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EXPERIENCE THE COBBLES
OF FLANDERS & PARIS ROUBAIX
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TAKE IN THE HISTORY
OF BELGIUM & NORTHERN FRANCE
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CHEER ON LEGENDS
AT THE WORLD CX CHAMPIONSHIPS
BoC Cobbles & Cross Flandrien Weekender
A weekend like no other. The Cobbles & Cross Weekender is a unique cycling event from Band of Climbers Escapes. Enjoy 3 days of cycling around the legendary cobbled climbs and roads of the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix, plus, spend a day at the cyclocross world championships in Northern France, and see MVDP, Wout Van Aert and co. battle it out for the illustrious rainbow jersey.
2 FINAL PLACES REMAINING
ESCAPE DATES : JAN 30TH TO FEB 3RD
BoC Cobbles & Cross Flandrien Weekender
BoC Cobbles & Cross Flandrien Weekender
TOTAL PRICE : £950. £150 DEPOSIT SECURES YOUR ENTRY WITH A FINAL BALANCE OF £800 DUE BEFORE DECEMBER 15TH 2024.
Escape Pricing
Escape Pricing
£150 non refundable deposit secures your place on the Escape in a shared room.
£350 non refundable deposit secures your place on the Escape in a single room. (includes single room occupancy)
After the Deposit is paid, your place is guaranteed. The final balance is due for payment before December 15th 2024.
Refund Policy
Refund Policy
Please view our cancellation and refund policy. We offer a simple and flexible policy which allows you to simply transfer to any other future Escape in the current or following calendar year (subject to availability) should you need to cancel, even at short notice.
BoC COBBLES & CROSS ITINERARY
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DAY ONE
50km
Prologue
Day one on any BoC Escape is about arriving at the hotel and preparing for the days ahead. After your transfer from Brussels or Oudenaarde we'll build our bikes, and head out for an afternoon spin, taking us on the local roads of Flanders. We'll finish with the same route of the Tour of Flanders, crossing the Oude Kwaremont + the Paterberg before the sprint back to the hotel.
CLIMBS + COBBLES
Oude Kwaremont
Paterberg
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DAY TWO
120km + 1600m
The Flemish Ardennes
A beautiful route today as we cross the Flemish Ardennes and take on one of the legendary climbs of Flanders, the Muur van Geraardsbergen and it's 20% cobbled slope. But that's not the only climb on the menu, as we'll also face many of Flanders tougher ascents on a twisting, turning route around West Flanders.
CLIMBS + COBBLES
Berendries
Bosberg
Eikenberg
Muur van Geraardsbergen
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DAY THREE
160km + 1100m
Crossing Borders to Roubaix
Today is a big day, with 160km (100 miles) across many of the most famous cobbled sectors of both the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix combined.
The route takes us out of Oudenaarde across the infamous climbs of the Koppenberg, Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg, before it joins the run into the Roubaix Velodrome via Carrefour de l'Arbre and more. After a sprint around the Velodrome, we return to Oudenaarde via the scenic riverside paths.
CLIMBS + COBBLES
Taainberg
Kruisburg
Oude Kwaremont
Paterberg
Camphin en Pévèle
Carrefour de l'Arbre
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DAY FOUR
0km but many frites
Cyclocross World Championships
The cyclocross world championships has to be one of the greatest spectacles in cycling. Even if you're not a huge cyclocross fan, the atmosphere of this event is incredible. It's loud, it's busy, it's massively entertaining and it's an experience like no other in cycling. That's before we mention the beer tents!
Watch heroes such as Mathieu Van der Poel, Wout Van Aert and Tom Pidcock battle it out on the cross fields of Northern France with frites, mayo and beer.Tickets to the Cyclocross World Championships included
THE HEART OF FLANDERS
The BoC Cobbles and Cross weekend is based right in the heart of Flanders, Oudenaarde. As well as riding, we'll take in the history of the sport at the Flanders Museum, drink Belgian Beer in the main square, and stroll around the town taking in the sights and sounds of the city.
4 Nights Accommodation
Our base for the Cobbles and Cross weekender is the 4* Boutique Leopold Hotel in the centre of Oudenaarde. Your stay includes daily continental breakfasts, and evening buffet dinners on 3 nights. Dinner on night 4 is not included as we'll dine at a local restaurant for our final evening after the CX World Championships.
Supported by BoC Ride Leaders
Ride with the BoC Founder and trusted ride guide team as we help you enjoy the very best of Flanders and Roubaix. Our local knowledge and experience of attending major CX events, and riding the roads of Northern Europe will help you enjoy the event even more.
