Koppenberg
Oudenaarde, Belgium
The Koppenberg is a col with a length of 563 meter. This is a category 4 col. It is located in Oudenaarde, Vlaanderen, Belgium. The average grade of this col is 11.4% with a maximum of 19.6%. The Koppenberg ascents from 16 meter at the start, to 77 meter at the top, with a total of 61 ascending meters.
Profile
Facts
| Distance | 563 m |
| Elevation gain | 61 m |
| Average grade | 11.4 % |
| Maximum grade | 19.6 % |
| Climb category | 4 |
| Minimum elevation | 16 m |
| Maximum elevation | 77 m |
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Description
The riders actually strangle themselves via the western flank of the infamous hump from Melden to the top via the Rotelenberg and the Steengat. Only then, a long way beyond the summit, on the eastern flank from which they descend, will it officially become Koppenberg. When Gent-Wevelgem sent his peloton over this slope in 1977, there was only talk of Steengat on the official signpost.
The danger of the Ronde's narrow and badly surfaced hills came close to tragedy when Danish rider Jesper Skibby was hit from behind by an official's car and fell onto a roadside bank, still strapped into his pedals. The official's car then tried to pass him and ran over Skibby's back wheel, narrowly missing his leg. The race official continued to the finish, where he was met by angry spectators throwing mud, cups and stones at his car. The incident overshadowed the victory of Claude Criquielion, the first French-speaking Belgian winner of the Tour of Flanders.
Ronde van Vlaanderen: 1976-1987, 2002-2006, 2008-2021
Gent-Wevelgem (1x): 1977
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne (1x): 1977