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11 day Ultimate Tour  of Flanders & Paris Roubaix

11 day Ultimate Tour
of Flanders & Paris Roubaix

2ND – 12TH APRIL 2021

  • INCLUSIONS
  • ITINERARY
  • PRICING
  • YOUR HOSTS

Location

  • belgium
    Bright, Victoria, Australia

Bookings are open!

2021 SPRING CLASSICS.

Official tour operator of the 2021 Spring Classics

Join Australian Cycling Legend Phil Anderson and Ride International Tours for a VIP experience of the 2021 Spring Classics, including the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix races.

Our 11-Day Ultimate Spring Classics Tour includes both the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix 4 Day Weekend Tours, races and sportifs, as well as our Belgie Training Camp based in beautiful Brugge.

We’ll ride the border regions of Belgium, Netherlands, Northern France and visit a moving World War II memorial as well as cycling iconic landmarks including Koppenberg, Kwaremont, Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Forrest of Arenberg .

If you’re after a shorter tour, we have broken down our 11-day Ultimate Spring Classics Tour into 3 smaller modules so you can mix and match to create your own tour that best suits your needs.

Phil Anderson Signature Tour2021 Spring Classics Tour With Phil Anderson

Join us in Belgium, Netherlands and France.

Phil Anderson

You’ll spend the famous race days of the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix on a VIP experience with Phil Anderson as we follow the races in our vehicles. Champagne – gourmet picnic lunch’s included enroute during both classics.

Phil was based in Belgium for much of his early pro cycling career, he was passionate about doing well in these early season Spring Classics races, including winning the Amstel Gold Race, 2nd at the Tour of Flanders and many podium places in the one day monument races.

Our experience allows us to see the races at multiple viewing points en route, including being at the finish of the Paris – Roubaix in the velodrome.

We ride two of the worlds best amateur Gran Fondo’s, the Tour of Flanders Sportif and the Paris Roubaix Challenge the day prior to each of the big races. Both sportifs can be achieved by anyone and are the best single days you are ever likely to spend on a bike. There’s a distance to suit everyone and we’ll coach you in the art/technique of riding these famous courses, you’re guaranteed to love it.

When we’re not at the races or riding the sportifs, we offer a unique tour where we ride more – transfer less and visit many towns, villages and iconic cycling locations of the Spring Classics.

inclusions

  • Spacious Cycling Friendly Four Star Accommodation.
  • Daily breakfasts (Evening Meals, Lunches, Drinks Etc As Per Detailed Itinerary Below).
  • Tour of Flanders – Race Day, European-Style Gourmet Picnic Lunch including local / international foods, French bubbly, Belgium beer, Wine, Cool Drinks
  • Paris Roubaix – Race Day, European-Style Gourmet Picnic Lunch including local / international foods, French bubbly, Belgium beer, Wine, Cool Drinks
  • Complimentary entry into the Tour of Flanders Sportif – and Paris Roubaix Challenge (Granfondo)
  • Local guides for cycling and non-cyclists including former Australian Pro Rider Phil Anderson
  • Minimum of three guided ride options per day, to suit your preferred distance and amount of climbing
  • Pro mechanical support on tour
  • Support vehicle each day to carry daypacks, spare parts, hydration and ride snacks
  • Separate Spectator Itinerary for Non-cyclists
  • Itinerary, including daily ride maps
  • Free download of our GPS Ride Routes
  • Complimentary return airport – or Train station transfers
  • Daily Bike Spa including Bike Wash, Mechanical check and tune, by a Pro Mechanic
  • Cyclists Receive Our Premium Quality European Rider Pack including: Jersey, Knicks, Socks, Cycling Cap and Musette Bag
  • Non-Cyclists Receive a Spectator Pack including Designer Ride International Tours Polo Shirt, Socks, Cap and Musette Bag
The Spring Classics Tour in Europe
Spring Classic 11 Day

itinerary

DAY 1

ARRIVAL DAY + RIDE – 2nd April 2021

Pick up time: 9am Brussels Airport – or 11am: Aalst Train Station

Arrival Day Ride Distance: 45km  Climbing: 200m

Dinner: 7.30pm Welcome Dinner

Accommodation: Flanders

More About Our Day:

Welcome to the Belgium, The Spring Classics and The Tour of Flanders.

This morning is welcome day, we’ll meet you at the location of your choice: 9am Brussels Airport – or 11am: Aalst Train Station.

Alternatively we always highly recommend arriving at least one day prior to a tour start, it’ll alleviate travel stress, you’ll recover from your travel better and it’ll build in some wiggle room in the event your travel and connections don’t flow as smoothly as you’d like.

Once at our Team Hotel, we’ll assist you to build up your bike, or do the final fitting, put your pedals onto your hire bike etc.

After a quick bite to each for lunch, we’ll ride from our hotel to the Tour of Flanders event area to collect our registrations for the following day.

