In the west of Flanders lies the beautiful town of Ieper, or Ypres as the Walloons call it. Ieper was the scene of one of the most bloodiest battles in history. In the first World War, over half a million soldiers died at the town. However, Ieper has not only been significant in history because of the war. In the middle ages, Ieper had a huge textile industry, and sheets from Ieper where sold in towns as far as Novgorod. This ...
Read moreIn the west of Flanders lies the beautiful town of Ieper, or Ypres as the Walloons call it. Ieper was the scene of one of the most bloodiest battles in history. In the first World War, over half a million soldiers died at the town. However, Ieper has not only been significant in history because of the war. In the middle ages, Ieper had a huge textile industry, and sheets from Ieper where sold in towns as far as Novgorod. This prosperity allowed the construction of the majestic Lakenhalle (sheet hall), situated on the Grote Markt.
This is also where the start ramp is. The riders go through the Menenpoort (Gate of Menen) which also serves as a monument for the 55000 British soldies who fell in Ieper. They pass the hamlet of Potijze and the British cemetery before they take a right, which leads them to the south.
They pass the town of Zillebeke and the small lake next to it, the Zillebekevijver, and another hamlet called Verbrande Molen (which means burnt mill), before entering golfclub De Palingbeek. This is, besides the start and finish on the Grote Markt, the most interesting part of the race, because golf is played while the riders pass. In season 36, Flip Bekooy was leading in the two first spilt times, but got knocked off his bike by a golf ball. He still managed to get third place.
After the golf club, the riders take the Rijsselsestraat,, which is a 2,6 kilometre straight line back to Ieper. They pass the Rijsselsepoort (gate of Lille), which is the oldest gate of the city, dating back to the 14th century.
In the last kilomtre, the riders take a few last turns before finishing on the Grote Markt, in front of the In Flanders Field museum.
