DeRonde2020: the lockdown edition

The event that all of Flanders is more passionate about than any other will not take place on Sunday 5 April. This prompted Flanders Classics and Belgian national sports broadcaster Sporza to go in search of an innovative alternative that is equally thrilling for both fans and cyclists. Although it is currently forbidden to cycle in groups and has been for a little while now, they will be announcing the very first virtual edition of Flanders’ Finest for professional cyclists today: DeRonde2020, the lockdown edition. Because you can still cycle on your home trainer.

Flanders Classics developed a unique concept in collaboration with technology partners Bkool and Kiswe. Not only that, the participating teams also contributed their part to this wonderful initiative. The teams were not only more than willing to join in, they are what’s more doing so entirely free of charge.

After a 1 hour race, the 2020 winner will be crowned. In a closed tour reserved exclusively for professional cyclists, 13 pros will be competing during the last 32 km of the Tour of Flanders – on their home trainers. Thanks to Kiswe we will be able to watch the riders tackle a virtual Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg in real time on the Bkool platform. The tour has already been uploaded onto Bkool’s digital platform.

Follow the Tour of Flanders social media channels and find out where to watch this unique event. 

The Officially Unbelievable Ronde van Vlaanderen 

This year, the Tour of Flanders will not be held once, but twice. Visit Flanders, Cycling in Flanders, Flanders Classics and Sporza joined forces to create a radio story: The Officially Unbelievable Ronde van Vlaanderen. In collaboration with Het Geluidhuis and Bowling Brands, they will transport cycling fans to an era of unwritten, thrilling cycling history – just as if you were listening to the commentary to a genuine, live cycling race.

This will, without a doubt, be the most exciting Tour ever – because it is so much more than just another race. Get ready for a story with some incredible plot twists, featuring cameo appearances by heroes from one hundred years of cycling history such as Eddy Merckx, Johan Museeuw, Fabian Cancellara, Mario Cipollini, Briek Schotte, Bradley Wiggins, Fausto Coppi and the Van der Poel family. It is a race into which a full century of anecdotes and tales having to do with the Tour of Flanders have been incorporated, and in which both male and female riders participate: Marianne Vos, Yvonne Reynders, Jeannie Longo and Annemiek van Vleuten will also be competing alongside the male cyclists.

Don’t miss this unique storytelling concept and tune in this weekend. Rob Hatch et Matt Stephens will take you along on the virtual 2020 Tour of Flanders with exceptional live commentary. The story can also be listened to on www.cycling-in-flanders.cc.

We hope you enjoy yourself at the Tour of Flanders this weekend!