Non-cycling options:

Discover our local town, it’s a lovely place with plenty of heritage.

1pm: Join the group as we head across to the Tour of Flanders event area, here you can explore the beautiful town, it’s vast town square shops and visit the Tour of Flanders Museum, botique, cycling restuarant and bar.

Late in the day return to our hotel and prepare for our Spring Classics Welcome Dinner.

Our Ride:

Ride Start: 1pm • Distance: 45km • Climbing: 200m

Welcome Day, warm up ride to get the legs and body moving, we include a pave riding skills session enroute from our Team Hotel to the Tour of Flanders Sportif event area. We’ll collect our entry packs, then visit the Tour of Flanders Cycling Museum.

Late in the day we return to our hotel to prepare for tonights welcome dinner and the following mornings Tour of Flanders Sportif.

Après Bike:

Suggested Post Ride rehydration: Hops helps recovery, Belgium is the spiritual home of beer, be sure to enjoy a lesser know local Pils beer, they are light and freshing, you may want to leave the more famed, stonger Belgium beers for another night.

Dinner: 

Meet in the Hotel Lobby, tonight is our Tour of Flanders welcome dinner

 Accommodation:

Our Four Star Team Hotel in Flanders, Belgium 1 of 3 Nights

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DAY 2

DAY 2 – SATURDAY, 3RD APRIL 2021

Breakfast: From 7am

Vehicles Depart: 7.45am

Our Ride Start: 8.45am

Ride Distances: 75km / 145km / 174km.

More About Our Day:

Today is the day you’ve been waiting for and dreaming about. Today is all about the Tour of Flanders Sportif.

Like many other European mass participation rides, this event can be started at anytime between 7am – 10am. This flexible start time helps to spread the 16,000 participants out over the course and reduces riders pre ride/race nerves.

We choose a generous start time to allow for our short morning vehicle transfer. Loop rides start and finish in the town of Oudenaarde, over a challenging hilly, cobbled course.

Non-cycling options:

Plenty of options today based on your personal interests, or preferences.

Visit Oudenaard with the group riding to see the Tour of Flanders sportif, it’s a fun day with huge crowds in town to support the 16,000 riders.

Explore the town, it’s museums, bars, restaurants, or additional options for active off bike activities include walks – hikes etc, ask us how.

ALternatively, discover neighbouring Belgium towns – cities. Head out to discover Ghent, Brugge, Antwerp etc, ask us how.

Our Ride:

Ride Distances: 75km / 145km / 174km • Climbing: Plenty of small Belgie Bergs

Today is your chance to ride and experience the Tour of Flanders Sportif.

Various course lengths are available to suit riders of all fitness and abilities, the route is achievable by anyone keen to participate, options of 74km, 139km & 174km Loop rides are available. Multiple feed and aid stations are set up on the course, support and stops are plentiful.

The event routes start and finish in the town of Oudenaarde. Each course takes sections of the same iconic, hilly, challenging, cobbled roads as the pro’s will race on the following day.

The Tour of Flanders sportif is a beautiful day on the bike, it’s full of fantastic Belgium experiences, challenges and great people like yourself out on the roads of Belgium enjoying the day. The rewards of attending this event are great, we believe it’s one of the best sportifs in the world.

Après Bike:

Free program to explore our town, it’s restuarants, bars and eateries. We’ll be heading out for a social /informal dinner (non-inclusion).

We’ll make a plan for dinner – feel free to join us or Let us know your preferred food types, budget and dining style! We’ll point you in the right direction for great local places.

 Accommodation:

Our Four Star Team Hotel, Flanders, Belgium 2 of 3 Nights

Phil Anderson

DAY 3

DAY 3 – SUNDAY, 4TH APRIL 2021

Breakfast: 7am

Vehicles Depart 7:30am. 1 hour transfer.

Race: Tour of Flanders Race Day, 270km

Race Start: 10.30am

More About Our Day:

Today is our VIP Tour of Flanders experieince co-hosted by Australian former pro cyclist Phil Anderson and Pat Fitzpatrick. Phil and Pat have worked together for over 10 years, their combined skills, experience and passion for all things cycling create the best Spring Classics experiences available.

Phil may not need much of an introduction to many of you, but you’ll be pleased to know Phil is highly regarded and remembered well in Belgium due to his attacking style of racing. Phil focused the early part of each of his seasons to specialise in the Spring Classics, he had great success at the Classics, winning the Amstel Gold Race, placing 2nd twice at the Tour of Flanders, a long list of big results and podium places at nearly all of the Spring Classics Races.

You’re bound to hear plenty of exciting stories from the golden era of cycling, plus insights into the riders preperation and the way the race is playing out on the day. You are in great hands, It’ll be an exciting day from start to finish at the 2021 Tour of Flanders.

