tour of flanders finish town

Results and Highlights from the 2024 Tour of Flanders

The world champion attacked on the Koppenberg and he was no match for the rest of the riders in the Ronde van Vlaanderen.

Grey skies and consistent rain: it must be the Tour of Flanders.

The conditions were fitting for the the second Monument of the season—arguably the best of the bunch. The 2024 Ronde van Vlaanderen brought more thrills as we continue to chug through the best part of the cycling season.

Here’s how both the men’s and women’s races played out at the 2024 Tour of Flanders.

Van der Poel captures record-tying third Flanders victory

Mathieu van der Poel won the 2024 Tour of Flanders, making his definitive move with 43 kilometers to go, and once he did, he left no doubt about it.

It was a vintage cycling scene up the brutal cobbled Koppenberg with 43km to go in the race. It was there that it was all blown apart. Van der Poel laid waste to the rest of the field up the treacherous climb, that gets as steep as 22% at its worst. While many of the riders had to dismount their bikes and try to run up the hill, van der Poel (have you heard he’s a cyclocross star?) stormed ahead. His advantage only grew after that, and it quickly became apparent that it was a race for second.

The world champion and Alpecin-Deceuninck leader solo’d for the last hour of the race. It’s van der Poel’s third win at the Tour of Flanders, tying six others for the most wins in the Momument’s history.

Pedersen tried some interesting tactics to try and steal it from van der Poel. The Ghent-Wevelgem winner from a few weeks ago gapped the peloton with over 86km to go. He was able to establish an advantage over 25 seconds, but was eventually reeled back in before the Paterberg.

Luca Mozzato (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) was a surprise second place, out-sprinting a strong field of riders at the end to grab a podium spot, 1:02 behind van der Poel. Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) was third in the same time with Michael Matthews (Team Jayco-AlUla) relegated.

9 years after her first Flanders victory, Longo Borghini wins for a record second time

While the men’s race lacked drama in the final hour, the women’s race packed a ton of action into the last 45 kilometers, once the riders got on the nasty Koppenberg. In the end, Elisa Longo Borghini sprinted to the win—with the help of a teammate—to win the Tour of Flanders for the second time in her career, nine years after winning the race in 2015.

Longo Borghini won a three rider sprint to the finish over her Lidl-Trek teammate Shirin van Anrooij and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon–SRAM). Van Anrooji provided the leadout for Longo Borghini, who seized the opportunity at the end and out-sprinted Niewiadoma for the victory.

Longo Borghini is the fifth rider to win the Tour of Flanders twice. No rider has ever won three. It was a 1-3 finish for the Lidl-Trek squad to cap off a big day for the team.

The Koppenberg proved to be a pivotal moment in the race. The unbelievably steep climb—made no easier by wet and rainy conditions—claimed many victims. It broke the race apart, with two-time defending champion Lotte Kopecky, as well as her SD Worx-Protime teammate Demi Vollering, among many others losing ground

Those two, along with van Anrooij, were able to make their way back to the lead group. Van Anrooij wasted no time and launched an attack off the front when the chasers rejoined the lead group. From there, she was able to gap the field.

With 12km to go, Longo Borghini and Niewiadoma caught van Anrooij, and the chase group—including Kopecky, Vollering, and Marianne Vos—didn’t have the power to bridge the gap to the three leaders and it set up to be a three-rider race to the finish.

Longo Borghini handled the Koppenberg well, and rode arguably the most consistent race of the other contenders in the race. Surely, that helped her in the end, as she was able to catch van Anrooji for the run into the finish, and sprint to the win.

There was no three-peat for the world champion Kopecky, who won Flanders in 2022 and 2023. Going for a record third win in the classic, she spent much of the latter part of the race chasing down gaps. Vos took fourth, winning the sprint of the best of the rest on the day.

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Advantage Mathieu van der Poel and Lotte Kopecky at the Tour of Flanders

All the information you need ahead of the biggest Belgian Classic of the year

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• Men's start list
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Fans of the Tour of Flanders will be denied another showdown between Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease A Bike) this year, after the Belgian sustained multiple fractures in a heavy crash during Dwars door Vlaanderen.

It leaves Van der Poel as the clear favourite, with on-song Dane Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) stepping into the breach as the rider most likely to challenge the imperious Dutchman.

With reigning champion Tadej Pogačar from this year's startlist, the two men will feel more confident. But a Classics win is always reliant on a certain amount of luck, and Van der Poel and Pedersen certainly won't have it all their own way.

Meanwhile the women's race is also something of a clash of the titans, with two-time winner and defending champion Lotte Kopecky and her SD Worx-Protime team-mate forming a potent pairing who will nevertheless have to contend with the likes of Dwars door Vlaanderen winner Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease A Bike) and British hopeful Pfeiffer Georgi (dsm-firmenich PostNL) among others.

This year sees Antwerp take over from Bruges as the alternating host city of the race. The route remains broadly similar to previous years, with greater use of wider roads early on to help prevent crashes being the only change.

For the men, the first berg of 17 will be the Oude Kwaremont, tackled after 137km of racing, while the Wolvenberg at the 72km point is the first of 12 such tests in the women’s race. The Wolvenberg is where both men's and women's races converge, after which the climbs come thick and fast.

It's the final one-two punch of Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg that often proves the most decisive. Controversial when first devised in 2012, particularly as it meant the omission of the iconic Muur van Geraardsbergen, this finale has since won fans over with its own unique character, which is also influenced by the double punch of the long, gradual Kwaremont and the short yet ultra-steep Paterberg.

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Tour of Flanders 2024 Key Info

Date: March 31 2024 Location: Antwerp 2023 winners: Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates, men); Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx, women) TV: Discovery+ / Eurosport Distance: 270km (men); 163km (women)

Tour of Flanders 2024 route

This year's men's race continues the annual trading game between Bruges and Antwerp, with the latter hosting the start on Sunday. Riders will find bigger roads than before waiting for them as they begin the long haul south-west towards berg country.

The fun begins with the first of three passes of the Oude Kwaremont, and the climbs come thick and fast after that as the race follows a spaghetti-like parcours around the hills of Flanders just south-east of the finish town of Oudenaarde. On the way they take in famous climbs including the Wolvenberg, Molenberg, Berendries and the Koppenberg on the way to a total 17 climbs, finishing with the one-two of the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg with 13 flat kilometres to the line.

The women begin in Oudenaarde, where both races finish. They first head north-east away from the city to complete a circuit of the flatter terrain around Zottegem, looping back towards Oudenaarde to begin the day's climbing at 72km with the Wolvenberg. A similarly serpentine route to that of the men sees them tackle a total 12 classified climbs, including the Molenberg, Berendries and the Koppenberg, along with that final Kwaremont/Paterberg one-two at the end.

Tour of Flanders 2024: Riders to watch

Mathieu van der Poel Alpecin-Deceuninck ***** The Dutch rider looks imperious this season – always at or near the head of affairs in every race he has ridden and with a win at the E3 Saxo Classic and second at Gent-Wevelgem under his belt already. He's had a mercurial last couple of seasons, but covered himself in glory in the Classics last year and seems to be set to repeat the feat this time around. The fact that Wout van Aert has now been ruled out – albeit in very unfortunate circumstances that VDP would not have wished for – won't exactly hurt his chances either.

Tiesj Benoot Visma-Lease A Bike *** With Benoot's team-mate and compatriot Wout van Aert recovering from a nasty crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen and other team-mates like Dylan Van Baarle having been ill, this could be Benoot's opportunity to step up from nearly man to winner at Flanders. He has been fifth here before – back in 2015 – and won Strade Bianche in 2018 . With a following wind and a bit of luck a podium, or even a win, here is not beyond him.

Mads Pedersen Lidl-Trek **** The Dane was third here last year and eighth the year before that. Considering that he seems to be in the form of his life – and the absence of one of his main Classics rivals, Wout van Aert – what's to say that Pedersen cannot finally achieve victory in what is one of the most revered one-day races of the season. Pedersen proves himself to be ever-more versatile, with overall wins in the Etoile de Bessèges and Tour de la Provence stage races, plus the more recent Gent-Wevelgem already this season.

Lotte Kopecky SD Worx-Protime ***** Of all the cards the Belgian team could play, right now Kopecky looks like the most likely to bring them success. She has been a playmaker in pretty much every race she has entered this season and already has four wins under her belt, including Strade Bianche . Riding alongside her, and even for her, will be at least four other potential victors – Demi Vollering, Marlen Reusser and Lorena Wiebes – ready to take over if Kopecky falters.

Elisa Longo Borghini Lidl-Trek **** The Italian has amassed a huge palmarès across Classics and stage races alike, despite spending most of her career riding in the company (under the shadow?) of greats like Annemiek van Vleuten and Anna van der Breggen. She has Lotte Kopecky to deal with these days, but that hasn't stopped the 32-year-old from putting in a solid shift so far this season already, with podiums at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Strade Bianche, and a win at Trofeo Oro in Euro.

Kasia Niewiadoma Canyon-SRAM **** The reigning gravel world champion was left heartbroken after missing out on a podium spot at Strade Bianche earlier this month. That was her most recent result, and one she may be eager to atone for at the Tour of Flanders this weekend. She was fifth here last year – the latest in a litany of top-10s stretching back 10 years. The Polish rider looks to be on form, with five top-seven finishes out of six race days this season, though there is of course the small matter of the SD Worx team standing between her and a win at Flanders.

Tour of Flanders 2024 men's start list

Alpecin-Deceuninck VAN DER POEL Mathieu PHILIPSEN Jasper BALLERSTEDT Maurice GROVES Kaden KRAGH ANDERSEN Søren DILLIER Silvan VERMEERSCH Gianni

Intermarché-Wanty GIRMAY Biniam DE POOTER Dries PAGE Hugo PETIT Adrien REX Laurenz TEUNISSEN Mike ZIMMERMANN Georg

Soudal Quick-Step ALAPHILIPPE Julian ASGREEN Kasper LAMPAERT Yves MOSCON Gianni PEDERSEN Casper VANGHELUWE Warre WARLOP Jordi

Team Visma-Lease a Bike AFFINI Edoardo BENOOT Tiesj JORGENSON Matteo VAN DIJKE Mick VAN DIJKE Tim TRATNIK Jan VAN BAARLE Dylan

Arkéa-B&B Hotels SÉNÉCHAL Florian GRONDIN Donavan ALBANESE Vincenzo MCLAY Daniel MOZZATO Luca SCOTSON Miles

Astana Qazaqstan Team BOL Cees BRUSSENSKIY Gleb FEDOROV Yevgeniy GAZZOLI Michele GIDICH Yevgeniy GRUZDEV Dmitriy SYRITSA Gleb

Bahrain-Victorious MOHORIČ Matej GOVEKAR Matevž GRADEK Kamil MIHOLJEVIĆ Fran PASQUALON Andrea WRIGHT Fred BURATTI Nicolò

BORA-Hansgrohe KOCH Jonas MEEUS Jordi HALLER Marco HERZOG Emil LÜHRS Luis-Joe DENZ Nico MULLEN Ryan VAN POPPEL Danny

Cofidis ALLEGAERT Piet DE GENDT Aimé DEBEAUMARCHÉ Nicolas MAHOUDO Nolann NOPPE Christophe RENARD Alexis ZINGLE Axel

Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale GAUTHERAT Pierre BOASSON HAGEN Edvald NAESEN Oliver DE BONDT Dries DE PESTEL Sander POLLEFLIET Gianluca TOUZÉ Damien TRONCHON Bastien

EF Education-EasyPost BETTIOL Alberto BISSEGGER Stefan DOULL Owain HONORÉ Mikkel Frølich POWLESS Neilson RUTSCH Jonas VALGREN Michael

Groupama-FDJ KÜNG Stefan ASKEY Lewis BYSTRØM Sven Erik LE GAC Olivier MADOUAS Valentin RUSSO Clément WATSON Samuel

INEOS Grenadiers TARLING Joshua NARVÁEZ Jhonatan ROWE Luke SHEFFIELD Magnus SWIFT Ben SWIFT Connor TURNER Ben

Lidl-Trek HOOLE Daan PEDERSEN Mads DECLERCQ Tim KIRSCH Alex MILAN Jonathan SKUJIŅŠ Toms STUYVEN Jasper THEUNS Edward

Movistar LAZKANO Oier CANAL Carlos CAVAGNA Rémi GARCÍA CORTINA Iván JACOBS Johan MILESI Lorenzo ROMEO Iván

Team dsm-firmenich PostNL DEGENKOLB John BEVIN Patrick BITTNER Pavel EDDY Patrick EEKHOFF Nils FLYNN Sean MÄRKL Niklas

Team Jayco AlUla MATTHEWS Michael DURBRIDGE Luke JANSEN Amund Grøndahl MEZGEC Luka O'BRIEN Kelland REINDERS Elmar WALSCHEID Max

UAE Team Emirates WELLENS Tim OLIVEIRA Ivo BJERG Mikkel COVI Alessandro HIRSCHI Marc MORGADO António POLITT Nils

Israel-Premier Tech FUGLSANG Jakob BOIVIN Guillaume HOULE Hugo NEILANDS Krists STEWART Jake TEUNS Dylan VAN ASBROECK Tom

Lotto-Dstny BEULLENS Cedric CAMPENAERTS Victor DE BUYST Jasper EENKHOORN Pascal GRIGNARD Sébastien VAN MOER Brent BERCKMOES Jenno

Uno-X Mobility KRISTOFF Alexander ABRAHAMSEN Jonas HOELGAARD Markus BLUME LEVY William RESELL Erik Nordsæter TILLER Rasmus WÆRENSKJOLD Søren

Bingoal-WB DE MEESTER Luca DE TIER Floris DESAL Ceriel VAN BOVEN Luca VAN ROOY Kenneth VAN DER BEKEN Aaron VERMOOTE Jelle

Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team CHRISTEN Fabio DEVRIENDT Tom LUDVIGSSON Tobias STEIMLE Jannik ZUKOWSKY Nickolas

Team Flanders-Baloise CLAEYS Arno COLMAN Alex DE VYLDER Lindsay DE WILDE Gilles DEWEIRDT Siebe VAN HEMELEN Vincent VANHOOF Ward VANDENSTORME Dylan

Tudor Pro Cycling Team TRENTIN Matteo BOHLI Tom ERIKSSON Jacob KELEMEN Petr KRIEGER Alexander MAYRHOFER Marius PLUIMERS Rick

