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More Young People than ever want to experience the Magic of Cycling We Ride Flanders

A day before the pros ride the Tour of Flanders, cycling enthusiasts can do the same during We Ride Flanders. The 34th edition welcomes around 14,000 participants from home and abroad on Saturday, including a strikingly large number of young people. The longer distances are also clearly getting more popular. The full experience is more important than ever for participants.

More Young People than ever want to experience the Magic of Cycling We Ride Flanders

Participants in We Ride Flanders can choose from a 79, 133, 163 or 247 km ride on Saturday. The longest route starts in Antwerp, just like the pros do on Sunday; the others set off from Oudenaarde, which is also the finish line and the heart of the Tour of Flanders.

In the Flemish Ardennes, hills well known from the final stages await, such as the Eikenberg, Taaienberg, Koppenberg, Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg. The 247 km route features 16 climbs (2,100 metres of elevation gain), whilst the shortest distance still offers 10 climbs and 900 metres of elevation gain. A significantly higher number of participants have opted for the full (or fuller) experience this year, signing up for the 247 km (3,600) or the 163 km (>5,000).

Of course, anyone can ride the Tour of Flanders course all year round, but We Ride Flanders adds a unique experience: everything is set up the same way as for the pros. Banners mark the climbs, with campervans and supporters lining the roadside, whilst DJs and presenters create a lively atmosphere at the start, finish and key points along the route. And along the way, there’s that typical Tour atmosphere, culminating in a finish where riders cross the official timing line.

Notably, more and more young people want to experience the cycling magic of We Ride Flanders. The number of participants aged between 18 and 34 is over 20% higher than last year. They now make up 29% of the field, compared to 21% in 2025.

We Ride Flanders attracts participants from all over the world but remains particularly popular at home too: 40% of the peloton is Belgian (5,500 participants, a slight increase compared to last year). The largest foreign delegations come from France and the Netherlands (each with more than 2,000 participants), as well as the United Kingdom (over 1,000 cyclists). Cycling enthusiasts from Brazil, Ivory Coast and Singapore and many more will also be at the start.

To ensure all 14,000 cyclists can enjoy the ride without a care on Saturday, organiser Peloton is once again prioritising safety with 340 marshals, 40 of whom are mobile. Medical facilities are being expanded with six additional posts in the busy hilly section, four of which are mobile. In addition, a further 750 staff and volunteers will be on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

We care about cycling

Both in advance and on the day, organiser Peloton is doing its utmost to remind participants to follow the highway code at all times, to remain courteous towards other cyclists and road users, to keep hold of rubbish and dispose of it properly, and to use the bins and toilets that are plentifully available. These efforts are paying off, as the atmosphere on the route has become noticeably more respectful and convivial in recent years. To enhance cyclists’ comfort, filter barriers will once again be set up at the foot of some hills, where frame numbers will be checked to prevent fare evasion.

Last-minute entrants can still register online for We Ride Flanders until Saturday morning on www.werideflanders.com.