Phil will give us a truly unique VIP experience and expert commentary through the day as we navigate a very tricky course to see the race in this style. This style of see’ing the Tour of Flanders is only possible from our combined experience, plus as a young pro cyclist Phil was based in Belgium, he’s still recognised where ever he goes, he’s considered a local amongst people from Belgium, he knows the races, the culture and the country of Belgium like a local.

Non-cycling options:

Join the group on a unique VIP Tour of Flanders race day, including Gourmet, Champagne Picnic Lunch.

Our Ride:

Active Recovery Day – VIP Spectating, Tour of Flanders Race Day

Our Race Experience:

Tour of Flanders

7.30am: Depart in our vehicles, 1 hr vehicle transfer to Antwerp, the start location for the Tour of Flanders.

8.30am: Arrive in Antwerp, Discover the city, see the teams and riders prepare for the start of the Tour of Flanders.

10.30am: Tour of Flanders race starts.

We’ll experience the build up to the start, the local fans will flood in and we’ll be there to experience the incredible excitiment of the Tour of Flanders. The riders headout from Antwerp on flatter exposed roads to do battle on the cobbles of the Flanders region of Belgium.

After the race start, we’ll quickly head back to our waiting vehicles to jump ahead of the race, we’ll pick up the race again as it comes past our Team Hotel around 12pm. Back to our vehicles again as we transfer ahead of the race to position ourselves on the iconic Mur.

The Mur is often a critical point in the race where a selection of riders capable of winning the Tour of Flanders will go clear on the climb to the famous church. We’ll enjoy a gourmet European style picnic enroute, including local refreshments, champagne and cool drinks.

Once the race has passed over the Mur, we take our alternative route and jump ahead of the race to the race finish town of Oudenaard to see who wins the 2021 edition of the Tour of Flanders.

Après Bike:

We’ll be heading out for a social /informal dinner (non-inclusion) and refreshing cool drink.

Dinner: 

We bid farewell to guests on our 4 Day Tour of Flanders Long weeekend. We’ll make a plan for dinner – feel free to join us or Let us know your preferred food types, budget and dining style! We’ll point you in the right direction for great local places.

 Accommodation:

Our Four Star Team Hotel, Flanders, Belgium 3 of 3 Nights

1986 Coors Classic 86 Hinault Lemond Anderson Phinney jsPhSpt

DAY 4

DAY 4 – MONDAY, 5TH APRIL 2021

11 Breakfast: From 7am

Vehicle Depart: 8.30am

Our Ride Start: 9am

Ride Distances: 40km – 85km Climbing: 400m

4.30pm: Explore Brugge walk. 90minutes.

7.30pm: Informal Social Dinner, meet hotel lobby (non inclusion)

More About Our Day:

Belgie Transfer Ride. Beautiful Brugge

A relaxed breakfast this morning after a few hectic days on the Tour of Flanders long weekend.

After breakfast our vehicle heads to our new Team Hotel in Brugge, while the cyclist take a transfer ride designed by Phil on some of his old training roads to Brugge.

Late in the afternoon once we are checked into our new Team Hotel, we’ll head out on our Explore Brugge walk for around 90minutes. Brugge is a beautiful town, it’s a nice time for a stroll and a great way to orientate yourself with this fun town.

Non-cycling options:

Morning vehicle transfer to our Brugge Team Hotel. 1 Hour 20 mins.

Once checked into our Brugge Team Hotel, there’s plenty of time to explore Brugge’s lovely old city area.

We have plenty of great recommendations for things to see and places to visit in Brugge. Let us know your personal interests, we’ll suggest plenty of great places to see and things to do in Brugge.

4.30pm: Discover Brugge walk, including the impressive Markt square. 90minutes.

Our Ride:

Ride Start: 9am • Distance: 40km – 85km • Climbing: 150m-400m

9am: Ride Starts from our Team Hotel, we’ll pass through Ghent, pause to admire the Ghent Velodrome, then stop for monrnig tea and a coffee, we know some great cycling cafes in Ghent. It’s a beautiful city to cycle through enroute to our new base Brugge for the next few nights.

We’ll take a scenic ride through Brugge’s old center enroute to our hotel, it’s a great way to orientate yourself with the old town center, it’s minature water ways, shops and beautiful buildings.

Après Bike:

4.30pm: Discover Brugge cultural walk, including the impressive Markt square, minature waterways, local bike stores, galleries and shops. 90 minute walk.

Suggested Post Ride rehydration: Belgium is the home of beer, let us know your prefferd style and we’ll offer some suggestions, there are so great options of Belgium beer that are only available locally.

Dinner: 

7.30pm: Informal Social Dinner, meet hotel lobby (non inclusion). We’ll make a plan for dinner – feel free to join us, or Let us know your preferred food types, budget and dining style! We’ll point you in the right direction for great local places.