Tour of Flanders 2024 women's start list

Team SD Worx-Protime VOLLERING Demi KOPECKY Lotte BREDEWOLD Mischa REUSSER Marlen MAJERUS Christine WIEBES Lorena

AG Insurance-Soudal Team BOOGAARD Maaike BORGSTRÖM Julia GOOSSENS Marthe (LE COURT) PIENAAR Kimberley PLUIMERS Ilse RIJNBEEK Maud

Canyon//SRAM Racing NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna CROMWELL Tiffany CHABBEY Elise DYGERT Chloe PALADIN Soraya TOWERS Alice

CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team ARZUFFI Alice Maria BERTON Nina FIDANZA Arianna JASKULSKA Marta KERBAOL Cédrine LACH Marta

FDJ-SUEZ GUAZZINI Vittoria ADEGEEST Loes CURINIER Léa KRAAK Amber VERHULST-WILD Gladys WIEL Jade

Fenix-Deceuninck PIETERSE Puck CANT Sanne COUZENS Millie DE WILDE Julie KASTELIJN Yara KUIJPERS Evy SCHWEINBERGER Christina

Human Powered Health CORDON-RAGOT Audrey EDWARDS Ruth GROSSETÊTE Maëlle KASPER Romy WILLIAMS Lily RAGUSA Katia

Lidl-Trek LONGO BORGHINI Elisa BALSAMO Elisa BRAND Lucinda DEIGNAN Elizabeth HANSON Lauretta VAN ANROOIJ Shirin

Liv AlUla Jayco HOWE Georgie KOREVAAR Jeanne MANLY Alexandra PATE Amber PATERNOSTER Letizia SMULDERS Silke

Movistar SIERRA Arlenis BIANNIC Aude NORSGAARD Emma GUTIÉRREZ Sheyla MACKAIJ Floortje RUIZ PÉREZ Lucía

Roland CHRISTOFOROU Antri COLES-LYSTER Maggie COLLINELLI Sofia DRONOVA-BALABOLINA Tamara NGUYỄN Thị Thật PIRRONE Elena

Team dsm-firmenich PostNL GEORGI Pfeiffer BARALE Francesca KOCH Franziska NELSON Josie SMITH Abi CIABOCCO Eleonora

Team Visma-Lease a Bike VOS Marianne ACHTEREEKTE Carlijn NOOIJEN Lieke RIEDMANN Linda VAN EMPEL Fem VIGIE Margaux

Uno-X Mobility CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia ANDERSEN Susanne BARKER Elinor BERG EDSETH Marte BOILARD Simone KOSTER Anouska 

Cofidis ALZINI Martina BERTEAU Victoire FORTIN Valentine KERN Špela ROY Sarah VAN HAAFTEN Kirstie

Arkéa-B&B Hotels CLAES Lotte COLJÉ Maaike DRUMMOND Michaela FAHLIN Emilia MORICHON Anais SQUIBAN Maëva

Chevalmeire BEX Nathalie ERIKSEN Malin DOBBELAERE Jana KIEKENS Cleo NILSSON Hanna WATTS Emily

EF Education-Cannondale KESSLER Nina BORGHESI Letizia JACKSON Alison LABECKI Coryn RÜEGG Noemi FAULKNER Kristen

Lifeplus-Wahoo BURLOVÁ Kristýna FRANZ Heidi GONZÁLEZ Alicia HARRIS Ella RICHARDSON Kate RYSZ Kaja

Lotto Dstny Ladies DE JONG Thalita AINTILA Wilma DE KEERSMAEKER Audrey BASTIAENSSEN Fauve DOCX Mieke VAN DE GUCHTE Quinty

Proximus-Cyclis CT AERNOUTS Amber BOSKAMP Lente DE GROOT Marieke LÓPEZ Marga MEERTENS Lone VEERMAN Deborah

Team Coop-Repsol RÅNES BYE Camilla GRANGIER India GREENWOOD Monica HAUGSET Sigrid Ytterhus JØRGENSEN Tiril TACEY April

VolkerWessels DEMEY Valerie DIJKSTRA Anneke JANSEN Eline MEERT Marieke SOUREN Scarlett VANPACHTENBEKE Margot

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After cutting his teeth on local and national newspapers, James began at Cycling Weekly as a sub-editor in 2000 when the current office was literally all fields. 

Eventually becoming chief sub-editor, in 2016 he switched to the job of full-time writer, and covers news, racing and features.

A lifelong cyclist and cycling fan, James's racing days (and most of his fitness) are now behind him. But he still rides regularly, both on the road and on the gravelly stuff.

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Tour of Flanders: All the essential info for De Ronde

Everything you need to know about the men's and women's Ronde van Vlaanderen

Date: Sunday, March 31, 2024 Start: Antwerp, Belgium  Finish: Oudenaarde, Belgium Total distance: 270.8km (men), 163km (women) Defending champion : Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)

The Tour of Flanders began in 1913, marking this year as the race's 108th edition as there was no race from 1915 to 1918. A race defined by its tortuous twists, turns and narrow cobbled climbs, the Tour of Flanders, or Ronde van Vlaanderen, is arguably the finest of the Classics. The route may change slightly each year, but the hellingen that pack the region and define the race are a given, guaranteed to produce worthy winners of a true Monument. In the Ronde, only the strong survive. 

Founded by a young sports journalist named Karel Van Wijnendaele and founding member of the newspaper Sportwereld , Leon den Haute, they wanted to create something which was more than just a bike race.

While there are four other Monument races – Il Lombardia, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Milan-Sanremo – which hold such prestige and history in the WorldTour calendar, there is no other race which defines a nation quite like the Tour of Flanders. Unsurprisingly, the most victories come from Belgian riders, with a total of 69 wins out of the 107 editions. The winner of the inaugural edition was Belgian rider Paul Denman who rode for Automoto-Continental. Many years later, 104 to be exact, Philippe Gilbert became the most recent home winner of De Ronde, riding solo to the finish resplendent in the Belgian national champion's jersey.

In its long history, only a handful of riders have taken the title on multiple occasions. Riders including Achiel Buysse, Fiorenzo Magni, Eric Leman, Johan Museeuw, Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara have crossed the finish line first on three occasions. King of the cobbles, Boonen and Cancellara are the only riders to have achieved the cobbled Classics double (Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix), twice, making them legendary in both these races.

Last year’s winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) will not be back to defend his title, leaving the top step of the podium clear for another winner. However, four previous winners of the race will be back this year and there is one two-time winner of this Monument who will be looking to secure a third title, and that is Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). He looked unstoppable at E3 Saxo Classic, but was then beaten by Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) in Gent-Wevelgem a few days later. He’ll also have to face Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost) and Kasper Asgreen (Soudal–Quick-Step), as well as other potential contenders like Matej Mohorič (Bahrain-Victorious), Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek), and Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ).

Men’s Tour of Flanders 2024 teams: 

• Alpecin-Deceuninck
• Intermarché-Wanty
• Soudal–Quick-Step
• Visma-Lease a Bike
• Arkéa-B&B Hotels
• Astana Qazaqstan Team
• Bahrain-Victorious
• Bora-Hansgrohe 
• Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team
• EF Education-EasyPost
• Groupama-FDJ
• Ineos Grenadiers
• Team dsm-firmenich PostNL
• Jayco Alula
• UAE Team Emirates
• Israel-Premier Tech 
• Lotto Dstny
• Uno-X Mobility 
• Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
• Team Flanders-Baloise
• Tudor Pro Cycling Team

Men’s Tour of Flanders 2024 route: 

The Tour of Flanders returns to Antwerp after the course last year began in Bruges, but has seen some significant changes due to concerns over safety. So, this year’s race features more major roads and a different approach to the Koppenberg climb, 45km from the finish. Nevertheless, the race still comprises 270.8km of racing and 17, mostly cobbled, climbs. 

Starting in Antwerp, the first half of the race is fairly undulating but it isn’t until they approach the midway point of the race that it starts to heat up. After 136km of racing, they will approach the iconic Oude Kwaremont for the first time. Standing at 2.2km in length, the Oude Kwaremont is the longest climb in Flanders, and while its gradient is easier on the legs compared to other climbs, there is an 11.6% punch in the middle. After the halfway mark, the route intensifies and every 10km the peloton will face another cobbled challenge, offering little chance in between to recover. The Kapelleberg, Wolvenberg, Molenberg, and Valkenberg all come in quick succession and are a chance to thin the main peloton.

With 55km remaining, the riders will take on the iconic duo – Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg – for the first time. The two climbs feature again when the riders have just 20km remaining, so this is where we expect to see some decisive moments be made. Unlike the Oude Kwaremont, the Paterberg is a short but steep climb, with an eye-watering average gradient of 12.9%.  

The Tour of Flanders this year finishes with its usual flat run-in to Oudenaarde. If no rider has managed to break away from the main peloton, here is where we see the most dramatic racing as the riders all battle it out to the line for victory. 

Tour of Flanders Women

The Tour of Flanders held its first women's edition in 2004. The route was just 94km long – making it the shortest route in the race's history. It was only in 2016 that the women's race was awarded UCI WorldTour status and has since become one of the most anticipated races in the women's calendar. Its legendary status in Belgium and notoriously tricky parcours make it a spectacle year after year.

The women's race is held on the same day as the men's and finishes one hour after the men’s on the run-in to Oudenaarde. The route takes in much of the men's route, but has a different starting point. 

Last year, Belgian rider Lotte Kopecky won for a second year running after a solo attack 20km from the finish, beating her teammate Demi Vollering by 36 seconds. This win saw Kopecky join Mirjam Melchers-van Poppel, Judith Arndt, and Annemiek van Vleuten, who have all won the race twice during their professional careers. No rider is yet to win the race for a third time, however, Kopecky will be lining up for De Ronde once again and could look to make history by becoming not only the lone female rider to have won this Monument three times, but three years consecutively.

Women's Tour of Flanders 2024 team: 

• SD Worx-Protime
• AG Insurance-Soudal Team
• Canyon//SRAM Racing
• Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
• Fenix-Deceuninck
• Human Powered Health
• Liv Alula Jayco
• Team dsm-firmenich PostNL 
• UAE Team ADQ
• Cofidis Women Team
• Arkéa-B&B Hotels Women
• Chevalmeire 
• EF Education-Cannondale
• Lifeplus Wahoo 
• Lotto Dtsny Ladies
• Proximus-Cyclis CT
• Team Coop-Repsol
• VolkerWessels Women’s Pro Cycling Team 

Women's Tour of Flanders 2024 route: 

Unlike the men’s route, the women’s race will start and end in Oudenaarde and is 100km shorter at 163km. The course still packs a punch however, with 12 climbs and seven cobbled sections included in the race’s parcours. 

The first half of the race is fairly undulating and they reach their first cobbled section pretty quickly at 9.2km, before the Lippenhovestraat and Paddestraat 40km later. The women’s peloton reach their first climb, the Wolvenberg, at 72km and then the second half of the race is littered with the punchy climbs that make this race so special. Coming thick and fast, they’ll have to conquer the Molenberg, Marlboroughstraat, Valkenberg, Kapelleberg, Koppenberg, Steenbeekdries, Taaienberg, and Oude Kruisberg, all within 80km of racing. 

Then, with less than 20km left to go, the women will take on the race's iconic duo, Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg. After they are up and over the Paterberg, the remaining 13km is a flat finish back into Oudenaarde.

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Rouleur Embroidered Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt - Natural Cotton + Green

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Rouleur Logo Women's T-Shirt - Navy

Rouleur x Kaweco Aluminium Rollerball Pen - Silver + Engraved logo

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A beginner’s guide to the Tour of Flanders

All you need to know about the men’s and women’s editions of one of cycling’s biggest and toughest one-day races

The GCN team

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Mathieu Van der Poel attacks the cobblestones of the Paterberg in the 2023 edition

For one Sunday each Spring, the narrow roads around the sleepy towns of Flanders wake up to see one of the biggest races of the year thunder over them. Fans turn out in their thousands to line the course, flags flying in one hand and beers sloshing in the other as they cheer on their favourites during one of cycling’s most iconic events.

This race is the Tour of Flanders , or as it’s known in Flemish, ‘ De Ronde van Vlaanderen ’, and its men’s and women’s races will take place on Sunday 31 March.

The Tour of Flanders marks the grand finale of a series of Flandrian Classics that fall in the weeks before, starting with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and building through the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem a week before Flanders.

Read more: Spring Classics 2024: Essential guide to the races and riders

Taking on a long, winding series of laps around the Flanders region that visits multiple steep cobbled climbs – most of them more than once – over a challenging, Monument-worthy distance, Flanders is one of the toughest races on the calendar and is always won by the strongest of Classics riders.

With winners like Eddy Merckx, Johan Museeuw and Tom Boonen in its history books, and more recently victories for Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar and Lotte Kopecky, it’s easy to see that Flanders is a prestigious jewel in cycling’s crown, and a race steeped in legend.

• Tour of Flanders Women 2024 startlist
• Tour of Flanders Men 2024 startlist

Tour of Flanders history

The inaugural edition of the men’s race took place back in 1913, making it the youngest of the five Monuments. The women’s race, on the other hand, started in 2004, which makes it one of the longest-running one-day races on the current calendar, as well as one of the most prestigious.

The fact that the men’s race is younger than the other four Monuments doesn’t make it any less respected, and it easily sits alongside Paris-Roubaix , and the World Championships in terms of racing importance. Win here even once and you’re guaranteed to earn yourself a spot in cycling’s Hall of Fame.

Unlike some of the other Monuments and Classics, the Tour of Flanders route has changed countless times throughout its history, with the start and finishing towns often changing and the roll call of climbs being tweaked slightly for each edition.

Two-time winner Peter Van Petegem famously said this about the race’s route: “It doesn’t really matter where the race goes. You have cobblestones, climbs and small roads, and that provides the character of the race.”

Read more: 66 years marshalling at the Tour of Flanders: Meet Lucien De Schepper

Tour of Flanders tactics and winners

The Tour of Flanders is ultimately a race of survival and to win, a rider must abandon all sense of foresight and attack purely on instinct. Fortune definitely favours the brave in Flanders.

Tadej Pogačar was reward for his solo attack in last year's Tour of Flanders

The notion of a big group coming to the finish of Flanders is essentially unheard of. There will be attacks, the race will be attritional, and it almost comes down to the last rider standing, who has seen all their competitors fall away over the gruelling climbs. Any sprint at the finish will be between tired legs, as a handful of riders battle for one of cycling’s biggest prizes.

