2025 Spring Classics
Spring Classics
Are you a fan of the Classics? If so, this is your trip. No one does the Classics like Thomson!
Real bike racing, with rough roads, questionable weather, frites and great beer, welcome to the Classics! Not for the faint of heart, only a spot on the Alpecin–Deceuninck Team would get you a more intense Classics experience!
Featured Climbs
Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont, Koppenberg, Mur de Huy, Cote de la Redoute, Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons
Overview
Details
Next Departure
April 4th 2025
From
USD $7,295
Duration
11 days / 10 nights
Non-Rider Friendly
Yes
Rental Bike
From USD $600
Ride Program
Total Distance
Total Elevation
Daily Av. Distance
Daily Av. Elevation
Overview
Over the course of the trip, you’ll conquer the cobbles, catch premier pro race action, and immerse yourself in the rich history and culture that define the Classics.
You’ll start this epic trip by riding the Official Tour of Flanders Gran Fondo. The trip then continues the next day with live viewing of the Tour of Flanders on the Paterberg! Witness the sheer grit of the peloton as they battle to claim one of the oldest and most prestigious titles in the history of cycling. After watching the pros in action in the Tour of Flanders, you’ll spend the next four days riding the final 100 km (62 miles) of Gent-Wevelgem, then each of the Ardennes Classics – Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Amstel Gold and La Flèche Wallonne – before returning to Roubaix.
Learn how to ride the Roubaix cobbles with our expert ride leaders, then the following day ride the Official Paris-Roubaix Gran Fondo, a gruelling 170 km ride with 28 cobbled sections (shorter distances are available). Finally, you’ll cap off a thrilling cycling week with VIP race viewing of the “Hell of the North,” Paris-Roubaix. Our relationship with ASO will get you VIP Access to the Race Start, a mid-race cobble section and then VIP access to the Race Finish in the famous Velodrome.
Have a non-riding partner who’d like to join you? No problem, bring them along – we have a full itinerary specifically designed for non-riders.
todd klapwyk, USA — 2019
Brian Schmidt, USA — 2018
Rich Roberts, USA — 2015
Itinerary
Day | Description | Distance | Elevation | Hotel | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | Bienvenue en France! | Hotel Mercure Lille Marcq Baroeul | |||
02 | RIDE Tour of Flanders Gran Fondo | Hotel Mercure Lille Marcq Baroeul | |||
03 | LIVE Viewing: Tour of Flanders | Hotel Mercure Lille Marcq Baroeul | |||
04 | Gent-Wevelgem: Ride the last 100km | Van der Valk Hotel Verviers | |||
05 | Amstel Gold Race: RIDE the last 100km | Van der Valk Hotel Verviers | |||
06 | Fleche Wallone: RIDE the last 100km | Van der Valk Hotel Verviers | |||
07 | Liege-Bastogne-Liege: RIDE the last 100km | Van der Valk Hotel Verviers | |||
08 | From the Ardennes... to Hell | Hotel Mercure Lille Marcq Baroeul | |||
09 | RIDE Paris-Roubaix Gran Fondo | Hotel Mercure Lille Marcq Baroeul | |||
10 | LIVE Viewing: Paris-Roubaix! | Hotel Mercure Lille Marcq Baroeul | |||
11 | Au Revoir! | ||||
Daily Averages |
Itinerary Detail
Day 1
Distance
Elevation
Bienvenue en France!
Your trip starts at Lille Europe Train Station where our staff will meet you before the short transfer to your hotel in Lille.
After lunch, orientation meeting and bike build-up, you’ll head out onto the narrow lanes for your first taste of riding in Northern France.
Day 2
Distance
Elevation
RIDE Tour of Flanders Gran Fondo
The first of our 2 Gran Fondos sees you on the Start Line in Oudenaarde for one of the top Gran Fondos in the world. Thousands of cyclists line up to ride the same routes that the pros will ride tomorrow, over the bergs that make the Tour of Flanders unique and so special.
The Gran Fondo route covers the same famous cobbled bergs as tomorrow’s pro race: Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont, Koppenberg and Muur van Geraardsbergen – you’ll ride them all! The atmosphere at the fondo is fantastic – the Belgians love their cycling! We recommend the 158km route, but there are also 74km and 128km options.
