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2020 SPRING CLASSICS
5 DAY BELGIE TRAINING CAMP

6th April – 10th April 2020

  • belgium
    LOCATION

    Belgium | Netherlands | France

Bookings are open!

2020 SPRING CLASSICS BELGIE TRAINING CAMP.

Join Australian Cycling Legend Phil Anderson and Pat Fitzpatrick from Ride International Tours on our Belgie Training Camp.

Each morning we’ve designed 3 – 4 hour rides to explore the North West Flanders region of Belgium and the Nertherlands. The tour format is designed to leave you with plenty of time and energy to explore beautiful Brugge, it’s surrrounding areas each afternoon and evening.

If you are heading onto our Paris Roubaix weekend tour, you’ll be in great form for the Paris Roubaix Challenge sportif.

Midweek you’ll  experience the Semi Classic Scheldeprijs race in the Netherlands. We’ll be there to see all of the pre-race excitement,  get some photo’s among the team buses and mingle with the best sprinters in the world. We’ll see the riders off for the start of the 202km race.

We’ll ride the border region of Belgium and the Netherlands. If you’re after a shorter tour, the Belgie Training Camp is the perfect tour to do after the Tour Flanders Weekend Tour or lead into the Paris Roubaix weekend tour. We’ve 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, we provide the transfers for you and your luggage between the tours.

TOUR | DATE | PRICE:

5 Day Belgie Training Camp
Tour Dates: 6th April – 10th April 2020
Price: AUD$2,900pp twin share
Single Supplement: AUD$385

BOOK NOW

2020 Spring Classics Tour With Phil Anderson

5 Day Belgie Training Camp

You’ll spend the Belgie Training Camp Tour on a VIP experience with Phil Anderson.

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

It’s hard to describe in words, but Phil is recognised and welcomed in Belgium and much of Europe as a local superstar. He was the young kid that came from a far away country that rode with great panache, he changed European and cycling in general.

The people of Belgium are the most knowledgable fans in the world and they never forget great bike riders who’ve given them unforgettable memories. It’s a really beautiful experience for everyone in our groups to see the directuer sportif of your cycling tour be so warmly recieved and welcomed with personal stories of great memories of the golden era of cycling.

Our combined experience in Belgium and the Nerthands allows us to put a superb series of rides together through quaint villages, small roads, laneways and see lovely places of interest.

we’ll coach you in the art/technique of riding the roads of Belgium and the Nertherlands, you’re guaranteed to love it, you’ll return home more relaxed on the bike and ready to take on new challenges.

When we’re not at the Scheldeprijs Classic race or riding through the many towns, villages and cycling locations of the region, the Belgie Spring Classics Cycling Camp offers a unique tour where we transfer around less and ride more.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

WATCH
•Semi Classic Scheldeprijs Race Start, Netherlands

VISIT
• Brugge, Belgium
• Belgium Brewery Tour

RIDE
• 3-4 Hour Daily Training Rides (Extra’s available each day)

Payments

ADVANCED BOOKING DEPOSIT:
$750 reserves your spot on the 5 Day Belgie Training Camp.

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

$385.00 AUD – $2,900.00 AUD

Bike Hire

Take the hassle out of traveling with your bike and hire a bike for our 5 Day Spring Classics Tour.

spring classics race
Spring classics riders corner
spring classics finish
spring classics rider on cobble stones
spring classics flanders museum
Meet your guides for our 2020 Spring Classics Tour
Pat Fitzpatrick - Ride International Tours
Directeur Sportif - Pat Fitzpatrick [AUS]
Phil Anderson
Team Leader - Phil Anderson

Pat and Grace worked tirelessly to make sure everyone’s needs and expectations were met

S. Charlton (2015)Queensland, Australia

A big thanks to you for making my trip, as a non-rider, very memorable

L. Green (2010) New Zealand

Grace and Pat go above and beyond to make sure you have a good time

Steph W. (2015, 2014 & 2013)NSW, Australia

Nothing was too much trouble, their demeanour was always cheery

Andrew S. (2014)Melbourne, Australia

Knowledgeable, multilingual, always helpful, a great team

Tommy. E (2016, 2014, 2013, 2012)USA

Grace is the most organised of guides, no request is too unusual or difficult

A. Saunders (2017)Victoria, Australia

You took care of my wife wonderfully… I am grateful and appreciative

David S. (2016)Canada

Thanks very much for a highly enjoyable and excellently run tour

Daren A. (2012)QLD, Australia

Grace and Pat are remarkable. Thank you so much!

Claudia H. (2104)Canada

Grace… you are warm, inclusive and infectious in your enthusiasm

John H. (2014)Australia

Pat and his team did an absolutely brilliant job

L. Hocking (2015)Victoria, Australia

Big thanks to Grace & Patrick… we had a Brilliant time

Andrew E (2016)Australia

The trip ran like clock work… all we had to worry about was enjoying ourselves

Ben K. (2013)NSW, Australia

Grace… you are still as efficient and organised as always

Richard B. (2016, 2012)Western Australia

Pat’s leadership gave everyone what they needed

Peter F. (2010)New Zealand

Our Tour

Our Spring Classics Belgie Training Camp Tour provides the ideal mix of “ride more – transfer less”.