Read more: The Van der Poel rules: How to beat cycling's best Classics rider at the Tour of Flanders

Over 107 editions of the men’s race, the home nation of Belgium has taken 69 wins, the most of any country, perhaps unsurprisingly. Six riders sit on top of the individual winners list with a hat-trick of titles to their name: Belgians Achiel Buysse, Eric Leman, Tom Boonen and Johan Museeuw, Italian Fiorenzo Magni and Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara.

All six of these riders are Flandriens to the core, even those born outside of Belgium, and are revered as gods amongst the local people - none more so than the ‘Lion of Flanders’ himself, Johan Museeuw.

The women’s race has seen much less Belgian success, but perhaps largely to do with its relative youth. Over its 20 editions so far, two Belgian riders have taken Flandrian titles: Grace Verbeke in 2010, and Lotte Kopecky in 2022 and 2023. The nation that stands proud atop the winners' list in the women’s race is the Netherlands, who’ve won eight editions and podiumed a further 19 times.

With two wins, Lotte Kopecky is joint-top of the list of repeat winners at Flanders. Dutch women also join that list with two wins apiece, Mirjam Melchers-van Poppel and Annemiek van Vleuten. The German rider, Judith Ardnt, has also won two editions of the women’s Tour of Flanders. Both Arndt and Van Vleuten have won this race on the old finish into Ninove and the new finish into Oudenaarde.

Tour of Flanders route: Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg headline a cobbled climb-packed course

The cobbled bergs, or ‘Hellingen’, are the Tour of Flanders’ focal points and where the race is won or lost. They are steep, tricky to ride with the cobbles, and the back-to-back nature of the race’s climbs means they are severely leg-sapping. None of the climbs are particularly long, but that doesn’t matter when you’re going up and down them, constantly, at full race speed.

Read more: Average Joe vs Tour of Flanders: Can Cillian Kelly conquer the cobbles of Belgium?

The current finale of the race takes in the Kruisberg, the Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg before a flat finish into Oudenaarde. These climbs often prove decisive in the outcome of the race, but what comes before this final trio of bergs is just as important. Climbs like the Koppenberg, Taaienberg and Berendries all feature in this race, serving not only to chip away at a rider’s legs, but their morale too.

Tour of Flanders climbs:

• Oude Kwaremont
• Kapelleberg
• Marlboroughstaat
• Berg Ten Houte
• Nieuwe Kruisberg/Hotond
• Steenbeekdries
• Oude Kruisberg/Hotond

Recent history of the Tour of Flanders

Since 2012 and the implementation of the new finish in Oudenaarde, the men’s race has seen six solo winners, with the largest group ever reaching the finish only consisting of four riders, which happened in 2014 and 2022.

Lotte Kopecky has made a habit of winning 'De Ronde,' and will be back to defend her title this time around

The women’s race has also seen six solo winners in that time and, like the men’s, has tended to be decided by small groups of riders at the finish. One edition of the women’s race has come down to a sprint, however: the 2017 edition which was won by Coryn Rivera (now Labecki) in a reduced bunch finish between 16 riders.

In 2023, Tadej Pogačar and Lotte Kopecky were crowned champions in Oudenaarde, but only Kopecky will be back to defend her title – in fact to try to make it three in a row – whilst Pogačar is skipping Flanders with an eye towards the Giro d’Italia.

The big favourites in the men’s race will be Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, with the Belgian still chasing a maiden win here, whilst Kopecky will be up against riders like Marianne Vos, Elisa Balsamo and perhaps even her own teammate, Demi Vollering.

For the latest news, interviews and analysis from the world of professional cycling, be sure to check out the Racing tab on the GCN website and visit our essential guide to The Spring Classics to stay up to date with all of the action from cycling's most exciting season.

Lotte Kopecky

• Team Team SD Worx-Protime
• Nationality Belgium
• UCI Wins 41
• Height 1.71m

Coryn Labecki

• Team EF Education-Cannondale
• Nationality United States of America
• UCI Wins 20
• Height 1.55m

Tadej Pogacar

• Team UAE Team Emirates
• Nationality Slovenia
• UCI Wins 74
• Height 1.76m

Mathieu van der Poel

• Team Alpecin-Deceuninck
• Nationality Netherlands
• UCI Wins 53
• Height 1.84m

Annemiek van Vleuten

• Team Movistar Team
• UCI Wins 104
• Height 1.68m

Ronde van Vlaanderen

• Dates 31 Mar
• Race Length 163 kms
• Start Oudenaarde
• Finish Oudenaarde
• Race Category Elite Women

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Tour of Flanders 2024: The Route

Following a flat run-up, in which the home crowds are thrown into a cycling frenzy of eager anticipation, the riders get a first taste of cobbles after 104 kilometres. The pavé on the Lippenhovenstraat and Paddestraat appear in quick succession, but, to be frank, the first half of the race is nothing special. It’s the simple fact that De Ronde is on its way that gives the race its edge at this stage.

The riders tackle the first climb exactly halfway. After the Oude Kwaremont the riders continue to the Kappelleberg and from then on the race intensifies. The cobbles of Holleweg roll out a somewhat rugged red carpet for a section with the Wolvenberg, more cobbles (Kerkgate and Jagerij), Molenberg, Marlboroughstraat, Berendries and Valkenberg. All these obstacles are crammed together within 15 kilometres.

There is still 86 kilometres to go after the Valkenberg. A relatively calm phase of 32 kilometres – with only Berg Ten Houte and Nieuwe Kruisberg/Hotond – makes way for a brutal finale.

The Tour of Flanders really is on fire when the riders tackle the Oude Kwaremont/Paterberg combo for the first time. This is an exciting phase with Koppenberg, the cobbles of the Mariaborrestraat, Steenbeekdries, the cobbles of the Stationsberg, and Taaienberg in rapid succession. To be precise, within 20 kilometres.

With 29 kilometres left the riders tackle the Oude Kruisberg/Hotond before the Oude Kwaremont makes its last appearance inside the final 20 kilometres. The cobbled climb is 2,200 metres long and averages 4%, while the Paterberg is quite the opposite. Only 360 metres long, but definitely a killer with its average gradient of 12.9% and ramps up to 20.3%.

The last 13.2 kilometres of the Tour of Flanders are flat.

Last year, Tadej Pogacar began early with the demolition works. He dropped his rivals for the first time in the penultimate ascent of the Oude Kwaremont – so, with still 55 kilometres remaining. Following a regroupment the Slovene again put pressure on the Koppenberg. Only Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert were able to match this move, but the two were left in the ropes when Pogacar tightened the screws on the last time up the Oude Kwaremont and powered his way to victory.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX Tour of Flanders 2024 .

Other interesting reads: race results/report and start list 2024 Tour of Flanders.

Tour of Flanders 2024: routes, profiles, more

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How to watch the 2024 Tour of Flanders | Global options for live TV, streaming and highlights

How to catch the women’s and men’s racing in the second monument of the season

POOL JAN DE MEULENEIR/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

The 2024 men's and women's Tour of Flanders takes place on Sunday 31 March.

The second monument of the season, the Ronde van Vlaanderen is defined by its steep cobbled climbs.

The 270.8km men's race starts in Antwerp and finishes in Oudenaarde, which has hosted the finish since Peter Sagan's win in 2016. The men's route features 17 cobbled climbs in total, including the Koppenberg, Valkenberg, Wolvenberg and others.

The women's race is 163km, starting and finishing in Oudenaarde. The women's route includes 12 bergs, finishing with a double-headed ascent of the Kwaremont and Paterberg.

Here's how to see the action live on TV, streaming online or on catch-up.

2024 Tour of Flanders race schedule

The women’s race starts in Oudenaarde at 1.24pm CEST and is expected to finish around 5.55pm.

The men's race starts at 10am CEST and is due to finish around 4:45pm.

How can I watch the 2024 Tour of Flanders live in the UK?

Eurosport 1 and Discovery+ will show live coverage of the men's and women's editions of the 2024 Tour of Flanders.

Discovery+ coverage of the men's race kicks off at 8.30am UK time, finishing up at 3.45pm. Eurosport 1 starts at 9.45am, wrapping up at 4.45pm.

For a full bumper day of racing viewing, you can tune in at 2pm on Discover+ for the women's race, or 4.45pm on Eurosport 1. Coverage ends at 5.50pm and 6.30pm respectively.

If you fancy a Sunday lie-in, don't forget the clocks change on Sunday 31 March.

A standard Eurosport/Discovery+ subscription costs £6.99 per month and is available on a range of platforms, including tablet, mobile, TV with Chromecast or AirPlay, Android TV and Apple TV.

How can I watch the 2024 Tour of Flanders live in the US?

FloBikes will show the Tour of Flanders in the US. Coverage starts for the men's race at 3.55am EST and the women's race at 9am EST. FloBikes requires a subscription.

How can I watch the 2024 Tour of Flanders live in Australia?

SBS will be covering the women’s and men’s racing live and on-demand. Coverage starts at 9.55am AEDT for the men's race and 3pm AEDT for the women's event.

How else can I watch the 2024 Tour of Flanders?

There’s live terrestrial coverage in many European countries.

Italian national broadcaster RAI will be broadcasting the race live and on-demand. RTBF and VRT will be showing the race in full in Belgium. ESPN will also show the event in many territories outside of Europe.

If you’ve got a VPN, you may be able to register, log in to its website and watch live.

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29 March – 1 April 2024

Sold Out – Contact us to go on the waitlist.

2024 SPRING CLASSICS.

Join Ride International Tours for a wonderful experience of the 2024 Tour of Flanders Spring Classic.

Our 4 Day Tour of Flanders Spring Classics Tour includes both the Tour of Flanders sportif, as well as our Tour of Flanders Race day experience. We have a full-day experience for the Tour of Flanders race day, we’ll attend both the Elite Women’s and Men’s start and finishes. A VIP optional extra is available for the Tour of Flanders finish line marquee, we highly recommend this experience to enhance your Tour of Flanders.

We’ll based in the Flanders region of Belgium for the duration of the tour. Ride the famous Tour Flanders sportif and Flanders region of Belgium and visit cyclings iconic landmarks including the Koppenberg, Kwaremont, Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Tour of Flanders Cycling Museum.

We have 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 and travel dates, we supply the transfers between tours. You may want to look at our 5 Day Best of Belgium – or our 4 Day Paris Roubaix weekend Tour.

2024 Spring Classics Tour

4 day tour of flanders weekend, tour h ighlights:.

WATCH • Tour of Flanders Race, Belgium

VISIT • Tour of Flanders Museum

RIDE • Tour of Flanders Sportif – Granfondo

2024 Spring Classics Tour of Flanders Tour. Join us in Belgium.

You’ll spend the famous race days of the Tour of Flanders on a wonderful experience designed in co-operation with Phil Anderson, we intercept the race at strategic points in our vehicles. You’ll enjoy the day as a local.

Phil Anderson who co-designed this tour was based in Belgium for much of his early pro cycling career, he was passionate about doing well in these early season Spring Classics races, including winning the Amstel Gold Race in 1983, 2nd at the Tour of Flanders and Liege, plus many podium places in the one-day monument races.

Our combined experience allows us to plan our days to intercept the race including being at the finish of the races

Additionally, We ride one of the world’s best amateur Gran Fondo’s, the Tour of Flanders Sportif the day prior to the big race [entry included]. The sportif can be achieved by anyone, and is likely to be one of the best days you’ll ever spend on a bike. There’s a distance to suit everyone and we’ll coach you in the art/technique of riding these famous courses. 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 Tour of Flanders race or riding through the many towns, villages and cycling locations of the region, the Tour of Flanders Tour offers a unique insight/cultural immersion into Belgium life, and their unrivalled passion for cycling and it’s famous races.

• Spacious Cycling Friendly Four Star Accommodation.
• Daily breakfasts (Evening Meals, Lunches, Drinks Etc As Per Detailed Final Itinerary).
• Tour of Flanders – Race Day, European-Style Gourmet Picnic Lunch including local / international foods, French bubbly, Belgium beer, Wine, Cool Drinks
• Complimentary entry into the Tour of Flanders Sportif
• Expert Local guides for cycling and non-cyclists
• Minimum of three guided ride options per day, to suit your preferred distance and amount of climbing
• Pro mechanical support on tour
• Support vehicle each day to carry daypacks, spare parts, hydration and ride snacks
• All breakfasts
• Welcome and farewell dinner and drink [additional evening meals as per detailed itinerary]
• Separate Spectator Itinerary for Non-cyclists
• Electronic itinerary, including daily ride maps
• Free download of our GPS Ride Routes
• Complimentary return airport – or trainstation transfer
• Daily Bike Spa including Bike Wash, Mechanical check and tune, by a Pro Mechanic
• Our Premium Quality Rider Pack includes: Jersey and Custom Scicon Wet/Rain Bag
• Our Premium Quality Spectator Pack includes: Designer Ride International Tours Polo Shirt, Custom Scicon Bag

sample itinerary

Day 1 – 29 march 2024, arrival day + ride.

Pick up time:  9am Brussels Airport – or 11am: Flanders Train Station Arrival Day Ride   Distance:  45km   Climbing:  200m Dinner:  7.30pm Welcome Dinner Accommodation: Flanders

About our day:   

Welcome to Belgium, The Spring Classics and The Tour of Flanders.

This morning is welcome day, we’ll meet you at the location of your choice: 9am Brussels Airport – or 11am: Flanders Train Station.

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 in Flanders, we’ll assist you to build up your bike, or do the final fitting, put your pedals onto your hire bike etc.

After a quick bite to each for lunch, we’ll ride from our hotel to the Tour of Flanders event area on sections of the Tour of Flanders course for you to experience the course prior to your ride tomorrow. Once at the event area we’ll collect our registrations for the following day.

Non-cycling options:

Discover our local town, it’s a lovely place with plenty of heritage.

1pm: Join the group as we head across to the Tour of Flanders event area, here you can explore the beautiful town, it’s vast town square, shops and visit the Tour of Flanders Museum, boutique, cycling friendly restuarant and bar.

Late in the day return to our hotel and prepare for our Spring Classics Welcome Dinner.

Our Ride:   

Ride Start: 1pm  • Distance:  45km • Climbing:  200m

Welcome Day, warm up ride to get the legs and body moving, we include a pave riding skills session enroute from our Team Hotel on the sections of the Tour of Flanders route and then to the Tour of Flanders Sportif event area. We’ll collect our entry packs, then visit the Tour of Flanders Cycling Museum.

Late in the day we return to our hotel to prepare for tonights welcome dinner and the following mornings Tour of Flanders Sportif.

