaperij |
3.5% | 4 | |||
| Kanarieberg |
7.5% | 4 | |||
| Koppenberg |
10.6% | 4 | |||
| Steenbeekdries |
2.7% | 4 | |||
| Taaienberg |
5.1% | 4 | |||
| Kruisberg Oudestraat |
5.8% | 4 | |||
| Oude Kwaremont |
4.2% | 4 | |||
| Paterberg |
7.8% | 4 | |||
| Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No major climbs today | |||||
Climbs
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Climbs
Dates & Prices
| Date | Booking Status | Availability | Price / Per Person | Single Supplement | Non-rider Discount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | |||||||
Apr 5 - Apr 15 |
Taking Bookings |
Places Available |
USD $6,895
USD $6,395
|
USD $950 |
USD $1,320 |
Book this trip | |
| Early Bird Discount - book before July 15th | |||||||
Waiting List
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Trip Hotels
What's Included
| What's Included | What's Not Included |
|---|---|
Accommodations & Meals
 Race Passes & Gran Fondo Entries
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
|
|
| What's Included |
|---|
Accommodations & Meals
Race Passes & Gran Fondo Entries
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
|
| What's Not Included |
|
Pick-up/Drop-off Info
Arrival
| Pickup Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Lille Europe TGV Train Station (direct trains from Paris downtown or CDG airport) |
9:30am |
Departure
| Drop Off Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Lille Europe TGV Train Station (direct trains to Paris downtown or CDG airport) |
8:00am |
Rental Bikes
Frame
Felt FR Advanced
Groupset
2023 SRAM Force AXS 12-speed
Weight
7.7kg (size 53)
Wheels
Reynolds AR46 DB Custom
Chainrings
48x35
Cassette
10-33
Sizes
47, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61
Price
USD $600
Spring Classics
No-one does the Classics like Thomson!
