On Sunday 2 April the Tour of Flanders, a true cycling classic in Belgium, will be starting in Antwerp for the very first time. It will be a weekend full of festivities!
From 2017, the starting shot for the Tour of Flanders will be fired at Het Steen in Antwerpen for a period of at least five years. During the weekend of 1 and 2 April, the city will be entirely under the spell of the cycling race. The festivities already kick off on Saturday 1 April, when more than 7000 enthusiastic cyclists will be heroes for one day while riding their own Tour of Flanders. They’ll cover much of the route that the professional cyclists will then complete the next day. On Sunday 2 April, you’ll be able to visit the Tour of Flanders fan village on the Groenplaats. You can take part of lots of activities and entertainment and follow the race from start to finish on a big screen. In short, it’s gonna be an event/weekend that you really don’t want to miss!
Tour of Flanders program Sunday 2 April
- Fan Village, Groenplaats, from 8 am: numerous stands, entertainment, a big screen, snacks and drinks. Atmosphere guaranteed!
- Grote Markt, 8:30 am: the riders will be presented to the public. They’ll sign the starting form and some of them will be interviewed on stage as well. It’s the perfect moment to take some pictures or even ask for an autograph or pose for a selfie!
- Start of the race, 10:30 am: the starting shot is fired at Het Steen. Actually, this is not the official start. From Het Steen, the cyclists ride as a group towards the Waaslandtunnel and Linkeroever, at a very leisurely pace. The official start of the race is then given in Burcht.
- Rest of the day: after the starting shot, there are still many things to do in Antwerp. There are DJ performances from 10:45 am to 2:30 pm on the Grote Markt (by Linde Merckpoel ft. Johnny DC, Level Six, Regi). You can also go shopping because it’s shopping Sunday in Antwerp! Don’t forget to head to the Groenplaats in due time to see the race final on the big screen!
Mobility
Of course the start of an international cycling tour like the Tour of Flanders requires a lot of organization. Several roads and car parks will be closed on 1 and 2 April. Be sure to check the website in advance and choose a smart way to come to Antwerp.
Flanders’ Finest
The Tour of Flanders, also known as Flanders’ Finest, is one of the most important one-day international cycling races of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale). Held for the first time in 1913, it’s a cycling classic with a rich history. Find out more about the course and the participants at www.rondevanvlaanderen.be.