Après Bike:

Suggested Post Ride rehydration:  Hops helps recovery, Belgium is the spiritual home of beer, be sure to enjoy a lesser know local Pils beer, they are light and freshing, you may want to leave the more famed, stonger Belgium beers for another night.

Meet in the Hotel Lobby, tonight is our Tour of Flanders welcome dinner

 Accommodation:

Our Four Star Team Hotel in Flanders, Belgium 1 of 3 Nights

DAY 2 – 30 March 2024

Breakfast:  From 7am Vehicles Depart: 7.45am Our Ride Start: 8.45am Ride Distances:  75km / 145km / 174km.

Today is the day you’ve been waiting for and dreaming about. Today is all about the Tour of Flanders Sportif.

Like many other European mass participation rides, this event can be started at anytime between 7am – 10am. This flexible start time helps to spread the 16,000 participants out over the course and helps reduces riders pre ride/race nerves.

We choose a generous start time to allow for our short morning vehicle transfer. Loop rides start and finish in the town of Oudenaarde, over a challenging hilly, cobbled course.

Plenty of options today based on your personal interests, or preferences. Visit Oudenaard with the group riding to see the Tour of Flanders sportif, it’s a fun day with huge crowds in the town and region to support the 16,000 riders.

Explore the town, it’s museums, bars, restaurants, additional options for active off bike activities include walks – hikes etc, ask us how.

Discover neighbouring Belgium towns – cities. Head out to discover Ghent, Brugge, Antwerp etc, ask us how.

Our Ride:    Tour of Flanders Sportive

Ride Distances:    75km  /  145km / 174km Climbing:  Plenty of small Belgie Bergs

Today is your chance to ride and experience the Tour of Flanders Sportif.

Various course lengths are available to suit riders of all fitness and abilities, the route is achievable by anyone with a passsion to participate, options of 74km, 139km & 174km Loop rides are available. Multiple feed and aid stations are set up on the course, support is plentiful.

The event routes start and finish in the town of Oudenaarde. Each course takes sections of the same iconic, hilly, challenging, cobbled roads as the pro’s will race on the following day.

The Tour of Flanders sportif is a beautiful day on the bike, it’s full of fantastic Belgium experiences, challenges and great people like yourself out on the roads of Belgium enjoying the day. The rewards of attending this event are great, we believe it’s one of the best sportifs in the world.

 Après Bike:

Free program to explore our town, it’s restuarants, bars and eateries. We’ll be heading out for a social /informal dinner (non-inclusion).

We’ll make a plan for dinner – feel free to join us 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: 

Our Four Star Team Hotel, Flanders, Belgium 2 of 3 Nights

DAY 3 – 31 March 2024

Breakfast:  7am Vehicles Depart  7:30am. 1 hour transfer. Race:  Tour of Flanders Race Day, 270km Race Start: 10.30am

Today is our Tour of Flanders experience co-hosted by our local and international staff, their combined skills, experience and passion for all things cycling create the best Spring Classics experiences available.

We experience a wide range of the Tour of Flanders, including both men’s and women’s race starts, we’ll see the riders warming up, signing on, cheer them off at the start, then catch them at a midpoint and be there to feel the excitement at the finish line.

The Tour of Flanders is always a fantastic day of racing, and a great insight into Belgium life, via one of the biggest annual events in the country.

You’re bound to hear plenty of exciting stories from the golden era of cycling, plus insights into the preparation of the riders, and the way the race is playing out on the day. You are in great hands, It’ll be an exciting day from start to finish at the Tour of Flanders.

Join the group on a unique Tour of Flanders race day experience, including a Gourmet, Champagne Picnic Lunch.

Our Ride:    Active Recovery Day – Spectating, Tour of Flanders Race Day

 our race experience: tour of flanders.

7.30am: Depart in our vehicles, 1 hr vehicle transfer to the start location for the Tour of Flanders. 8.30am: Arrive at start, Discover the city, see the teams and riders prepare for the start of the Tour of Flanders. 10.30am: Tour of Flanders race starts.

We’ll experience the build-up to the start, the local fans will flood in and we’ll be there to experience the incredible excitement of the Tour of Flanders. The riders head out from the start on flatter exposed roads to do battle on the cobbles of the Flanders region of Belgium.

After the race start, we’ll quickly head back to our waiting vehicles to jump ahead of the race. We see the race pass again, then head to the start of the Women’s race to cheer them on.

We’ll enjoy a gourmet European style picnic enroute, including local refreshments, champagne and cool drinks. We then head to the finish area to see who wins both Men’s and Women’s editions of the Tour of Flanders.

We’ll be heading out for a social /informal dinner (non-inclusion) and a refreshing cool drink.

We bid farewell to guests on our 4-Day Tour of Flanders weekend. We’ll make a plan for dinner – feel free to join us or let us know your preferred food types, budget and dining style! We’ll point you in the right direction for great local places.

Our Four-Star Team Hotel, Flanders, Belgium 3 of 3 Nights

DAY 4 – 1 April 2024

Breakfast:  From 7am – 8.15am Vehicle Departs: 8.30am Arrive Train Station: 8.35am

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

This morning after the excitement of the 4-Day Tour of Flanders weekend, we’ll gather over a hearty farewell breakfast.

After breakfast, we offer a transfer for you and your luggage to our local Train Station for your onward travel. Our train station is very well connected with all of the major European centers and International airports.

Alternatively, if you’d like to join our 4 Day best of Belgium and Netherlands Tour, we provide transfers between the tours to experience more of Flanders, and the Limburg region in Belgium and the Netherlands

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

ADVANCED BOOKING DEPOSIT

$750 reserves your spot on the 4 Day Tour of Flanders Long Weekend

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

4 DAY TOUR OF FLANDERS

Friday 29th March – Monday 1st April 2024

AUD$750 – (approximately) USD $480 *Advance Booking Deposit

INDICATIVE TOUR PRICING

AUD $3,350pp-$3,750 (approximately) USD $2,150-$2,400 *Twin Share

AUD $395 (approximately) USD $250 *Single Room Supplement

ROOMS / SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

* Our twin share prices are per person based on two people ie couples, partners, friends sharing one room. If you are traveling alone, you have the option to have a room to yourself by paying the additional single room supplement.

$ 750.00 AUD

For the Men’s and Women’s Races, we highly recommend enhancing your Tour of Flanders race day experience at the finish line VIP Marquee. Prior to heading to the finish line area, we arrive to our race viewing point to see the men’s race pass, start of the Women’s Tour of Flanders, then we make our way to the special VIP area. Here you have the option to watch the race from the open space general admission area, or enjoy the race from the comfort of a spacious marquee and gain an exclusive insight into the biggest day in Belgian Cycling.

Here are some additional perks of the VIP Marquee area:

• Alfresco viewing stands on the finish line
• Protection from inclement weather
• Inclusive offerings of food, open bar, big screen TVs and creature comforts.

Are you ready to take your Tour of Flanders race day to the next level? VIP Tour of Flanders Finish line Marquee Ticket price is AUD$795

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Take the hassle out of traveling with your bike and hire a bike for our 4 Day Spring Classics Tour.

Reserve your hire bike

 Tour of Flanders 4 Day Weekend provides the ideal mix of “ride more – transfer less”.

The proximity of our Team Hotel in West Flanders allows us to ride plenty each day, and recover off the bike, combined with time available to explore our local areas.

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 local places of interest including Artisan Producers, Bike Stores, Cycling Museum, lovely cafe’s / coffee shops as we indulge in a Tour of Flanders Spring Classics immersion. Let us know your passions, interests and things you’d like to see and do, we have plenty of great recommendations for the region.

We’ll see different aspects of Belgium mixed with a cultural, historical, 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 is unrivalled, the enthusiastic local cycling fans 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 bikes and cycling 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 and locals 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, inclusive, 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 2024 Ultimate Spring Classics Best of Belgium Tour. 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 Fitzpatrick and the Ride International Team

Meet your hosts for our 2024 Spring Classics Tours

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

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

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

Nothing was too much trouble, their demeanour was always cheery

Knowledgeable, multilingual, always helpful, a great team

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

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

Thanks very much for a highly enjoyable and excellently run tour

Grace and Pat are remarkable. Thank you so much!

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

Pat and his team did an absolutely brilliant job

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

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

Grace… you are still as efficient and organised as always

Pat’s leadership gave everyone what they needed

TOUR INCLUSIONS:

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

The proximity of the Flanders region to everything in Belgium allows us to participate in the “must do” Tour of Flanders sportif, experience a VIP Tour of Flanders race day, plus enjoy plenty of recover time off the bike each day to explore.

You’ll have your fill of riding, plus we’ll see different aspects of the Tour of Flanders race including stage start, midpoint and finish. All the Tour of Flanders action mixed in with a cultural, historic, culinary and beverage experience of Belgium.

April is a beautiful time to visit Belgium and ride the Tour of Flanders Sportif. The atmosphere, passion and knowledge of the fans at the race is unrivalled, the Belgium fans create an electric atmosphere. We’ll show you the smaller roads, ride the iconic Spring Classic climbs, 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 countrie practically born and raised on two wheels and cycle racing. The terrain is almost purpose-built for cyclists and cycling is still regarded as the nations number one sport in Spring.

Each of our Spring Classics Itinerary’s provides a unique experience as the race routes change a little each year, you can count on riding many of the legendary routes made famous by the Spring Classics including: The Koppenberg, Kwaremont, Muur van Geraardsbergen just to name a few.

Our Spring Classics tour is led by our experienced team who’ve been hosting tours to these races for many years, we’ll get you up close and personal with the Pro riders, to experience the excitement of the incredible Spring Classics. 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 2022 Spring Classics. 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

 4 DAY ITINERARY

2021 spring classics tour with phil anderson, day 1 – friday, 3rd april 2024.

Pick up time:  9am Brussels Airport – or 11am: At our Team Hotel Arrival Day Ride   Distance:  45km   Climbing:  200m Dinner:  7.30pm Welcome Dinner Accommodation: Flanders

Welcome to the Belgium, The Spring Classics and The Tour of Flanders.

This morning is welcome day, we’ll meet you at the location of your choice: 9am Brussels Airport – or 11am: At our Team Hotel.

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 onto your hire bike etc.

After a quick bite to each for lunch, we’ll ride from our hotel to the Tour of Flanders event area to collect our registrations for the following day.

1pm: Join the group as we head across to the Tour of Flanders event area, here you can explore the beautiful town, it’s vast town square shops and visit the Tour of Flanders Museum, botique, cycling restuarant and bar.

Welcome Day, warm up ride to get the legs and body moving, we include a pave riding skills session enroute from our Team Hotel to the Tour of Flanders Sportif event area. We’ll collect our entry packs, then visit the Tour of Flanders Cycling Museum.

DAY 2 – SATURDAY, 4TH APRIL 2019

Today is the day you’ve been waitng for and dreaming about. Today is all about the Tour of Flanders Sportif.

DAY 3 – SUNDAY, 5TH APRIL 2019

Today is our VIP Tour of Flanders experieince co-hosted by Australian former pro cyclist Phil Anderson and Pat Fitzpatrick. Phil and Pat have worked together for over 10 years, their combined skills, experience and passion for all things cycling create the best Spring Classics experiences available.

Phil may not need much of an introduction to many of you, but you’ll be pleased to know Phil is highly regarded and remembered well in Belgium due to his attacking style of racing. Phil focused the early part of each of his seasons to specialise in the Spring Classics, he had great success at the Classics, winning the Amstel Gold Race, placing 2nd twice at the Tour of Flanders, a long list of big results and podium places at nearly all of the Spring Classics Races.

You’re bound to hear plenty of exciting stories from the golden era of cycling, plus insights into the riders preperation and the way the race is playing out on the day. You are in great hands, It’ll be an exciting day from start to finish at the 2021 Tour of Flanders.

Phil will give us a truly unique VIP experience and expert commentary through the day as we navigate a very tricky course to see the race in this style. This style of see’ing the Tour of Flanders is only possible from our combined experience, plus as a young pro cyclist Phil was based in Belgium, he’s still recognised where ever he goes, he’s considered a local amongst people from Belgium, he knows the races, the culture and the country of Belgium like a local.

Join the group on a unique VIP Tour of Flanders race day, including Gourmet, Champagne Picnic Lunch.

Our Ride:    Active Recovery Day – VIP Spectating, Tour of Flanders Race Day

7.30am: Depart in our vehicles, 1 hr vehicle transfer to Antwerp, the start location for the Tour of Flanders. 8.30am: Arrive in Antwerp, Discover the city, see the teams and riders prepare for the start of the Tour of Flanders. 10.30am: Tour of Flanders race starts.

We’ll experience the build up to the start, the local fans will flood in and we’ll be there to experience the incredible excitiment of the Tour of Flanders. The riders headout from Antwerp on flatter exposed roads to do battle on the cobbles of the Flanders region of Belgium.

After the race start, we’ll quickly head back to our waiting vehicles to jump ahead of the race, we’ll pick up the race again as it comes past our Team Hotel around 12pm. Back to our vehicles again as we transfer ahead of the race to position ourselves on the iconic Mur.

The Mur is often a critical point in the race where a selection of riders capable of winning the Tour of Flanders will go clear on the climb to the famous church. We’ll enjoy a gourmet European style picnic enroute, including local refreshments, champagne and cool drinks.

Once the race has passed over the Mur, we take our alternative route and jump ahead of the race to the race finish town of Oudenaard to see who wins the 2021 edition of the Tour of Flanders.

We’ll be heading out for a social /informal dinner (non-inclusion) and refreshing cool drink.

We bid farewell to guests on our 4 Day Tour of Flanders Long weeekend. We’ll make a plan for dinner – feel free to join us or Let us know your preferred food types, budget and dining style! We’ll point you in the right direction for great local places.

Our Four Star Team Hotel, Flanders, Belgium 3 of 3 Nights

DAY 4 – MONDAY, 6TH APRIL 2019

Breakfast:  From 7am – 8.15am Vehicle Departs: 8.30am Arrive Aalst Train Station: 8.35am

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

This morning after the excitement of the 4 Day Tour of Flanders weekend, we’ll gather again over a hearty breakfast.

After breakfast we offer a transfer for you and your luggage to the Aalst Train Station for your onward travel. Aalst Train Station is very well connected with all of the major European centers and International airports.

Alternatively if you’d like to join our Belgie 5 Day Training Camp Tour, we provide the transfers between the tours to Brugge in the north west of Flanders, Belgium.