 Accommodation:

Historic, family owned and run hotel in Brugge. Walking distance to everything in Brugge Old Town 1 of 4 Nights

TdF Motorola

DAY 5

DAY 5 – TUESDAY, 6TH APRIL 2021

Breakfast: From 7.30am

Our Ride Start: 8.45am

Ride Distances: 45km-90km. (3 – 4 hours)

More About Our Day:

Belgie Training Camp Tempo Ride

Our morning Belgie Training Camp Rides are a great way to have an active morning.

We’ve designed 3 – 4 hour rides to explore more of the North West Flanders region of Belgium, but leave you with plenty of time and energy to explore for the balance of each day, plus you’ll be in great form for the upcoming Paris Roubaix challenge.

Non-cycling options:

Morning and afternoon. Let us know your personal interests, Brugge is a wonderfully diverse city, options include Chocolate museum, the canal boat tour is great way to see Brugge from another level, Belgium Beer tour, Museums and galleries aplenty, or we have options for active walks, ask us how.

Alternatively, we’ve based ourselves in Brugge, as it’s very well connected via local trains -approx 1 hour to Belgiums other great citys so you can easily visit Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp etc for the afternoon. There are so many great daily afternoon sightseeing options, let us know your interests so we can tailor experiences to your likes, interests and point you in the right direction.

Our Ride:

Ride Start: 8.45am • Distance: 45km-90km • Climbing: 400m

Morning Tempo Loop Ride, 3-4 hours. Designed by Phil, this loop ride is based on his old training ride routes and race routes from the North Western Flanders region.

We have ride options available for everyone depending how much or how little you like to ride, we’ll pause for a Belgium Hot Chocolate or coffee apres ride.

Ride Extra’s: If you fancy riding more in the afternoon, we have plenty of ride options available, let us know how many Km’s you want to ride and what type of ride you want to do. Ask us how.

Après Bike:

Dinner 7.30pm: Free program to explore our town, it’s restuarants, bars and eateries. or join us for an Informal Social Dinner, we’ll be heading out to eat some local specialty dishes at a place close to our hotel. Meet hotel lobby (non inclusion)

Suggested Post Ride rehydration:

Jenever, also known as genièvre, genever, peket or Dutch gin, is the national spirit of Belgium from which gin evolved. While beer may be Belgium’s most famous alcoholic beverage, jenever has been the country’s traditional and national spirit for over 500 years.

Jenever is a “Protected Product of Origin”, having received eleven different appellations or AOCs from the European Union, and can only be crafted in Belgium, the Netherlands and a few areas in France and Germany. Most of the jenever AOC’s are exclusive to Belgium making Belgian jenever (Belgian genever) one of it’s best-kept secrets.

For centuries jenever has been bottled in jugs handcrafted from clay. Its iconic shape is recognizable and unique to jenever. Traditionally Belgians serve jenever in completely full shot glasses that have just been pulled from the freezer. The first step to drinking the jenever properly is to keep the glass on the table, bend down and take the first sip without holding the glass. Once this traditional first sip is completed one can drink the rest of the drink normally.

 Accommodation:

Historic, family owned and run hotel in Brugge. Walking distance to everything in Old Town 2 of 4 Nights

Motorola Ireland

DAY 6

DAY 6 – WEDNESDAY, 7TH APRIL 2021

Breakfast: From 7am

Our Ride Start: 8.15am

Vehicle Depart: 8.30am

Ride Distances: 45km – 75km (extra’s available) – 150m climbing

More About Our Day:

Our morning Belgie Training Camp Ride designed by Phil takes us to the start of the Semi Classic Scheldeprijs race in the Netherlands. We’ll be there to see all of the pre-race excitement, mingle with the riders, get some photo’s among the team buses and see the riders waved off for the 202km race.

After the race has started around midday, we’ll transfer in our vehicle back toward Brugge, enroute we stop off to do a Brewery Tour and tasting.

We’ve allowed plenty of time after the brewery tour to watch the excitement of the finish of the Scheldeprijs race live on TV.

Non-cycling options:

This morning we take a coastal drive through small towns and villages along Belgium’s north coast, we’ll stop for morning tea then arrive in the Netherlands.

We’ll arrive at the start of the Semi Classic Scheldeprijs race in the Netherlands. We’ll be able to get some selfies with the pro riders, wander among the team buses and be at the start line as the riders are waved off for the race.

Our afternoon is your chance to experience a Belgium Brewery Tour and tasting. We’ve allowed plenty of time after the brewery tour to discover the old town of Brugge or explore further afield.

Race:

Semi classic Scheldeprijs race

Today we see the start of the semi Classic Scheldeprijs race in the Netherlands. The Scheldeprijs race is a favourite race for the worlds best sprinters, it’s a flat course, often subjected to strong winds so it suits the strong sprinters teams. Past winners include: Tom Boonen, Marcel Kittel, Robbie McEwan and Mark Cavendish.

