Registration is now open for the official Tour of Flanders sportive, the Ronde Van Vlaanderen Cyclo. Taking place on Saturday 2 April 2016, the sportive gives amateur cyclists the chance to ride the same famous cobbles of the Spring Classic the day before the pros get down to business.
Entries will remain open until 14 March 2016, or until the full allocation of 16,000 places is sold out. Places usually remain available until well into the New Year, however early entrants benefit from a reduced price. Sign up before 31 December and you'll pay €20 for the 71km short course, €30 for the medium 127km route, or €40 for the full boneshaking 239km. These prices will be hiked up by €5 between 1 January and 14 February, and by a further €5 from then until entries close on 14 March.
Even at full rates the Tour of Flanders is a sportive bargain. Witness an atmosphere like no other, as cycling-mad locals line the rural Flemish route to cheer on competitors. Throw in the local beer and frites, plus the chance to savour the pro race the next day, and it's definitely a weekend not to be missed.
For more information and to sign up, visit www.sport.be. The domain name says it all: cycling is the national sport in Belgium. That and drinking beer.
Check out our reports on riding the Tour of Flanders sportive:
2014: Rocking the Ronde: Tour of Flanders sportive report
2015: Farewell to the Classics: Riding the Tour of Flanders
And finally, here are some tips for first-timers on the cobbles.
Good luck!
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