Years of Experience

Tours Completed

Trip Guests

Cycled on Tour

Hotels Visited

2024 Spring Classics Tours

Ultimate Tour of Flanders & Paris Roubaix

31st March – 10th April, 2024 (TBC)

$975 – $7,650 AUD

Belgie Training Camp

3rd April – 7th April, 2024 (TBC)

$395 – $2,950 AUD

Paris Roubaix Long Weekend

7th April – 10th April, 2024 (TBC)

$395 – $3,395 AUD

OUR GUEST REVIEWS

- J. & I. Aplin . Napier, New Zealand

- Daren A . QLD, Australia

- Stephen P . QLD, Australia

- A. Saunders . Victoria, Australia

- Tommy. E . USA

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 10 days of the trip details being published. The (AUD) $750 advance reservation payment will be refunded for any cancellation received within this 10-day period.

Travel Insurance:

As a Ride International Tour participant, it is compulsory to have your own travel insurance. We recommend activating your travel insurance as soon as you’ve placed your booking deposit to ensure you are covered from the outset. Please ensure that your policy includes coverage for:

• Cancellation charges
• Medical expenses in the event of an accident or illness.
• Cycling activities and associated risks
• Cycling equipment

We encourage each participant on our tours to contact your travel agent, and or travel insurance provider directly. Your travel insurance experts are best equipped to provide clarification, recommendations for best providers and or further information on the cover that suits your specific needs.

Final Payments:

The balance of your trip payment is due no later than 150 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.

AFTER BOOKING, IF YOU CANCEL:

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Can you suggest how to follow Belgium’s Tour of Flanders?

My friend and I are very interested in going to watch the Tour of Flanders in Belgium. However, rather than ride along the course, we want to find a tour company to drive us around while we watch the race, hang out with the locals, eat frites, and drink beer. Do you have any suggestions? Thomas Hilal Los Angeles, CA

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

Nice idea. What better way to see this elite cycling race than to kick back, relax, and saturate yourself in Belgian culture? Definitely much more fun than having to climb the thigh-burning hills yourself (although you can do that, too; visit the Tour of Flanders’ official trip-planning section ). The race, or De Ronde van Vlaanderen , follows 161 miles of cobblestone roads winding through Belgium, starting in Bruges and skidding to a finish in the town of Ninove, just outside of Brussels. Now in its 92nd year, the tour draws riders from all over the world to test their abilities on a gnarly course that includes 18 major hills, or what the locals call “ Hellingen .” And, as it is with Belgian beer, once you’ve gotten a taste of being a spectator at a world-class cycling race, you’ll come back wanting more.

Tour of Flanders in Belgium

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Luckily, you’ve got a few options to take in the action. For a little more scratch but with the comfort and convenience of going with an experienced outfitter, take a look at the trips offered by New York-based Velo Classic Tours (212.779.9599; www.veloclassic.com ), including its Tour of Flanders Weekend ($2,195). This five-day, four-night itinerary includes VIP access to the race start in Bruges, a three-night stay in Bruges, and transport to prime race-viewing spots along the route, all staked out by Velo Classic’s well-honed team of cycling nuts. Better still, this tour includes the opportunity to get to know the hip-jarring contours of the course by riding the amateur Tour of Flanders Cyclosportif the day before the race.

This year, the race begins on Sunday, April 6 in the heart of Bruges—the Market Square. Velo Classic fills its spots early, so renting a car and following the race at your own speed may be the way to go this year. Before the race, consider staying a while in Bruges. Not only the start of the Tour, this charming city is also an architectural and culinary treasure, home to some of the world’s best chocolate and beer ( www.brugge.be ; www.visitbelgium.com/bruges.htm ). Visit De Halve Maan Brewery and get a glimpse of traditional Belgian brewing methods. Their Brugse Zot is a rich and fruity blonde ale launched less than a year ago, and is already bringing home awards for its superior flavor. While Godiva is a household name, try the sinfully-sweet temptations offered by the other locally-owned chocolatiers. Also explore the city’s gothic architecture at sites such as the Basilica of Holy Blood or the Church of Our Lady, one of the world’s highest brick towers.

The week before the race, pick up a race guide—plenty will be available in newspapers. (De Ronde was originally conceived by journalist Karel Van Wynendaele in 1913, who also happened to be one of the founders of the Tour’s major sponsor, Het Nieuwsblad , the local newspaper.) Using the guide, orient yourself prior to the race and familiarize yourself with the route and surrounding countryside. That way you’ll get to see more of Belgium and have an upper hand on race day. Pick three or four spots along the course, starting in Bruges. You’ll definitely find a hearty crowd in the center of town hoping for a peek at the Lycra-clad road rats, but it’s worth the effort to see the elite at their finest. Once they are on their way, follow your pre-determined route and meet up with the race again, such as at Kluisbergen, where it winds not once, but twice through the confines of hillside hideaways. Move quickly and don’t lag behind—you won’t be the only one trying to catch the peloton’s next move.

If the thought of navigating a vehicle in a foreign country isn’t on the top of your to-do list, use the train to follow the pack. After all, this is Europe, and Belgium happens to have a very efficient and extensive train network. Trains leave approximately every half hour between all major cities ( www.raileurope.com ; www.b-rail.be/nat/E/ ). Beginning in Bruges, ride to Geraardsbergen for the Muur van Geraadsbergen. The Muur is the most notorious climb on the Tour, with sections that have a chain-breaking 20-percent grade, and is also the location of a festive Flanders celebration. Local pubs offer views of this historic landmark (follow the signs) and you’ll have an up-close-and-personal vantage point of grimacing faces and straining hammies as riders make a pained, last-ditch effort to pull ahead with just under 12 miles to go. Meanwhile, you can count your lucky stars that you’re resting easy with another pint of genuine Belgian ale and a heaping basket of mayo-laden frites (trust us). After the riders have passed, catch the highlights on the TV or hop aboard the next train to join the celebrations after the finish in Ninove. Life doesn’t get much better than this. –Amy A. Clark

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2024 RBC Heritage leaderboard: Scottie Scheffler nears fourth win in five starts with event to finish Monday

Weather prevented the final round from completing, but scheffler is well on his way to continuing his hot streak.

Scottie Scheffler's fourth victory in his last five tournaments will have to wait one more day. With the 2024 RBC Heritage experiencing more than a 2.5-hour weather delay Sunday, tournament action was unable to be completed before nightfall; it will instead leak into the work week. The final round at Harbour Town Golf Links will resume Monday at 8 a.m. ET with Scheffler holding a five-stroke lead at 20 under.

The world No. 1 is well clear of his nearest pursuer, Wyndham Clark, with three holes left in his tournament. Clark, meanwhile, is in the clubhouse at 15 under hoping for another runner-up check behind Scheffler. Others on the golf course like J.T. Poston, Patrick Cantlay and Sahith Theegala stand at that same number with holes to play.

Monday morning may only be a formality as Scheffler looks to be in control of just about everything -- like he has been the last two months.

Scheffler began Sunday in Hilton Head Island with one arm already slipped in the tartan jacket. Possessing a one-stroke lead, the Texan was crowned by many late Saturday evening despite the bevy of stars who had plans to upend him.

After knocking in a 6-foot par save on the 1st, Scheffler more or less turned those predictions into a reality. Chipping in for eagle on the par-5 2nd from long of the green (his 11th hole-out from off the green this season), Scheffler opened a three-stroke lead on the field and never looked back.

Charges were made by many, including a familiar foe in Clark, but none were that threatening. The reigning U.S. Open champion turned in 7-under 29 and tacked on another birdie on the 11th to get within one of Scheffler, but the pressure of perfection proved too much.

Hitting a tree with his second shot on No. 12, Clark's ball ricocheted out of bounds and led to a double bogey. Another dropped shot came on the following hole and all but secured another near miss from the U.S. Open champion.

Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Åberg, Cantlay and Theegala all hovered on the first page of the leaderboard but never truly threatened. Instead, it was Patrick Rodgers who emerged as Scheffler's greatest threat thanks to an eagle-2 at the turn. A bogey a few holes later put an end to his Cinderella story.

Remaining in the wake of mistakes was a spotless Scheffler at 19 under, four ahead of the field. Turning in 3 under, the steadiest man in the game marched forward with a heavy diet of fairways and greens before a spell of thunderstorms halted his momentum on the par-4 12th.

Inclement weather was all that could stop Scheffler as the 27-year-old returned to the golf course more than two hours later and resumed his round without a hitch. While temperatures cooled and winds freshened, Scheffler was unaffected.

He picked off a birdie on the 13th to push his lead to five before a mud ball on the 15th led to his second finding the water on the par 5. It didn't matter as Scheffler launched a pitching wedge onto the surface, spinning it left and utilizing the slope to access the tucked pin. He avoided what would have been his first dropped shot since the 3rd hole on Thursday with an emphatic par save, and he will sleep easy Sunday night knowing five strokes separate him from the field and three holes separate him from victory.

Rick Gehman, Kyle Porter, Patrick McDonald and Greg DuCharme discuss Scottie Scheffler's hold on the RBC Heritage, Nelly Korda's fifth straight victory and Miles Russell finishing top 25 as a 15 year old. Follow & listen to The First Cut on  Apple Podcasts  and  Spotify .

Play called for evening

The final group is on the green on the par-5 15th meaning they will have three holes to play on Monday. Scottie Scheffler faces a par putt from 10 feet to maintain his five-stroke lead as he stands at 20 under.

Five clear with five to go!

The only thing that can stop him is the sunlight at this rate. Scottie Scheffler adds a birdie on 13 to get to 20 under and five clear of the crew at 15 under. Without the world No. 1 this tournament would be very, very good, but alas they are all fighting for first flight honors it appears.

Conditions are considerably harder for these guys. The wind has switched, it's about 10 degrees cooler and they are racing against the clock. Scottie Scheffler and Sepp Straka make par on No. 12 and head to the par-4 13th. Wyndham Clark posts the clubhouse lead at 15 under, four behind Scheffler.

Let's play ball!

Players are on the golf course and play is set to resume. Scottie Scheffler in the final pairing has about 7.5 holes remaining and one hour until sunset meaning this thing is probably going to leak into Monday unfortunately. 

Play to resume at 7 p.m.

Coverage information, play to resume at 6 p.m. et.

The expectation is this thing will be finished today as the range is open and play is set to resume in 40 minutes at 6 p.m. ET. This will leave Scottie Scheffler a couple hours to complete just about seven holes as he left off in the middle of the 12th fairway with a four-stroke lead at 19 under.

Play suspended due to weather

The horn has sounded at 4:28 p.m. ET as a large weather system (with lightning) has engulfed Harbour Town. This comes as Scottie Scheffler stands in the 12th fairway with a four-stroke lead at 19 under over a number of pursuers up ahead of him on the golf course. Players are being brought back into the clubhouse as rules officials make an assessment on when play will return.

Rain comin' down hard

Scheffler turns in 33 with three-stroke lead.

Scheffler lets a chance slide by on the short ninth and will instead settle for a 3-under 33 on his front nine. It was highlighted by his eagle-3 on the par-5 2nd and Scheffler will head to the back side with a three-stroke edge.

Theegala thriving

Theegala cards four 3s in a row to end his front nine and get within four of Scottie Scheffler. Sahith spoke yesterday about how cool it is what Scheffler is currently doing and how it is a motivating factor for someone like him to get better. It's a great perspective and Theegala continues to get better and better, but it may not be enough this week as he is four behind with nine to go.

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Scottie Scheffler wins RBC Heritage, fourth in 5 PGA Tour events

Scottie Scheffler’s season of excellence continued Sunday at the RBC Heritage. He finished it up on Monday with a three-stroke victory, claiming the event’s signature tartan jacket to go with his green jacket.

He’s the first player to win four starts in a five-star stretch since Tiger Woods in 2007-08. He’s the first person since Bernhard Langer in 1985 to follow up a Masters win with a win the following week (Langer also won at Harbour Town). Gary Player in 1978 and Jimmy Demaret in 1950 also accomplished the feat.

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Scheffler has also won the Players Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational during this stretch. In the Houston Open, he finished in a tie for second, and missed a putt to force a playoff. Scheffler now has 10 career wins, all since February 2022.

“I’m just maturing as a person. On the course mentally the last month or so is as good mentally as I’ve been in a long time, and I think that’s why I’m seeing some of the results,” Scheffler told Golf Channel after the win.

Play was called due to darkness Sunday at the event at Harbour Town Links in Hilton Head, S.C., with Scheffler five strokes ahead and three holes to play. There was a 2 1/2 hour weather delay from 4:28 p.m. until 7 p.m. that forced the PGA Tour into a Monday finish.

When he returned Scheffler finished the final three holes in 45 minutes. His bogey on 18 was his first bogey of the week. Sahith Theegala finished second at 16-under, with Wyndham Clark and Patrick Cantlay tied for third at 15-under. Justin Thomas was among the group tied for fifth, a good week for the embattled star.

Scheffler punctuated Sunday with a head-shaking 15th hole — he had an exceedingly rare mishit with his second shot, going just left into the water. As he was taking the drop, CBS attempted to foreshadow what was coming by flashing a graphic that it had been 65 holes since Scheffler had a double bogey. The streak continued. He hit his approach shot with spin, landed on the slope and rolled it to 11 feet. The horn sounded to end play but Scheffler was allowed to finish the hole — he drained the putt, pumped his fist like he had just won the tournament and exited to a waiting golf cart.

Scheffler did not show up at Hilton Head until Wednesday after winning his second Masters, played nine holes in the pro-am and said he would see the rest of the course during his first round on Thursday. It was daring a signature event field to beat him, but instead, he shot a first-round 69, followed that up with a 65 on Friday and a 63 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead into Sunday.

“I played some really good golf in the middle of the tournament. It’s nice to be done,” Scheffler said.

Scheffler shot a final round 68. He is not in the field for this week’s Zurich Classic in New Orleans. It’s not clear yet if he’ll play before the PGA Championship from May 16-19 as he and his wife Meredith await the birth of their first child.