Après Bike:

Suggested Post Ride Dinner Dishes:

7.30pm: Maybe tonight is a good time to sample some of Belgiums famous dishes, we’ll be heading out for an informal “Social Dinner” to a local place close to our hotel. Meet hotel lobby (non inclusion)

Some of our favourite local Belgium dishes include:

Moules-frites: mussels cooked or steamed with onions and celery served with fries. The recipe has often been referred to as the country’s national dish but is also popular in the neighboring Nord region of France.

or Carbonade flamande: a Belgian beef stew, similar to the French Beef Bourguignon, but made with beer instead of red wine. Served with bread or fries and mustard. Usually accompanied by a local beer.

 Accommodation:

Historic, family owned and run hotel in Brugge. Walking distance to everything in Old Town 3 of 4 Nights

IMAGE0012

DAY 7

DAY 7 – THURSDAY, 8TH APRIL 2021

Breakfast: From 7.30am

Our Ride Start: 8.45am

Ride Distances: 45km – 85km (Extra’s available)

More About Our Day:

Our morning Belgie Training Camp Ride heads out for around 3 – 4 hours on a route specially designed by Phil to take in some of the regions finest small roads, bikeways and former training roads. or take a recovery day off the bike and head further afield to explore some of Belgiums great towns, cities or historical landmarks.

Non-cycling options:

Today is our last day in the region, it’s a great chance to explore more locally or a good day to head further afield to explore some of Belgiums northern towns, cities or historical landmarks. Let us know where you are keen to visit or things you’d like to try and do.

Our Ride:

Ride Start: 8.45am • Distance: 45km – 85km (Extra’s available) • Climbing: 200m

Ride Extra’s: If you fancy riding some more in the afternoon, we have plenty of ride options available, let us know how many Km’s you want to ride and what type of ride you want to do. Ask us how.

Après Bike:

Suggested Post Ride rehydration:

Dinner: 

7.30pm: Informal Social Dinner, we’ll be heading out to eat at a local place close to our hotel, meet hotel lobby (non inclusion)

 Accommodation:

Historic, family owned and run hotel in Brugge. Walking distance to everything in Old Town 4 of 4 Nights

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DAY 8

DAY 8 – FRIDAY, 9TH APRIL 2021

Breakfast: From 7.30am

Vehicles Depart: 8.15am

Our Ride Start: 12.30pm

Ride Distances: 36km-50km (Extra’s available)

Dinner: 7.30pm

More About Our Day:

Transfer Day – Roubaix
After breakfast this morning we transfer from Brugge in Belgium, down to Lille in Northern France to prepare for our Paris Roubaix long weekend.

Mid morning upon arriving in Lille, we’ll meet up with guests arriving for the Paris Roubaix long weekend.

There’s some time in the days program to discover our new home for the next few days while the weekend guests ready themsleves to ride. Lille’s old town area with it’s many historic buildings is a lovely place explore on foot.

After lunch we head over to the town of Roubaix to visit the event area, while we are there we’ll see the famous Roubaix velodrome and take a look into the historic Roubaix shower block.

Non-cycling options:

Transfer with the group from Brugge in Belgium, down to Lille in Northern France, there’s some time in the mid morning program to explore the old town area of Lille prior to heading to Roubaix in the afternoon. Let us know your interests and we’ll point you in the right direction of things to see and do in Lille.

The town of Roubaix will be a buzz with the upcoming Roubaix Challenge ride and Sundays Paris – Roubaix race, it’s a nice time to visit the Roubaix Velodrome and historic shower block for some photos.

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Our Ride:

Paris Roubaix Challenge Recce
Ride Start: 12.30pm • Distance: 36km-50km • Climbing: 100m• Cobbles: Yes

This afternoon we’ll ride a course designed by Phil Anderson that takes in some nice smaller roads, laneways and sections of the Paris Roubaix Challenge and race route. We are heading to the Roubaix Velodrome to collect our entries for tomorrow’s Paris Roubaix Challenge.

Enroute to Roubaix, we’ll do a “Pave bike-skills session”, Phil and Pat are masters of the cobbles they’ll have you relaxed, riding beautifully over the cobbles and well equiped to fly on the cobbles the following day.

After our visit to Roubaix’s famous cycling sites, we’ll mount up and ride an alternative route back to Lille to prepare for tomorrows Roubaix Challenge event.

Ride Extra’s: If you fancy riding some more, we have plenty of ride options available, let us know how many Km’s you want to ride and what type of ride you want to do. Ask us how.

Après Bike:

Suggested Post Ride rehydration:
Now that we are in France’s north, maybe it’s time to celebrate our arrival with a glass of local bubbly, the Champagne region is just two hours directly south of us in Lille.

Dinner: 

7.30pm: Dinner to welcome our new guests arriving on the Paris Roubaix 4 Day Longweekend. Meet Hotel Lobby for a short walk to dinner.

