2023 SPRING CLASSICS
Best of belgium 5 day tour

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 if you are joining us on our Paris Roubaix weekend.

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

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, en route 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.

Our Ride:  

Ride Start: 8.15am • Distance: 45km – 75km (Extra’s available)• Climbing: 150m

Today we take a ride along the northern coast of Belgium on a route designed by Phil that’ll take us through small towns and villages, then cross over into the Netherlands to see the start of the midweek semi-classic Scheldeprijs race.

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.

 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: Tonight is a good time to sample some of Belgium’s 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 neighbouring 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

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 Brugge 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: 9am • Distance: 45km – 85km (Extra’s available) • Climbing: 200m

This morning we head out for another great loop ride in the Flanders region, we’ll show you a few more of our favourite towns, villages via a super loop on small roads. You’ll be back in Brugge in time for lunch, you may even want to spoil yourself with a pro rider afternoon nap. You might be surprised to know Phil took a 20 minute power nap each afternoon when he was pro, it’s great for your legs, recovery and energy levels.

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: Tonight might be a good time to sample some Belgium dishes you are keen to try, we’ll be heading out for an informal “Social Dinner” to a local place close to our hotel. Meet hotel lobby (non inclusion) or Let us know your preferred food types, budget and dining style! We’ll point you in the right direction for great places nearby.

 Accommodation:

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

About our day:  – Departure Day – Morning Transfer To Brugge Train Station

This morning after the excitement of the Belgie Training Camp week, we’ll gather again over a hearty breakfast.

After breakfast we offer a transfer for you and your luggage to the Brugge Train Station for your onward travel. Brugge Train Station is very well connected with all of the major European centers and International airports. Alternatively if you’d like to join the Paris Roubaix 4 Day weekend Tour, we provide the transfers between the tours to Lille in northern France.

Until next time, Au revoir from the Team at Ride International Tours