Required reading

• Nelly Korda secures record-tying fifth consecutive win, second major title at Chevron Championship
• Scottie Scheffler’s second Masters win is what greatness looks like
• Inside Scottie Scheffler’s unique footwork

(Top photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)

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Hugh Kellenberger is the senior managing editor of The Athletic's golf group. A native of North Carolina, Kellenberger previously served as sports editor and columnist for the Jackson (Mississippi) Clarion Ledger. He first covered Ole Miss for the paper, and in the past has covered Indiana for the Bloomington Herald-Times and the ACC for the Rocky Mount Telegram. Follow Hugh on Twitter @ KellenbergerCBB

RBC Heritage

Harbour Town Golf Links

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina • USA

Apr 18 - 21, 2024

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Scheffler builds gap in FedExCup standings

Scheffler makes remarkable look routine, wins RBC Heritage comfortably

By the numbers: Statistics confirm Scheffler's historical dominance

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Scottie Scheffler closes out 72nd hole to cement 10th win at RBC Heritage

Collin Morikawa cuts tee shot at the flag and birdies at RBC Heritage

Sepp Straka draws second tight to set up birdie at RBC Heritage

Sahith Theegala drains 28-foot birdie putt at RBC Heritage

Sepp Straka spins wedge below the hole and birdies at RBC Heritage

Scottie Scheffler's masterful par save at RBC Heritage

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Scheffler finishes off another win at RBC Heritage to extend dominant run

Golfbet Recap: Scheffler ‘dialed in like nobody’s business’ after cruising to RBC Heritage win

Scottie Scheffler claims RBC Heritage title, wins for fourth time in last five tournaments

Scottie Scheffler's dominance of the PGA Tour continues.

The reigning Masters champion became the first player since Tiger Woods to win four times in a five-tournament span when he captured the RBC Heritage in a rain-delayed finish.

Scheffler finished off the last three holes of a final-round 68 on Monday morning for a three-shot win over Sahith Theegala at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

From NFL plays to college sports scores, all the top sports news you need to know every day.

The victory adds another trophy to Scheffler's amazing start to the season. He previously won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, followed by the Players Championship. Then last week, the world's No. 1-ranked player added a second Green Jacket with a four-shot victory at Augusta National.

Woods was the last PGA Tour player to win four times in five events when he did it in 2007-08.

Though not to be outdone, Nelly Korda won the LPGA's first major title of the season on Sunday – the Chevron Championship – giving her victories in five consecutive LPGA Tour events.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Scottie Scheffler claims RBC Heritage title, wins for fourth time in last five tournaments

Texas Kids Adventures

Texas Road Trip Through Europe Towns A= Paris, TX; B= Athens, TX; C= Moscow, TX; D= Berlin, TX; E= Vienna, TX; F= London, TX; G= Florence, TX; H= Holland, TX; I= Dublin, TX, J= Italy, TX

Texas has some uniquely-named towns, such as Cut-and-Shoot, Loco, Trout, Oatmeal, Ding Dong, Bacon, Noodle, Tarzan, Salty, Telephone, Energy, Coffee City, Quicksand, Gun Barrell City, and has its own Utopia as well as Uncertain.  

As settlers emigrated to Texas, they brought some European names to pay homage to their mother countries, including Paris, Athens, Moscow, Berlin, Vienna, London, Florence, Holland, Dublin and Italy.   Fortunately for Texans, this makes a fun road trip to explore Texas towns with European names.  Even better, you won’t need a passport.  If you haven’t heard of these town before, it’s probably because most are very small and lost population and industries as larger cities grew. 

The Eiffel Tower of Texas.  Photo credit.

Let’s begin our tour in Paris, Texas , complete with its own 65 foot Eiffel Tower with a red cowboy hat perched on top.  It’s the second largest Eiffel Tower in the world, and is around one-tenth the height of the original at 1,063 feet.  Stop by the Paris Bakery for French pastries as you explore downtown Paris and the Lamar County courthouse.  The Lamar County Historical Museum  has artifacts from the local area, including a blacksmith shop, pioneer kitchen and pioneer cabin.  Kids can stretch their legs at the Paris Downtown Community Park splash park and outdoor musical instruments.  Check out the Paris events including Tour de Paris Bicycle Rally and the Paris Balloon & Music Festival .  

Zipliner above the trees at New York, Texas Zipline Adventures.

Enjoy the rolling hills and piney woods on your road trip journey to Athens, Texas.  It was named by the stepdaughter of a founding father who had a vision that Athens would become the cultural center in Henderson county like the one in Greece.   Athens holds the title of the official “Original Home of the Hamburger”, created in the late 1880s at a downtown Athens café and introduced at the 1904 World’s State Fair in St Louis.  Athens is also known as the Black-eyed Pea Capital of the World. 

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is a production hatchery for stocking fish into Texas waterways and an educational center to learn about native species and ecosystems.  Visit over 300,000 gallons of indoor and outdoor aquariums to see many native fish, waterfowl, amphibians and alligators.  Learn about ecosystems and fishing at the museum and wetlands trail. 

The East Texas Arboretum & Botanical Society is 100 acres of trees, flowers and wildlife.  The two mile rugged nature trail along spring-fed streams reveal untouched animal habitats and ecosystems.  The handicap-accessible trail is 1/3 of a mile.  Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars.  

Just 15 minutes away, New York, Texas Zipline Adventures offers zipline tours for ages 5 and up.  Zip through the treetops at over 100 feet above the ground.  

Lake Livingston State Park kayaking   Photo credit

Moscow, Texas There’s not much in this small town of less than 200 residents.  Stop by Johnson’s Rock Shop to find gemstones, minerals, petrified wood, and jewelry.  Polk County Memorial Museum is a small museum with history of Polk County with old maps.  Lake Livingston State Park located just 15 minutes away, on Hwy 59 on the way to Berlin.

Berlin, Texas A German settlement from the late 1840s with a cotton gin and gristmill, this town only 3 miles from Brenham and is included in their population numbers.  Berlin was founded in 1860 by German settlers.  There is also a Texas town called New Berlin in Guadalupe county.

Vienna, Texas With a population under 50, this is a tiny town once had a gin and sawmill as immigrants settled along the Navidad River.  When the Navidad flooded in 1940, structures were washed away.

Florence, Texas main street.  Photo credit.

London, Texas London is also known as London Town in the 1880s, and is home to the historic London Dance Hall with live music and dances.    Enjoy the beauty of rolling hills, oak trees and wildflowers as you enjoy the best of the Texas Hill Country in Boerne, Comfort, Fredericksburg and Kerrville area.   Nearby attractions include the Ft. McKavett State Historical Site and South Llano River State Park. 

Florence, Texas This small town established in the early 1850s had a railroad with wheat, cotton and cattle industries which led to a corn mill, blacksmith leather goods production, and eventually a hotel, saloon, flour mill.  Area attractions include lakes and rivers for water recreation and fishing.

Hill country, Fredericksburg, Texas.  Photo credit.

Holland, Texas

Holland is home to the one and only Corn Fest , an annual festival of music, 5K run, parade, and themed contests such as corn eating, corn shucking, corn bobbing, corn seed spitting, corn cob relay, corn hole and the world championship corn cob throw.  While it was cancelled in 2020, this sounds like a shucking good time you won’t want to miss for 2021.   You could leave there as a world champion!  

Dublin, Texas The Official Irish Capital of Texas, Dublin bottled Dr. Pepper for over 100 years.   This small town has plenty to explore including museums, shopping, market days, and homemade cheese and wines.  The Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Celebration includes pageants, parades, craft and food vendors, dog contests and shopping.   Dublin has a monthly Farmers Markets for fresh produce.

Italy Known as the “Biggest Little Town in Texas,” this town was named by the postmaster who thought the climate was similar to Italy.   This settlement from the 1860s had a railroad, five cotton gins, and a cottonseed oil mill.  This old cotton town now has some vintage and antique shopping and dining.

Downtown Italy, Texas

On your Texas Road Trip Through Europe Towns, you can brag to your friends about seeing towns that they probably never knew were in Texas.  You can imagine the hustle and bustle of these towns during the cotton and farming boom, and see the grand buildings that remain.  You will see backroads, woodlands, lakes and rivers, rolling hills, and beautiful scenery along the way.    When given the choice between the interstate and the backroads, always choose the backroads.  

Join our Texas Kids Adventures newsletter of curated travel to reveal kid-friendly places to visit, the best things to do, exciting events, family resorts and trip guides to create family memories.

A Road Trip Through Texas’ ‘European’ Cities

Towns are often named after their founders or notable early residents. But Texas also boasts a surprising number whose names are the same as some of the great cities in the world. As a result, you can jump in the car and, in a single day, tour some of the most famous places in the world — or at least Texas’ versions of them. So, fill up the tank and let’s tour some of the “European” cities in Texas.

Where else to start than in the cradle of East Texas civilization? The town of Paris was founded during the Texas Republic by the merchant George W. Wright, and it was one of Wright’s employees who came up with the idea of naming it after the French city. The town boomed thanks to the arrival of the railroad, and today, it remains a commercial hub and manufacturing center. It takes pride in its origins, boasting one of the tallest Eiffel Towers outside of the French capital — only this version is capped with a giant cowboy hat.

From Paris, head southwest through the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex until you arrive in Dublin. No one is completely certain how this small Texas town got its name. Founders could have named it after the Irish capital, or it could have been named for the shout that rang out during skirmishes with Native Americans: “Double In!” Today, however, they commemorate the association in the name by hosting a lively and enormous St. Patrick’s Day celebration every year.

From Dublin, head deep into Hill Country to discover a London that is not beset by frequent fog and continual rain. There were big hopes when London was founded in the 1870s that the town square would be the center of a new county. Unfortunately, its aspirational name didn’t result in the boom its founders wanted. The little, unincorporated town only has a population of a few hundred today.

Next, we head to a town that shares its name with the seat of the Italian Renaissance. In reality, Florence, Texas, may actually be named after Florence, Alabama, where the town’s first postmaster once lived. Unlike its Italian counterpart, Florence is not known for producing any notable artists, but it was home to a cheese factory in its heyday.

Heading south from Florence toward the Gulf Coast, you will come across another famous center of culture: Vienna. While the town was founded by Anglo-American planters in 1840, many of the German immigrants who began to move to Texas felt comfortable putting down roots in a town that bore a familiar name. Today, however, only around 40 people call it home.

About 80 miles northwest of Vienna, you’ll find yourself in another great Germanic city: Berlin. It was founded in the 1850s by Germans who were beginning to arrive in Texas en masse and settling in Central Texas. The area remained primarily agricultural, and Texas’ Berlin remains a small, unincorporated, rural community.

The final leg of the journey takes us east to Moscow — but not that far east. Moscow, Texas, was founded in the Piney Woods in the 1840s. It was originally called Greenville, but in 1853 a postmaster must have decided Texas already had too many Greenvilles and demanded the town change its name. No one quite knows why they chose to borrow the new name from the Russian capital. During the 19th century, it grew into the largest town in Polk County, even boasting its own streetcar at one time. But as the lumbering industry upon which Moscow depended dwindled, so did the town’s fortunes. Today, it is a little community of around 170 people.

As you trek across the European cities in Texas, there’s no better way to remind yourself of where you really are than with the ultimate Texas road trip playlist .

© 2021 Texas Farm Bureau Insurance  

Tour of Turkey: Andresen scores third win in stage 7 sprint finish

DSM rider scores team's fifth win of the race ahead of Dupont and Weemaes

Just three days on from his first-ever professional victory, Tobias Lund Andresen (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) scored his third, going long in the sprint on stage 7 of the Tour of Turkey to win in İzmir.

The Dane looked set to lead out star sprinter Fabio Jakobsen , but kept pushing on to the line after launching 200 metres out to hold off Timothy Dupont (Tartoletto-Isorex) and Sacha Weemaes (Bingoal WB) to triumph.

DSM had been among the teams to set up the sprint – another hectic finish – inside the final kilometre, with the Dutch squad joined at the front by Polti-Kometa, Bingoal WB, and Astana Qazaqstan.

However, it looked like it was the Kazakhstani squad who had control on the final run to the line on the flat stage. Davide Ballerini and stage 2 winner Max Kanter led out Mark Cavendish in prime position, though the Manxman looked to suffer a chain problem just as the sprint was launched.

Beside him, Andresen was on his way, leading from the front with Dupont and Weemaes behind him. Jakobsen, however, was caught a little further back, leaving 21-year-old Andresen to keep flying towards the finish line and grab another well-deserved victory.

"That was a lead out. Fabio was behind my wheel. Everything was perfect and according to plan. Then he told me he got a bit squeezed so I had to go for it. I couldn't see anyone in my wheel and just went for my own sprint," Andresen said after the finish.

"I just hoped Fabio was in my slipstream and could come around me at the end. But when you get so close to the finish you just have to secure the win and cross the finish line first.

"This is massive. Three wins in one stage race. And with the team, our momentum is just perfect. We have five wins in seven stages and we're leading GC. It feels like a dream at the moment. GC is our priority. A GC win here will be massive.

"I'll hopefully go for it at the Giro. That race is something else. I don't want to get too cocky and too naive. We'll take it day by day and Fabio is showing great speed and great form. I think we have a really good opportunity with the him."

The stage, a mostly flat 125km run from Çeşme to İzmir, brought no changes to the general classification with another sprint in Istanbul rounding off the race on Sunday. Frank van den Broek (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) leads by four seconds from Merhawi Kudus (Terengganu), while Paul Double (Polti-Kometa) is third at nine seconds.

The green points jersey, meanwhile, passes shoulders from stage 3 winner Giovanni Lonardi (Polti-Kometa) to stage winner Andresen, who now looks to be the favourite to secure it on Sunday's slightly trickier uphill sprint in Istanbul.

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Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Prior to joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur.

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Home » Europe » Moscow

EPIC MOSCOW Itinerary! (2024)

Moscow is the heart of Mother Russia. Just the mention of this city conjures images of colorful bulbous pointed domes, crisp temperatures, and a uniquely original spirit!

Moscow has an incredibly turbulent history, a seemingly resilient culture, and a unique enchantment that pulls countless tourists to the city each year! Although the warmer months make exploring Moscow’s attractions more favorable, there’s just something about a fresh snowfall that only enhances the appearance of the city’s iconic sites!

If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or simply wanting to see as much of the city as possible, this Moscow itinerary will help you do just that!

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Best Time To Visit Moscow

Where to stay in moscow, moscow itinerary, day 1 itinerary in moscow, day 2 itinerary in moscow, day 3 and beyond, staying safe in moscow, day trips from moscow, faq on moscow itinerary.

Here is a quick look at the seasons so you can decide when to visit Moscow!

The summer months (June-August) are a great time to travel to Moscow to take advantage of the enjoyable mild temperatures. This is considered peak travel season. Bear in mind that hotel prices rise along with the temperatures!