 Accommodation:

Lille Old Town Center Ville, elegant Beaux arts-style Four Star Hotel 1 of 3 Nights

Anderson

DAY 9

DAY 9 – SATURDAY, 10TH APRIL 2021

Breakfast: From 7am

Vehicles Depart: 7.30am

Paris Roubaix Challenge Start: From 8.30am

Ride Distances: 70km / 145km

Vehicles Depart: 5.30pm Depart Lille

The Last Post: 8pm

More About Our Day:

Roubaix Challenge – Menon Gate WW 1 Memorial
Today is the day many of you will have been dreaming about for a long time – it’s your chance to ride the Paris Roubaix challenge over the same cobbles as tomorrows Paris Roubaix race. Within the stated 70km-145km routes, there’s an option available to riders of all fitness and abilities, let us know your preferred distance and we’ll work out a great option to suit you.

After the Roubaix Challenge ride we transfer back to our Hotel, we’ll shower and clean up after a superb day on course. Late today we drive across to the Menin Gate Memorial to discover the town of Ypres and it’s incredible world war history.

8pm: We attend the Menon Gate, Last Post ceremony, it’s extremly moving to visit this ceremony dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed during World War 1 and whose graves are unknown.

The memorial is located at the eastern exit of the town Ypres and marks the starting point for one of the main roads out of the town that led Allied soldiers to the front line. Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and built by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Menin Gate Memorial was unveiled on 24 July 1927.

After we’ve visited The Menon Gate service, our return drive to our Hotel is approximately 45 minutes.

Non-cycling options:

Plenty of options today, based on your personal interests, you can travel with the group across to Roubaix in the morning, explore the town of Roubaix, or relax in Lille and discover more about this historic French City.

Alternatively Lille is only one hour away from Paris by TGV fast train, you could travel to the French capital to take in a spot of shopping and sightseeing.

Travel with the group to the Menon Gate to see the Last Post ceremony.

a shot of the Velodrome

Our Ride:

Paris Roubaix Challenge
Ride Start: 8.30am • Distance: 70km – 145km • Climbing: 300-600m

The same roads, the same dreams, the same joy, the same pain: as a cyclists today you’ll experience the same emotions as Van Avermaet, Boonen and the other professionals on the Queen of the Classics, Paris-Roubaix!

Paris Roubaix Challenge is a ride you’ll never forget, it’s an incredible day every cyclist should experience once in their lifetime.

Après Bike:

Suggested Post Ride rehydration: Plenty of great local sparkling mineral water. The minerals will assist in you recovery.

Vehicles Depart: 5.30pm Depart Lille to the Town of Ypres.

Dinner: Informal Social Dinner, we’ll take a quick dinner while we are in the town of Ypres pre the Last Post Ceremony (non inclusion).

The Last Post: 8pm

 Accommodation:

Lille Old Town Center Ville, elegant Beaux arts-style Four Star Hotel 2 of 3 Nights

the Finishers Medals

DAY 10

DAY 10 – SUNDAY, 11TH APRIL 2021

Breakfast: From 7am-7.30am

Vehicles Depart: 7.30am

Dinner: 7pm

More About Our Day:

Paris Roubaix Race Day
The day we’ve all been waiting for, the 2021 Paris Roubaix race.

An exciting day of VIP Spectating with Phil Anderson as he guides us through the 2021 Paris Roubaix. We Depart our hotel early after breakfast to visit the Paris Roubaix start town.

Upon arrival we’ll have some time to discover the race start town, take some morning tea and watch the riders prepair for the big day ahead. At 11am we’ll be there to see the official race start, it’s an incredible experience to see the riders headout to do battle on the roads of the Hell of the North.

After the start we’ll head back quickly to our waiting vehicles to transfer ahead of the race. We’ll pick up the race mid-route and enjoy a gourmet roadside picnic lunch including Champagne, some nice Belgium beer and cool drinks of your choice.

Back on the road, we jump ahead of the race again to position ourselves at various points along the race route, then move quickly to see the exciting closing stages of the race from inside the Roubaix Velodrome.

The Paris Roubaix race and the finish into the Roubaix velodrome is a once in a life time experience, it’s a very unpredictable race and incredible to be a part of all the action. You’ll absolutely love it.

Non-cycling options:

Travel with the group to experience the Paris Roubaix, it’s an exciting day to be around one of the biggest cycling events in Europe.

Race:

Paris Roubaix 257km
The Paris Roubaix is one of cycling’s oldest races, it was first run in 1896 and is one of the ‘Monuments’ or classics of the European calendar, and contributes points towards the UCI World Ranking.

The race has stopped only for the two world wars and was created by two Roubaix textile manufacturers, Théodore Vienne and Maurice Perez. Both men had been behind the building of the velodrome on 46,000 square metres at the corner of the rue Verte and the route d’Hempempont in Roubaix which opened on 9 June 1895

The course is maintained by Les Amis de Paris–Roubaix, a group of fans of the race formed in 1983. The forçats du pavé seek to keep the course safe for riders while maintaining its difficulty.