KEY DETAILS + INCLUSIONS
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
- 4 nights accommodation in a shared twin room in the 4* Leopld Hotel in Oudenaarde (single room available with a supplement)
- Daily continental breakfasts
- 3 Evening buffet dinners
- Daily supported rides and mechanical support/rescue
- Ride Guides from Band of Climbers
- Standard Tickets to the Cyclocross World Championships
- Transport to and from the World Championships (as a group)
- All energy gels, drinks and bars from OTE Sports
- Airport transfers to and from Brussels Airport OR Oudenaarde Train Station to our hotel
- 1 x Exclusive Band of Climbers Escapes Jersey
- 1 x Exclusive BoC Cobbles & Cross T-shirt
- Comprehensive Digital Road Book with all GPX / Strava Files for each ride
- Printed Road Book to keep as a souvenir
- Early access to book any BoC Escape the following year
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
- Flights or travel to Belgium
- Personal Travel or Bike Insurance
- Spare parts or equipment
- Medical Cover
- Bike hire
- Coffee or lunch/cafe bought snacks during rides
- Drinks over dinner
- One evening meal on Sunday 2nd January - dinner at a local restaurant
- Additional nights accommodation if arriving early or departing late
RECOMMENDED TRAVEL PLANS
FLIGHT ARRIVALS : Please fly into Brussels Airport BEFORE 10.30am on Thursday 30th Jan 2025, in order to join our scheduled transfer for our riders at circa 11am.
OR
TRAIN ARRIVALS : Please arrive into Oudenaarde Train Station BEFORE 11.45am on Thursday 30th Jan 2025, in order to join our scheduled transfer for our riders at circa 12pm.
FLIGHT DEPARTURES : Please book a return flight AFTER 8am from Brussels Airport on Monday 3rd February to your chosen destination. Our scheduled transfer is based on the earliest flight time of all guests. But your flight should not be before 8am am due to the transfer time to the airport (1 Hour). We recommend a flight time from 8am to 12pm to avoid a long wait at the airport.
TRAIN DEPARTURES : Please book a return train between 7am and 10am from Oudenaarde on Monday 3rd February to your chosen destination.
BoC Cobbles & Cross Flandrien Weekender
FAQ'S
How fit do I need to be?
BoC Escapes are not races, they're an adventure. We ride socially, with a cafe/coffee stop midway through each ride.
That said, BoC Escapes are tough. You'll ride 6 back to back big days with up to 4000m of climbing (13,000ft) per day.
We would suggest you should be capable of climbing for at least 90 minutes at a gradient of 7% without stopping. Average speeds are very difficult to gauge, but most riders on our Escapes will average at least 10kph per hour (6mph) on a climb of 7%. Some will ride much quicker of course, but you are free to ride at your own pace.
We would suggest the trip is for intermediate or above level riders, or those with at least some experience of riding in the mountains and a decent level of fitness. At no point will any rider be left behind on their own for too long, as our guides will be on the road with you at all times and will always be close by.
We aim to ride as a group, although on long climbs we usually split up, before regrouping at the summits, or cafe stops if the temperatures at the summits are too cold.
Of course, some riders will be faster than others, but we try to keep any waiting times between the first and last riders reaching the summits to a minimum. You are free to ride at your own speed. This is not a race. It's a chance to test your own legs at your own pace.
Can I attend as a solo rider?
Absolutely! Around 95% of all our Escape riders come on their own. Making new friendships is a big part of our Escapes.
How do shared rooms work?
1. We do not mix males and females in shared rooms (unless booked as a couple or on request by both parties)
2. All rooms are twin beds, with en suite bathrooms
3. Rooms are allocated at random, unless booked as pairs or couples.
4. We can allocate rooms to friends on request (email us once booked)
5. If we have one single female, on a trip of 10 male riders, the female will be given a single room, to avoid sharing with a male (unless requested). Likewise, if we have a trip with 10 females, a solo male will be given a single room.
6. 95% of our guests come as solo riders. Making new friendships is a big part of our Escapes.
Can I have a Single Room?
A single room is available with a supplement of £200. Only a small number of single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. To book a single room, select the single room option when booking online.
What support is available?
You will have 2-3 BoC ride guides on the road with you at all times. We'll ride with the group, and ensure no rider is left behind.
We'll also provide mechanical support in the event of bike issues.
Is bike rental available?
We can help you to rent a road bike in all of our Escape Destinations.
We can offer Basso Bike Rental in Mallorca, the Dolomites and the French Alps.
We do not rent bikes ourselves, but we have recommended rental partners in each destination and we can assist in the rental, pickup and return of your bike.
Are meals included?
All of our Escapes include Breakfasts and evening meals. In most locations, a set menu is offered with a 3 to 5 course evening dinner. Wine and Beer is included in some locations, but alcoholic drinks are extra in others.
We can cater for all dietary requirements including vegetarian, vegan, gluten free etc...
Each day, we eat breakfast and dinner together, around one table. This allows further friendships to form away from the road. The dining experience is a big part of our Escapes!
Lunch is not included, as we stop at a cafe mid way around each ride. A typical lunch stop will take 30-40 minutes, and you are free to eat/drink whatever you choose from our planned cafe.
Cancellations and Refunds
Please view our cancellation and refund policy. We offer a simple and flexible policy which allows you to simply transfer to any other future Escape (subject to availability) should you need to cancel, even at short notice.
Who is a typical Escape rider?
Our riders travel from all over the world. We've had riders from South America, Australia, Asia, North America and across Europe. usually very keen cyclists, most Escape riders are aged between 25 and 55, although we've had younger, and older too!
Most riders travel individually, but we've had small groups of friends, married couples, mother and daughter and father son combos too! Everyone is welcome on a BoC Escape in a fully inclusive and supportive group.
Can I bring a non riding partner?
You can bring a non riding partner, they are more than welcome to enjoy the location at their own pace whilst you're out riding.