If you’re planning a trip to Moscow during fall (September-November) try to plan for early fall. This way the temperatures will still be pleasant and winter won’t be threatening.

Russian winters (December-February) are not for the faint of heart as Napoleon learned to his peril. Some days the sun will be out for less than an hour, and snow is guaranteed. Although winters are exceptionally cold, this is when you’ll get a true glimpse of the Moscow experience!

The best time to visit Moscow is during spring  (March-May). The temperatures will begin to creep up and the sun begins to shine for significant portions of the day. Hotel rates will also have yet to skyrocket into peak ranges!

With a Moscow City Pass , you can experience the best of Moscow at the CHEAPEST prices. Discounts, attractions, tickets, and even public transport are all standards in any good city pass – be sure invest now and save them $$$ when you arrive!

Moscow is a large city with many accommodation options to choose from. Staying in a location that fits with your travel plans will only enhance your Moscow itinerary. Here is a brief introduction to a few great areas of the city we recommend checking out!

The best place to stay in Moscow to be close to all the action is Kitay-Gorod. This charming neighborhood will put you within walking distance to Moscow’s famous Red Square, thus cutting down on travel time. This will allow you to see more of the city in a shorter amount of time!

It’s surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops. If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or just planning a quick weekend in Moscow, then this area is perfect for you!

Another great area to consider is the Zamoskvorechye district. This area of the city offers a blend of new and old Moscow. It has an artsy vibe and there are plenty of fun sites you can explore outside of the main touristy areas of Moscow.

Of course, as in all areas of Moscow, it’s close to public transportation that will quickly connect you with the rest of the city and make your Moscow itinerary super accessible!

Best Airbnb in Moscow – Exclusive Apartment in Old Moscow

Modern and cozy, this apartment is in the heart of Old Moscow. Bordering the Basmanny and Kitay-Gorod districts, this two-bedroom flat is walking distance to the Kremlin and Red Square. Safe, quiet, and comfortable, this is the best Airbnb in Moscow, no question!

Best Budget Hotel in Moscow – Izmailovo Alfa Hotel

The Izmailovo Alfa Hotel is a very highly rated accommodation that provides all the components necessary for a comfortable trip to Moscow. There is an on-site restaurant, bar, fitness center, and an airport shuttle service. The rooms are modern and spacious and are equipped with a TV, heating/air conditioning, minibar, and more!

Best Luxury Hotel in Moscow – Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre

If you’re touring Moscow in luxury, the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre is the hotel for you! Elegantly furnished rooms are equipped with a minibar, flat-screen TV,  in-room safes, as well as tea and coffee making facilities! Bathrooms come with bathrobes, slippers, and free toiletries. There is also an onsite restaurant, bar, and fitness center.

Best Hostel in Moscow – Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station. Guests will enjoy all the usual hostel perks such as self-catering facilities, 24-hour reception, Free Wi-Fi, and security lockers. This is one of the best hostels in Moscow and its wonderful social atmosphere and will make your vacation in Moscow extra special!

Godzillas Hostel is one of our favourites in Moscow but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.

An important aspect of planning any trip is figuring out the transportation situation. You’re probably wondering how you’re going to get to all of your Moscow points of interest right? Luckily, this sprawling city has an excellent network of public transportation that will make traveling a breeze!

The underground metro system is the quickest and most efficient way to travel around Moscow. Most visitors rely exclusively on this super-efficient transportation system, which allows you to get to pretty much anywhere in the city! It’s also a great option if you’re planning a Moscow itinerary during the colder months, as you’ll be sheltered from the snow and freezing temperatures!

If you prefer above-ground transportation, buses, trams, and trolleybuses, run throughout the city and provide a rather comfortable alternative to the metro.

Moscow’s metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses are all accessible with a ‘Troika’ card. This card can be topped up with any sum of money at a metro cash desk. The ticket is simple, convenient, and even refundable upon return to a cashier!

No matter which method you choose, you’ll never find yourself without an easy means of getting from point A to point B!

Red Square | Moscow Kremlin | Lenin’s Mausoleum | St. Basil’s Cathedral  | GUM Department Store

Spend the first day of your itinerary taking your own self guided Moscow walking tour around the historic Red Square! This is Moscow’s compact city center and every stop on this list is within easy walking distance to the next! Get ready to see all of the top Moscow landmarks!

Day 1 / Stop 1 – The Red Square

• Why it’s awesome: The Red Square is the most recognizable area in Moscow, it has mesmerizing architecture and centuries worth of history attached to its name.
• Cost: Free to walk around, individual attractions in the square have separate fees. 
• Food nearby: Check out Bar BQ Cafe for friendly service and good food in a great location! The atmosphere is upbeat and they’re open 24/7!

The Red Square is Moscow’s historic fortress and the center of the Russian government. The origins of the square date back to the late 15th century, when Ivan the Great decided to expand the Kremlin to reflect Moscow’s growing power and prestige!

During the 20th century, the square became famous as the site for demonstrations designed to showcase Soviet strength. Visiting the Red Square today, you’ll find it teeming with tourists, who come to witness its magical architecture up close!

The square is the picture postcard of Russian tourism, so make sure to bring your camera when you visit! No matter the season, or the time of day, it’s delightfully photogenic! 

It’s also home to some of Russia’s most distinguishing and important landmarks, which we’ve made sure to include further down in this itinerary. It’s an important center of Russia’s cultural life and one of the top places to visit in Moscow!

In 1990, UNESCO designated Russia’s Red Square as a World Heritage site. Visiting this historic site is a true bucket-list event and essential addition to your itinerary for Moscow!

Day 1 / Stop 2 – The Moscow Kremlin

• Why it’s awesome: The Moscow Kremlin complex includes several palaces and cathedrals and is surrounded by the Kremlin wall. It also houses the principal museum of Russia (the Kremlin Armory).
• Cost: USD $15.00
• Food nearby: Bosco Cafe is a charming place to grat a casual bite to eat. They have excellent coffee and wonderful views of the Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin!

The iconic Moscow Kremlin , also known as the Kremlin museum complex, sits on Borovitsky Hill, rising above the Moscow River. It is a fortified complex in the center of the city, overlooking several iconic buildings in the Red Square!

It’s the best known of the Russian Kremlins – citadels or fortress’ protecting and dominating a city. During the early decades of the Soviet era, the Kremlin was a private enclave where the state’s governing elite lived and worked.

The Kremlin is outlined by an irregularly shaped triangular wall that encloses an area of 68 acres! The existing walls and towers were built from 1485 to 1495. Inside the Kremlin museum complex, there are five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers.

The Armoury Chamber is a part of the Grand Kremlin Palace’s complex and is one of the oldest museums of Moscow, established in 1851. It showcases Russian history and displays many cherished relics. Definitely make sure to check out this museum while you’re here!

The churches inside the Moscow Kremlin are the Cathedral of the Dormition, Church of the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki (a church tower).

The five-domed Cathedral of the Dormition is considered the most famous. It was built from 1475–1479 by an Italian architect and has served as a wedding and coronation place for great princes, tsars, and emperors of Russia. Church services are given in the Kremlin’s numerous cathedrals on a regular basis.

The Grand Kremlin Palace was the former Tsar’s Moscow residence and today it serves as the official workplace of the President of the Russian Federation (Vladimir Putin seems to have bagged that title for life) .

Insider Tip: The Kremlin is closed every Thursday! Make sure to plan this stop on your Moscow itinerary for any other day of the week!

Day 1 / Stop 3 – Lenin’s Mausoleum

• Why it’s awesome: The mausoleum displays the preserved body of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin .
• Cost: Free!
• Food nearby: Khinkal’naya is a charming Georgian restaurant with vaulted ceilings and exposed brick. It’s a popular place with locals and right next to the Red Square!

Lenin’s Mausoleum, also known as Lenin’s Tomb, is the modernist mausoleum for the revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin. It’s located within the Red Square and serves as the resting place for the Soviet leader! His preserved body has been on public display since shortly after his death in 1924.

It’s located just a few steps away from the Kremlin Wall and is one of the most controversial yet popular Moscow attractions!

Admission is free for everyone, you’ll only need to pay if you need to check a bag. Before visitors are allowed to enter the mausoleum, they have to go through a metal detector first. No metal objects, liquids, or large bags are allowed in the mausoleum!

Expect a line to enter the building, and while you’re inside the building, you’ll be constantly moving in line with other visitors. This means you won’t be able to spend as long as you’d like viewing the mausoleum, but you’ll still be able to get a good look. Pictures and filming while inside the building are strictly prohibited, and security guards will stop you if they see you breaking this rule.

The mausoleum is only open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday – unless it’s a public holiday or a day scheduled for maintenance. The hours it’s open for each day are limited, make sure to check online before you visit to make sure you can fit this into your Moscow itinerary for that day!

Insider Tip: The Lenin’s Museum is there for people to pay their respect; remember to keep silent and move along quickly, it’s not intended for people to congregate around. Also, men are not allowed to wear hats and everyone must take their hands out of their pockets when inside the building.

Day 1 / Stop 4 – St. Basil’s Cathedral

• Why it’s awesome: A dazzling designed cathedral that showcases Russia’s unique architecture. This cathedral is one of the most recognizable symbols of the country!
• Cost: USD $8.00
• Food nearby: Moskovskiy Chaynyy Klub is a cozy cafe serving food items and pipping hot tea; it’s the perfect place to go if you’re visiting Moscow during the winter months!

Located in the Red Square, the ornate 16th-century St. Basil’s Cathedral is probably the building you picture when you think of Moscow’s unique architecture. Its colorful onion-shaped domes tower over the Moscow skyline!

The cathedral was built from 1555-1561 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It was designed with an iconic onion dome facade and enchanting colors that captivate all who see it. Fun fact: If you’re wondering why Russian churches have onion domes, they are popularly believed to symbolize burning candles!

This iconic cathedral has become a symbol of Russia due to its distinguishing architecture and prominent position inside the Red Square. It’s one of the most beautiful, wonderful, and mesmerizing historical cathedrals in the world!

The interior of the church surprises most people when they visit. In contrast to the large exterior, the inside is not so much one large area, but rather a collection of smaller areas, with many corridors and small rooms. There are 9 small chapels and one mausoleum grouped around a central tower.

Visiting the inside is like walking through a maze, there are even small signs all around the cathedral tracing where to walk, and pointing you in the right direction! The walls are meticulously decorated and painted with intricate floral designs and religious themes.

The church rarely holds service and is instead a museum open for the public to visit.

Insider Tip: During the summer months the line to go inside the cathedral can get quite long! Make sure to arrive early or reserve your tickets online to guarantee quick access into the cathedral!

Day 1 / Stop 5 – GUM Department Store

• Why it’s awesome: This is Russia’s most famous shopping mall! It’s designed with elegant and opulent architecture and provides a real sense of nostalgia!
• Cost: Free to enter
• Food nearby: Stolovaya 57 is a cafeteria-style restaurant with a variety of inexpensive Russian cuisine menu items including soups, salads, meat dishes, and desserts. It’s also located inside the GUM department store, making it very easily accessible when you’re shopping!

The enormous GUM Department Store is located within the historic Red Square. It has a whimsical enchantment to it that sets it apart from your typical department store.

A massive domed glass ceiling lines the top of the building and fills the interior with natural sunlight. There are live plants and flowers placed throughout the mall that give the shopping complex a lively and cheerful feel! A playful fountain sits in the center, further adding to the malls inviting a sense of wonder and amusement!

The GUM department store opened on December 2, 1893. Today, it includes local and luxury stores, including Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and many more! There are numerous cafes, restaurants, and even a movie theater inside!

For a special treat, head into Gastronom 1. This 1950s-style shop sells gourmet food items, like wine, freshly-baked pastries, cheese, Russian chocolate, and of course, vodka! Also, be on the lookout for a bicycle pedaling ice cream truck with an employing selling ice cream!

The ambiance is simply amazing, a trip to this idyllic shopping mall is an absolute must on any Moscow itinerary!

Insider Tip: Make sure to carry some small change on you in case you need to use the restroom, you’ll need to pay 50 rubles – or about USD $0.80 to use the bathroom in GUM.

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Novodevichy Convent | Gorky Park | State Tretyakov Gallery | All-Russian Exhibition Center | Bolshoi Theater

On your 2 day itinerary in Moscow, you’ll have a chance to use the city’s excellent public transportation service! You’ll explore a few more of Moscow’s historic highlight as well as some modern attractions. These sites are a little more spread out, but still very easily accessible thanks to the metro!

Day 2 / Stop 1 – Novodevichy Convent

• Why it’s awesome: The Novodevichy Convent is rich in imperial Russian history and contains some of Russia’s best examples of classical architecture!
• Cost: USD $5.00
• Food nearby: Culinary Shop Karavaevs Brothers is a cozy and simple place to have a quick bite, they also have vegetarian options!

The Novodevichy Convent is the best-known and most popular cloister of Moscow. The convent complex is contained within high walls, and there are many attractions this site is known for! 

The six-pillared five-domed Smolensk Cathedral is the main attraction. It was built to resemble the Kremlin’s Assumption Cathedral and its facade boasts beautiful snowy white walls and a pristine golden onion dome as its centerpiece. It’s the oldest structure in the convent, built from 1524 -1525, and is situated in the center of the complex between the two entrance gates.

There are other churches inside the convent as well, all dating back from many centuries past. The convent is filled with an abundance of 16th and 17th-century religious artworks, including numerous large and extravagant frescos!

Just outside the convent’s grounds lies the Novodevichy Cemetery. Here, you can visit the graves of famous Russians, including esteemed authors, composers, and politicians. Probably the most intriguing gravestone belongs to Russian politician Nikita Khruschev!

The Novodevichy Convent is located near the Moscow River and offers a peaceful retreat from the busy city. In 2004, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The convent remains remarkably well-preserved and is an outstanding example of Moscow Baroque architecture! 

Insider Tip: To enter the cathedrals inside the complex, women are advised to cover their heads and shoulders, while men should wear long pants.

Day 2 / Stop 2 – Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure

• Why it’s awesome: A large amusement area in the heart of the city offering many attractions!
• Cost: Free! 
• Food nearby: Check out Mepkato, located inside Gorky Central Park for a casual meal in a cozy setting. There are indoor and outdoor seating options and the restaurant is child-friendly!

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure is a large green space in the heart of Moscow. The park opened in 1928, and it stretches along the scenic embankment of the Moskva River. It covers an area of 300-acres and offers a lovely contrast from the compact city center.