The race starts in Compeigne, France and covers 29 cobbled sectors over the 257km course til it reaches Roubaix. The race course route changes slightly over the years, 2019 Roubaix Winner was Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck-Quick Step).

Philippe Gilbert delivered a masterclass on the way to Roubaix to claim his fifth success in a Monument, after his victories in Lombardia (2009, 2010), Liège (2011) and Flanders (2017). The Belgian star is the first rider to dominate four different Monuments since Sean Kelly in the 1980s.

With the rise of young stars including Belgiums Wout van Aert and Dutch rider Mathieu van der poel, the 2021 edition of Paris Roubaix is going to be very exciting watching the establish riders do battle against the stars of the future.

History:
Seeking the challenge of racing on cobbles is relatively recent. It began at the same time in Paris–Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, when widespread improvements to roads after the second world war brought realisation that the character of both races were changing. Until then the race had been over cobbles not because they were bad but because that was how roads were made.

André Mahé, who won in 1949 said, After the war, of course, the roads were all bad. There were cobbles from the moment you left Paris, there’d be stretches of surfaced roads and often there’d be a cycle path or a pavement and sometimes a thin stretch of something smoother.

You never knew where was best place to ride and you were for ever switching about. You could jump your bike up on to a pavement but that got harder the more tired you got. Then you’d get your front wheel up but not your back wheel. That happened to me, then you’d go sprawling of course and you could bring other riders down. Or they’d fall off and bring you down with them.

The cycle paths were often just compressed cinders, which got soft in the rain and got churned up by so many riders using them and then you got stuck and you lost your balance. Come what may, you got covered in coal dust and other muck, it’s all changed and you can’t compare then and now.

Après Bike:

Suggested Post Ride rehydration:

Dinner: 

7pm, Farewell Dinner and Drinks. meet Hotel lobby for a short walk to our restaurant.

 Accommodation:

Lille Old Town Center Ville, elegant Beaux arts-style Four Star Hotel 3 of 3 Nights

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DAY 11

DAY 11 – MONDAY, 12TH APRIL 2021

Breakfast: From 7.30am

Vehicles Depart: 8.45am
Arrive Lille TGV Trainistation: 9am
Arrive Brussels International Airport: 12pm

More About Our Day:

Departure Day – Au revoir

This morning after the excitement of the Paris Roubaix weekend, we’ll gather again over a hearty breakfast. Today we offer two transfer options depending on your needs, we’ll transfer you and your luggage to either:

9am: Lille TGV Train station, it’s very well connected by superfast TGV trains to all of the major European centers including Paris, Amsterdam, London etc or

12pm: Brussels Airport for flights departing after 3pm

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Pricing

advanced booking deposit

$750 reserves your spot on the 2021 Ultimate Spring Classics Tour.

*Note, our Spring Classic Tours are new each year, we maximise your experience with race viewing, sportifs, great rides and cultural experiences.

11 day tour – forecast dates only

2 – 12 APR 2021 | $825 AUD/pp | $7,550 AUD/pp* Twin Share

Payment Options

$750.00 AUD – $7,650.00 AUD

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ROOMS / SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

* Our twin share prices are per person based on two people sharing one room. If you are travelling alone, you have the option of sharing a twin room with another tour participant that we’ll match you with or alternatively, have a room to yourself by paying the additional single room supplement.

BIKE HIRE

Take the hassle out of traveling with your bike and hire a bike for our 11 Day Ultimate Tour of Flanders & Paris Roubaix.

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  • Scott Addict 20 - Disc S105 (Swiss)

    2021 Spring Classics Bike Hire – 11 day Ultimate Spring Classics

    $715.00 AUD
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YOUR HOSTS

Guide Phil

phil anderson

You’ll spend the famous race days of the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix on a VIP experience with Phil Anderson as we follow the races in our vehicles. Champagne – gourmet picnic lunch’s included enroute during both classics. Phil was based in Belgium for much of his early pro cycling career, he was passionate about doing well in these early season Spring Classics races, including winning the Amstel Gold Race, 2nd at the Tour of Flanders and many podium places in the one-day monument races. Our experience allows us to see the races at multiple viewing points en route, including being at the finish of the Paris – Roubaix in the velodrome.
Pat Fitzpratrick

PAT FITZPATRICK

Director of Ride International Tours – With a keen passion for improving riders fitness and technique in Road biking, MTB, Gravel and Cx riding. Originally Pat hails from Adelaide, South Australia, but resides half the year in Brunswick, Melbourne Australia – The balance of the year is spent in Europe hosting tours, while in Europe he's based out of lovely small medieval Spanish village, Solsona near the Pyrenees mountains. When not on tour, Dadding is the priority - doing the bins, clothes washing, dishes and cleaning up after our very energetic young twin daughters. Riding and racing from when I could walk, racing since the age of 7. BMX, Motorcross, Mountainbike XC, Downhill, 4cross, Road and criterium racing. Coaching and improving riders in their fitness and technique since 1997