The proximity of our Team Hotel in the Belgium to the Netherlands border region allows us to cross the borders with ease. Our “Belgie Training Camp”, is the ideal way to ride plenty each day, recover off the bike, combined with plenty of time available each afternoon to explore Belgium and the local area.

You’ll have your fill of riding, optional extra rides are available each day for those that are keen for more. Plus we visit many places of interest including a small local Belgium Brewery, Chocolatiers, Local Artisan Producers, Bike Stores, lovely cafe’s / coffee shops and take a scenic tour of Brugge. Let us know your passions, interests and things you’d like to see and do, we have plenty of great recommendations for Brugge and Belgium.

We’ll see different aspects of Belgium, the Netherlands, mixed with a cultural, historic, culinary and beverage experience. April is a beautiful time to visit and ride, there’s plenty of seasonal produce available, along with the bursts of Spring flowers.

The atmosphere, passion and knowledge of the fans in Belgium and the Netherlands is unrivalled, they create an electric atmosphere. We’ll show you the smaller roads, ride classic roads, see famous monuments, picture postcard villages, beautiful cities and stay in a lovely hotel.

There’s something endearing about riding a bike in Belgium, it’s a country practically born and raised on bike racing. The terrain is almost purpose-built for cyclists, cycle racing and cycling is still regarded as the nation’s number one sport in Spring.

Our Spring Classics tours are led by our experienced team who’ve been hosting tours to these races and areas for many years, we’ll get you up close and personal with the Pro riders to experience the excitement first hand. We know how to get the best out of your riding, Spring Classics experience, all in a safe, supported, team like environment.

This tour is perfect for passionate cyclists, cycling fans, non cyclist, non cycling partners or people who’d like to do a bit of riding and race watching. $750 (per person) reserves your spot for the 2020 Spring Classics Belgie Training Camp. Come ride with us, we’re the Spring Classics experts.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Spring Classics in April.
Ciao Pat, Grace, Phil and the Team

TOUR INCLUSIONS:

  • Spacious Cycling Friendly Four Star Accommodation.
  • Daily breakfasts (Evening Meals, Lunches, Drinks Etc As Per Detailed Itinerary Below).
  • 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 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 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

5 DAY ITINERARY

2020 Belgie Training Camp – Spring Classics Tour With Phil Anderson

DAY 1 – MONDAY, 6TH APRIL 2019

Pick Up – Brugge Train Station: 11am
Our Ride Start: 1pm
Ride Distance: 40km Climbing: 200m
4.30pm: Explore Brugge walk. 90minutes.
7.30pm: Informal Social Dinner, meet hotel lobby (non inclusion)

About our day: Arrival Day – Beautiful Brugge 

Welcome to Belgium, The Spring Classics and our Belgie Training Camp.

This morning we’ll meet you and your luggage at the Brugge Train Station. The Brugge station is very well connected with regular services to all of Belgium’s main train stations, Brussels – Paris and Amsterdam International Airports. From Brugge train station, it’s a very short transfer to our Team Hotel.

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 etc onto your hire bike.

After a quick bite to each for lunch, on the bike, we’ll ride from our Team Hotel on a ride designed by Phil Anderson on some of his old training roads around Brugge. If you’re non cycling after lunch there’s some time to explore the lovely old town area of Brugge

Late in the day we’ll regroup for our “Explore Brugge walk”, 90 minutes duration.

Non-cycling options:

Today, 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 things of interest to you to do and see in Beautiful Brugge.

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

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Our Ride:  Welcome Day Ride

Ride Start: 1pm • Distance: 40km • Climbing: 200m

Our welcome ride starts from our Team Hotel, it’s a nice way to get your body moving on the bike after travelling to Belgium. We’ll ride on flatter roads with a mixture of small country roads through quaint villages, ride along canals, bikeways and we’ll include a pave/ cobble skills session enroute.

We’ll take a scenic ride through Brugge’s old center as we head back toward 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: Discover Brugge

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 many great options of Belgium beer, many  are only available locally.

Dinner:

7.30pm: Informal Social Welcome Dinner, meet hotel lobby (non inclusion). We’ll make a plan for dinner – feel free to join us and meet fellow guests and staff 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 Old Town.
1 of 4 Nights

TdF Motorola

DAY 2 – TUESDAY, 7TH APRIL 2019

Breakfast: From 7.30am
Our Ride Start: 8.45am
Ride Distances: 45km-90km. (3 – 4 hours)

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.

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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 3 – WEDNESDAY, 8TH APRIL 2019

Breakfast: From 7am
Our Ride Start: 8.15am
Vehicle Depart: 8.30am
Ride Distances: 45km – 75km (extra’s available) – 150m climbing

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.

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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 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 4 – THURSDAY, 9TH APRIL 2019

Breakfast: From 7.30am
Our Ride Start: 9am
Ride Distances: 45km – 85km (Extra’s available)

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. 

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Our Ride:  

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

This morning we headout 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

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DAY 5 – FRIDAY, 10TH APRIL 2019

Breakfast: From 7am-8am
Vehicles Depart: 8am
Transfer to Brugge Train Station – Arrive: 8.15am

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

Anderson
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.

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.

* PLEASE NOTE: For Phil Anderson to attend this tour, there needs to be a minimum of 4 guests booked. In the event that Phil does not attend this tour, our experienced, professional team of Australian and local on and off-bike guides will host your tour.

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
11

Years of Experience

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