You’ll find all sorts of wonderful attractions, from boat rides to bike rentals to tennis courts and ping-pong tables, and much more! there are an open-air cinema and festive events and concerts scheduled in the summer months.  A wide selection of free fitness classes is also offered on a regular basis, including jogging, roller skating, and dancing!

Although many of the options you’ll find here are more suited for outdoor leisure during the summer, you’ll also a selection of winter attractions, including one of Europe’s largest ice rinks for ice-skating!

If you’re trying to decide what to do in Moscow with kids, the park also offers several venues designed specifically for kids. Check out the year-round Green School which offers hands-on classes in gardening and art! You can also feed the squirrels and birds at the Golitsinsky Ponds!

The park is very well maintained and kept clean and the entrance is free of charge, although most individual attractions cost money. There is also Wi-Fi available throughout the park.

With so many attractions, you could easily spend all day here! If you’re only planning a 2 day itinerary in Moscow, make sure to plan your time accordingly and map out all the areas you want to see beforehand!

Day 2 / Stop 3 – The State Tretyakov Gallery

• Why it’s awesome: The gallery’s collection consists entirely of Russian art made by Russian artists!
• Food nearby : Brothers Tretyakovs is located right across the street from the gallery. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric restaurant serving top quality food and drinks!

The State Tretyakov Gallery was founded in 1856 by influential merchant and collector Pavel Tretyakov.  The gallery is a national treasury of Russian fine art and one of the most important museums in Russia!

It houses the world’s best collection of Russian art and contains more than 130, 000 paintings, sculptures, and graphics! These works have been created throughout the centuries by generations of Russia’s most talented artists!

The exhibits range from mysterious 12th-century images to politically charged canvases. The collection is rich and revealing and offers great insight into the history and attitudes of this long-suffering yet inspired people!

All pictures are also labeled in English. If you plan to take your time and see everything inside the museum it will take a good 3-4 hours, so make sure to plan your Moscow trip itinerary accordingly! This gallery is a must-see stop for art lovers, or anyone wanting to explore the local culture and history of Russia in a creative and insightful manner! 

Insider Tip: When planning your 2 days in Moscow itinerary, keep in mind that most museums in Moscow are closed on Mondays, this includes The State Tretyakov Gallery!

Day 2 / Stop 4 – All-Russian Exhibition Center

• Why it’s awesome: This large exhibition center showcases the achievements of the Soviet Union in several different spheres. 
• Food nearby: Varenichnaya No. 1 serves authentic and homestyle Russian cuisine in an intimate and casual setting.

The All-Russian Exhibition Center is a massive park that presents the glory of the Soviet era! It pays homage to the achievements of Soviet Russia with its many different sites found on the property.

The center was officially opened in 1939 to exhibit the achievements of the Soviet Union. It’s a huge complex of buildings and the largest exhibition center in Moscow. There are several exhibition halls dedicated to different achievements and every year there are more than one hundred and fifty specialized exhibitions!

The Peoples Friendship Fountain was constructed in 1954 and is a highlight of the park. The stunning gold fountain features 16 gilded statues of girls, each representing the former Soviet Union republics. 

The Stone Flower Fountain was also built in 1954 and is worth checking out. The centerpiece of this large fountain is a flower carved from stones from the Ural Mountains! Along the side of the fountain are various bronze sculptures.

You will find many people zipping around on rollerblades and bicycles across the large area that the venue covers. It’s also home to amusement rides and carousels, making it the perfect place to stop with kids on your Moscow itinerary! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and allow a few hours to explore all the areas that interest you!

Day 2 / Stop 5 – Bolshoi Theater

• Why it’s awesome: The Bolshoi Theater is a historic venue that hosts world-class ballet and opera performances!
• Cost: Prices vary largely between USD $2.00 –  USD $228.00 based on seat location.
• Food nearby: Head to the Russian restaurant, Bolshoi for high-quality food and drinks and excellent service!

The Bolshoi Theater is among the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world! It also boasts the world’s biggest ballet company, with more than 200 dancers!

The theater has been rebuilt and renovated several times during its long history. In 2011 it finished its most recent renovation after an extensive six-year restoration that started in 2005. The renovation included an improvement in acoustics and the restoration of the original Imperial decor.

The Bolshoi Theater has put on many of the world’s most famous ballet acts! Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake premiered at the theater in 1877 and other notable performances of the Bolshoi repertoire include Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker!

Today, when you visit the theater, you can expect a magical performance from skilled singers, dancers, and musicians with the highest level of technique!

If you don’t have time to see a show, the theater also provides guided tours on select days of the week. Tours are given in both Russian and English and will provide visitors with a more intimate look at the different areas of the theater!

The stage of this iconic Russian theater has seen many outstanding performances. If you’re a fan of the performing arts, the Bolshoi Theater is one of the greatest and oldest ballet and opera companies in the world, making it a must-see attraction on your Moscow itinerary!

Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station.

• Towels Included

Cosmonautics Museum | Alexander Garden | Ostankino Tower | Izmaylovo District | Soviet Arcade Museum

Now that we’ve covered what to do in Moscow in 2 days, if you’re able to spend more time in the city you’re going to need more attractions to fill your time. Here are a few more really cool things to do in Moscow we recommend!

Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics

• Hear the timeline of the ‘space race’ from the Russian perspective
• This museum is fun for both adults and children!
• Admission is USD $4.00

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a museum dedicated to space exploration! The museum explores the history of flight, astronomy, space exploration, space technology, and space in the arts. It houses a large assortment of Soviet and Russian space-related exhibits, and the museum’s collection holds approximately 85,000 different items!

The museum does an excellent job of telling the full story of the exciting space race between the USSR and the US! It highlights the brightest moments in Russian history and humanity and is very interesting and fun for all ages!

If you’re a fan of space or just curious about gaining insight into Russia’s fascinating history of space exploration, make sure to add this to your 3 day itinerary in Moscow!

The Alexander Garden

• A tranquil place to relax near the Red Square
• Green lawns dotted with sculptures and lovely water features
• The park is open every day and has no entrance fee

The Alexander Garden was one of the first urban public parks in Moscow! The garden premiered in 1821 and was built to celebrate Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s forces in 1812!

The park is beautiful and well maintained with paths to walk on and benches to rest on. The park contains three separate gardens: the upper garden, middle garden, and lower garden.

Located in the upper garden, towards the main entrance to the park is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame. This monument was created in 1967 and contains the body of a soldier who fell during the Great Patriotic War!

The park stretches along all the length of the western Kremlin wall for about half a mile. Due to its central location in the city, it’ll be easily accessible when you’re out exploring The Red Square.

It provides a bit of relief from the city’s high-energy city streets. Bring a picnic lunch, go for a walk, or just sit and people watch, this is one of the best Moscow sites to wind-down and relax!

Ostankino Television Tower

• Television and radio tower in Moscow
• Currently the tallest free-standing structure in Europe
• Make sure you bring your passport when you visit, you can’t go up without it!

For spectacular views of the city, make sure to add the Ostankino Television Tower to your itinerary for Moscow! This impressive free-standing structure provides stunning views of the city in every direction. The glass floor at the top also provides great alternative views of the city!

It takes just 58 seconds for visitors to reach the Tower’s observation deck by super fast elevator. The tower is open every day for long hours and is a great site in Moscow to check out! There is even a restaurant at the top where you can enjoy rotating views of the city while you dine on traditional Russian cuisine or European cuisine!

The tower is somewhat of an architectural surprise in a city that is not known for skyscrapers! To see the city from a new perspective, make sure to add this stop to your Moscow itinerary!

Izmaylovo District

• The most popular attractions in this district are the kremlin and the flea market
• Outside of the city center and easy to reach via metro
• Most popular during the summer and on weekends

Travel outside the city center and discover a unique area of the city! The Izmaylovo District is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, and one of the coolest places to see in Moscow! The two main attractions we recommend checking out are the Kremlin and the flea market.

The Izmailovo Kremlin was established as a cultural center and molded after traditional Russian architecture. This colorful complex is home to several single-subject museums, including a Russian folk art museum and a vodka museum!

Next to the Kremlin is the Izmailovo open-air market, which dates back to the 17th century! The market is connected to the Izmailovo Kremlin by a wooden bridge. Pick up all your Russian souvenirs here, including traditional handicrafts, paintings, books, retro toys, and Soviet memorabilia!

You will find many hand-made and hand-painted options available at higher prices, as well as mass-produced souvenir options at lower prices!

Museum of Soviet Arcade Games

• Closed on Mondays
• Filled with old arcade games that visitors get to try out!
• The museum also includes a small cafe and burger shop

For something a little different, check out the Museum of Soviet Arcade Games! The museum features roughly 60 machines from the Soviet era, including video games, pinball machines, and collaborative hockey foosball! The machines inside the museum were produced in the USSR in the mid-1970s.

The best part is, most of the games are still playable! Purchase tickets and try the games out for yourself! The museum also has a neat little screening room that plays old Soviet cartoons and an area with Soviet magazines! This unique attraction is a fun addition to a 3 day itinerary in Moscow, and an attraction that all ages will enjoy! 

Whether you’re spending one day in Moscow, or more, safety is an important thing to keep in mind when traveling to a big city! Overall, Moscow is a very safe place to visit. However, it is always recommended that tourists take certain precautions when traveling to a new destination!

The police in Moscow is extremely effective at making the city a safe place to visit and do their best to patrol all of the top Moscow, Russia tourist attractions. However, tourists can still be a target for pickpockets and scammers.

Moscow has a huge flow of tourists, therefore there is a risk for pickpocketing. Simple precautions will help eliminate your chances of being robbed. Stay vigilant, keep your items close to you at all times, and don’t flash your valuables!

If you’re planning a solo Moscow itinerary, you should have no need to worry, as the city is also considered safe for solo travelers, even women. Stay in the populated areas, try and not travel alone late at night, and never accept rides from strangers or taxis without a meter and correct signage.

The threat of natural disasters in Moscow is low, with the exception of severe winters when the temperature can dip below freezing! Bring a good, warm jacket if you visit in Winter.

However, please note that Russian views on homsexuality are far less accepting than those in Western Europe. Likewise, Non-Caucasian travellers may sadly encounter racism in Russia .

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Now that we’ve covered all the top things to see in Moscow, we thought we’d include some exciting day trips to other areas of the country!

Sergiev Posad (Golden Ring)

On this 7-hour guided tour, you’ll visit several scenic and historic areas of Russia. Start your day with hotel pick-up as you’re transferred by a comfortable car or minivan to Sergiev Posad. Admire the charming Russian countryside on your drive and enjoy a quick stop to visit the Russian village, Rudonezh!

You’ll see the majestic Saint Spring and the Church of Sergiev Radonezh. You’ll also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, one of the most famous Orthodox sites in Russia!

Lastly, you’ll swing by the local Matreshka market and enjoy a break in a nice Russian restaurant before returning to Moscow!

Day Trip to Vladimir and Suzdal

On this 13-hour trip, you’ll discover old Russia, with its picturesque landscapes and white-stoned beautiful churches! You’ll visit the main towns of the famous Golden Ring of Russia – the name for several cities and smaller towns north-east of Moscow.

Your first stop will be in the town of Vladimir, the ancient capital of all Russian principalities. The city dates back to the 11th century and is one of the oldest and the most important towns along the Ring! Next, you’ll visit Suzdal, a calm ancient Russian town north of Vladimir with only 13,000 inhabitants!

The old-style architecture and buildings of Suzdal are kept wonderfully intact. If you’re spending three days in Moscow, or more, this is a great option for exploring the charming areas outside the city!

Zvenigorod Day Trip and Russian Countryside

On this 9-hour private tour, you’ll explore the ancient town of Zvenigorod, one of the oldest towns in the Moscow region! As you leave Moscow you’ll enjoy the stunning scenery along the Moscow River, and make a few stops at old churches along the way to Zvenigorod.

Upon arrival, you’ll explore the medieval center, including the 14th-century Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery. Next, you’ll take a break for lunch (own expense) where you’ll have the chance to try out the Russian cuisine! Next, you’ll visit the Museum of Russian Dessert and sip on tea at a Russian tea ceremony.

The final stop of the day is at the Ershovo Estate, a gorgeous place to walk around and enjoy nature!

Day Trip to St Petersburg by Train visiting Hermitage & Faberge

On this full-day tour, you’ll enjoy a a full round trip to St Petersburg where you’ll spend an exciting day exploring another popular Russian city! You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Moscow and be transferred to the train station where you’ll ride the high-speed train ‘Sapsan’ to St Petersburg.

Upon arrival, you’ll start the day by touring the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Next, you’ll visit the Faberge Museum, where you’ll explore the impressive collection of rare Faberge Eggs! In the afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing boat ride and a traditional 3-course Russian lunch.

If you’re spending 3 days in Moscow, or more, this is an excellent trip to take!

Trip to Kolomna – Authentic Cultural Experience from Moscow

On this 10-hour tour, you’ll escape the city and travel to the historic town of Kolomna! First, you’ll visit the 14th-century Kolomna Kremlin, home to the Assumption Cathedral and an abundance of museums!

Next, enjoy lunch at a local cafe (own expense) before embarking on a tour of the Marshmallow Museum – of course, a marshmallow tasting is provided!  Your final stop is the Museum of Forging Settlements, where displays include armor and accessories for fishing and hunting.

Discover this beautiful Russian fairytale city on a private trip, where all of the planning is taken care of for you!

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Find out what people want to know when planning their Moscow itinerary.

How many days you need in Moscow?

We recommend that you spend at least two or three days in Moscow to take it all in.

What’s the best month to visit Moscow?

The best time to visit Moscow is over the spring, from March to May as temperatures are mild, crowds are thin and prices are reasonable.

What are some unusual things to do in Moscow?

I mean, queuing up to see an almost 100 year old corpse is pretty unsual! Check out Lenin’s Mausoleum if you fancy it!

What are some fun things to do in Moscow?

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a fun place to explore the famous space race from the perspective of the ‘other side’!

We hope you enjoyed our Moscow itinerary! We’ve made sure to cover all the Moscow must-sees as well as some unique attractions in the city! Our addition of insider tips, favorite food stops, and day trips from Moscow is an added bonus and will guarantee you make the most out of your exciting Russian vacation!

Immerse yourself in the modern and traditional Russian lifestyle! Get lost in museums, witness awe-inspiring architecture, and indulge in Russian cuisine! Spend the day strolling through all of the charming sites of Moscow, admiring the beautiful scenery and discovering the city’s fairytale-like enchantment!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Alya and Campbell

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