2021 Spring Classics Tours

Tour Spring Classic 4 day Flanders

4 DAY

Tour of Flanders Long Weekend

2 – 5 APR 2021

$375 – $3,350 AUD

FIND OUT MORE
Tour Spring Classic 5 day

5 DAY

Belgie Training Camp

5 – 9 APR 2021

$395 – $2,950 AUD

FIND OUT MORE
Tour Spring Classic 4 day Paris

4 DAY

Paris Roubaix Long Weekend

9 – 12 APR 2021

$395 – $3,395 AUD

FIND OUT MORE

OUR GUEST REVIEWS

Star rate
“Both Pat and Grace have excellent people skills, they build relationships quickly, they were always well organised with itineraries or plans for the day re weather, road changes, or unexpected issues that arose. Hard work from them made our tour of two weeks a dream holiday along with all the extra drama of the biggest cycling race in the world.”

- J. & I. Aplin . Napier, New Zealand

Star rate
“Thanks very much for a highly enjoyable and excellently run tour. You and your team certainly exceeded my expectations, not only with the rides but local knowledge which helped make life simple.”

- Daren A . QLD, Australia

Star rate
“It is the small things that you guys do behind the scenes that makes all the difference. It was an amazing experience to ride in Italy and experience the Giro first hand. Thanks again and looking forward to the next tour.”

- Stephen P . QLD, Australia

Star rate
“I first met Pat and Grace on a cycling tour in Europe in 2013. Pat and Grace make the perfect team to run these types of tours, both are friendly, bubbly and outgoing in their personalities and each bring their own invaluable skills to touring with a group.”

- A. Saunders . Victoria, Australia

Star rate
“Wow, two of the greatest tour guides I know. Knowledgeable, multilingual, always helpful, a great team to handle your once in a life time tour. I’ve done at least 4 two-week cycle tours with one or both of this husband wife team. Every one has been extraordinary. You will not go wrong with one of these two as your tour coordinators.”

- Tommy. E . USA

Advance Bookings:

We open up our Advance Reservations for trips so you can book well ahead. Guarantee your position by booking up to 12 months prior.

If you’d like to organise and book your trip more than 12 months prior, contact us via email or phone, we’ll arrange everything so you can make an advanced early booking.

An advance booking, accompanied by a fully refundable $750 AUD (Australian Dollar) ensures priority booking status when the trip details are announced. Note, an advance booking is not considered final until payment is received.

Once specific trip itinerary details are finalized, we’ll contact everyone on the advance reservation list via email, we’ll include the itinerary and offer a priority booking position before opening up bookings to the wider community.

If a trip fills – as it often does in the advance bookings, we create a waiting list and then offer reservations on a first-come, first-serve basis (based on the date the advance reservation was made) once our advanced booking guest have finalised.

To cancel an advance reservation a cancellation request must be submitted in writing/ via email within 14 days of the trip details being published. The (AUD) $750 advance reservation payment will be immediately refunded for any cancellation received within this 14-day period.

Payments

We offer increased payment flexibility – Book your cycling escape with confidence.
Payments from June 2020 onward are 100% refundable, should you need to alter your travel plans due to unforeseen Covid19 issues

Final Payments:

The balance of your trip payment is due no later than 120 days prior to your trip departure date, we will forward via email your final payment invoice. You can choose to make full payment earlier if you prefer to finalise your trip payment early, contact us and we will arrange for an invoice to be sent.

What if I have to transfer, change or cancel my trip:
We understand you may not be able to go on your trip, cancel, change or transfer due to personal or medical reasons. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to transfer to another trip that has places available. If you have a question give us a call or email.

Due to the high demand, limited hotel availability and the advance payments expected by our hotels and restaurants we use, the following cancellation conditions apply to all of our trips.

AFTER BOOKING, IF YOU CANCEL:

120 – 91 days prior to departure 50% cancellation fee of the trip price
90 – 61 days prior to departure 75% cancellation fee of the trip price
60 days and less prior to departure 100% cancellation fee of the trip price
SANTOS TOUR DOWN UNDER TRAVEL SPECIALIST

2021 Santos TDU Official VIP Trip Options

  • CORPORATE HOSPITALITY – DOWN UNDER CLASSIC 2021
  • LEGENDS’ NIGHT DINNER 2021

Trip Options

  • Bike Hire

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Ride International Tours

ABOUT US

Operating since 2007, we offer a range of bespoke cycling tours across Australia, Europe and Asia.

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TOURS

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CONTACT US

A: Ride International Tours
37-43 Breese St
Brunswick VIC 3056

P: 1300 140 311

E: directors@rideinternational.com

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