Identifying Flanders wide road

specialgueststar
specialgueststar Posts: 3,418
edited April 2018 in Pro race
Can anyone pinpoint on the map where that wide 'big dipper' road ( is it a dual carriageway) is in Flanders that they turn on to after the uphill cobble section.

It has a smooth decent and then a long gradual climb and the camera is usually placed for a long continuous shot to see the groups (usually some echelon action)

Comments

  • It's the N36, which runs between Kluisbergen and Ronse. The Oude Kwaremont junction is about halfway along - the actual road name of the Oude Kwaremont at the top is Schilderstraat - the riders turn left on to the N36 then ride along for about a kilometre (that's the straight road with the drag up), until the junction with Lamontstraat, where they turn left and descend to the for of the Paterberg. One of the best TV shots in cycling, that.
  • It's the N36, which runs between Kluisbergen and Ronse. The Oude Kwaremont junction is about halfway along - the actual road name of the Oude Kwaremont at the top is Schilderstraat - the riders turn left on to the N36 then ride along for about a kilometre (that's the straight road with the drag up), until the junction with Lamontstraat, where they turn left and descend to the for of the Paterberg. One of the best TV shots in cycling, that.

    Thanks. I wasn't expecting the 'main man' to respond! I'm going to read your book again :D It's funny how that piece of road defines Flanders just as much as the cobbles!
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,243
    I believe it's the location of Cancellara's 2011 erop en erover move in E3, following comical bike failures and a monster charge up the Oude Kwaremont (only partly captured by the cameras).

    Listen to Karl on the moto. "HIER KOMT DE TANK!"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHUWTwPu_LA (the move is @ 2:30) Watch the guys in that group squeeze the last ounces of juice to get in his wheel.

    Later on Cancellara attacks and Tankink tries follow, only to get spectacular cramp.
  • Me and girlfriend were discussing this the other night - we have ridden the route hereabouts together but neither of us has any memory of what we did at the top of the Oude Kwaremont. I assume we followed the dual carriageway (past the 'Bunnykins' cafe) to Lamontstraat and the Paterberg (which one does remember). I'm sure we didn't cross into Ronde van Vlaandrenstraat, we would remember passing the Ronde memorial.
  • Vino'sGhost
    Vino'sGhost Posts: 4,129
    that bit of road looks great, it always looks like its seriously steep on the TV, is it like that in reality?
  • It's not steep steep - maybe 4 or 5 per cent for about 400m, so about as steep as dual carriageways would get in the UK. In the race they've just climbed the Kwaremont and there's often a cross tailwind up there, so they're a) knackered but b) riding fast. I remember watching the E3 which Rick talked about above - Tankink's whole-body cramp trying to follow Cancellara looked painful.
  • Vino'sGhost
    Vino'sGhost Posts: 4,129
    steep enough! thanks for the description
  • cruff
    cruff Posts: 1,518
    I remember it from the sportive last year. It's a cracking bit of road.
    Fat chopper. Some racing. Some testing. Some crashing.
    Specialising in Git Daaahns and Cafs. Norvern Munkey/Transplanted Laaandoner.
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    Yep, it is a real drag strip