Oude Kwaremont
Kluisbergen, Belgium
The Oude Kwaremont is a col with a length of 2.1 kilometer. This is a category 4 col. It is located in Kluisbergen, Vlaanderen, Belgium. The average grade of this col is 4.6% with a maximum of 10%. The Oude Kwaremont ascents from 19 meter at the start, to 111 meter at the top, with a total of 92 ascending meters.
Profile
Facts
| Distance | 2.1 km |
| Elevation gain | 92 m |
| Average grade | 4.6 % |
| Maximum grade | 10 % |
| Climb category | 4 |
| Minimum elevation | 19 m |
| Maximum elevation | 111 m |
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Description
There is a Kwaremont and an Oude Kwaremont. The first was in the beginning of the Ronde van Vlaanderen part of the course, but after it was asphalted, this was the reason for the organizers to go for the Oude Kwaremont from 1974 onwards. The old Kwaremont was initially a farmer's path, covered with cobblestones, At the time it was the gateway to the final, and nowadays together with the Paterberg it is the crucial obstacle in the final battle. On top of the Kwaremont - in the Ronde van Vlaanderenstraat - there is the monument of Karel Van Wijnendaele, founder and inspirer of the Ronde.
The true Flandrien always emerges at the Oude Kwaremont", said Marc Sergeant, sports manager of Lotto-Soudal. This climb has everything that symbolizes racing in Flanders. The wringing on life and death in the run-up, a fearsome climb on the cobblestones. Then you think you're at the top and you have to climb a piece of false flat with your face in the wind, still over cobblestones."
Three times winner of the Tour of Flanders Johan Museeuw calls the Oude Kwaremont crucial in the new course that since 2012 marks the final of 'Vlaanderens Mooiste': In the new race course of the Tour of Flanders, the Old Kwaremont is unpredictable. It is a long, not so steep climb where a tactical game can be played. Everyone is racing there with the idea that there is another climb to follow, the Paterberg. So everyone at the Kwaremont knows that you need some energy remaining. Nevertheless, some people play all or nothing. How are you supposed to react to that?"
Peter Sagan considers this the worst climb in Flanders. Maybe it's also because of his negative experience in the Tour of Flanders in 2017 when he fell because he got caught in a jacket that hung over a fence. "When you're at the top of the village, you think you're there," Sagan said. But then there's a difficult part that's less steep, but the wind always has a grip on you. For a kilometer you ride uphill on the cobblestones between the meadows. There doesn't seem to be an end to the climb."
Sep Vanmarcke lives about ten kilometres from the Oude Kwaremont and regularly trains there: "It's my favorite climb. Not too heavy, fairly long and cobblestones. You can use your strength well here. Of course you have to have the technique to ride over cobblestones. That is a reason why many riders hate the Oude Kwaremont. Probably that's an advantage for me."
Former rider and current team leader Hendrik Redant: "The Kwaremont is always a crucial indicator of value in cycling. Are you a fighter or not? Or as the Belgians say: do you have balls or not?”
- Ronde van Vlaanderen: 1974-2021
- Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: 1975, 1977-’85, 1987-2003, 2005-2018
- E3 Harelbeke 2013-2016
- Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne 2017-2021
- Record Bank E3 Harelbeke 2017, 2018
- Dwars door Vlaanderen
- Dwars door de Vlaamse Ardennen 2018
- E3 Binckbank Classic 2019