Day 3
Distance
Elevation
LIVE Viewing: Tour of Flanders
Today is definitely one of those must-do, bucket list items for the passionate cyclist! Witness the pros fight it out on the Paterberg, one of the key climbs in the Tour of Flanders!
You rode it yesterday so you now know what it’s all about – and you can now watch the pros with a new sense of appreciation.
You’ll head over to the Paterberg, the best location to witness the pros fight it out. Feel the atmosphere grow as the race approaches, enjoy a Belgian beer with sausage & pommes-frites and get ready to witness the locals go crazy if a Belgian rider powers up the 20% climb near the front.
Day 4
Distance
Elevation
Gent-Wevelgem: Ride the last 100km
Gent-Wevelgem is one of the Flemish Classics and always takes place on the Sunday before the Tour of Flanders. The race, also known as “Gent-Wevelgem – In Flanders Fields”, is in memory of the many WW1 battlefields that the route crosses. The route also goes through the famous Menen Gate in Ypres, a memorial to the missing soldiers from WW1.
You’ll ride the last 100km, including the main cobbled climbs of the Baneberg, Monteberg and Kemmelberg. The Kemmelberg is the most well-known and most challenging climb with sections of up to 23%. The run-in to the finish in Wevelgem is flat with the wind usually playing a big part in the final outcome.
After the ride you’ll transfer to our next hotel in Verviers in the heart of the Ardennes.
Day 5
Distance
Elevation
Amstel Gold Race: RIDE the last 100km
The Amstel Gold Race is always the first of the 3 Ardennes Classics. Think of Holland and you probably think of flat tulip fields and windmills. Not here – this is the Ardennes and your ride today is an endless rollercoaster of short climbs and steep descents.
Starting near Benzenrade, 15 climbs lie between you and the finish, including the iconic Cauberg. Who can forget Mathieu van der Poel’s incredible ride to claim Amstel Gold victory in 2019?
Day 6
Distance
Elevation
Fleche Wallone: RIDE the last 100km
From the Dutch Ardennes we move to the French speaking Walloon region of Belgium. Your challenge today is the last 100km of the Classic Fleche-Wallonne race, and your chance to shine on one of cycling’s most famous monuments – the Mur de Huy! It’s short, but with grades of up to 26%, this one hurts. Bonne route!
Day 7
Distance
Elevation
Liege-Bastogne-Liege: RIDE the last 100km
“La Doyenne” (The Old Lady) is of course the oldest of the classics – and for many, this is also the toughest of the classics.
Once again, you’ll tackle the final 100km, starting from the village of Vielsalm, deep in the Belgian Ardennes. The route changes slightly every year but you can expect around 10 climbs packed into the last 100km. You’ll ride the icons: Cote de La Redoute and Cote de la Roche aux Faucons before the final run-in to the Finish in Liege.
Enjoy your final day in the Ardennes. The Hell of the North and the cobbles are next!
Day 8
Distance
Elevation
From the Ardennes... to Hell
The Ardennes rides are over and you can now turn your attention towards the legendary cobbles that line the route between Paris and Roubaix.
A short drive takes us back to our first hotel in Lille where our mechanics will prepare the bikes for the Roubaix cobbles.
This is your chance to ride a few cobbled sections before tomorrow’s Gran Fondo. Our expert ride leaders will be on hand to provide guidance and advice on how to ride the cobbles before tomorrow’s big day!
Note: you can choose from 3 different Gran Fondo routes: 70km, 145km and 172km.
Day 9
Distance
Elevation
RIDE Paris-Roubaix Gran Fondo
A dream come true for any avid cyclist – the opportunity to ride the classic of all classics, Paris-Roubaix! You will be participating in the Paris-Roubaix Challenge Gran Fondo along with hundreds of other passionate riders from around the world.
The Gran Fondo route covers the same famous cobbled sections as tomorrow’s pro race: Le Carrefour de L’Arbre and Trouee d’Arenberg, while other stretches of the infamous cobbles lie in wait on the famous route to the velodrome in Roubaix. Bon courage!
70km and 145km routes are also available.
Day 10
Distance
Elevation
LIVE Viewing: Paris-Roubaix!
You rode it yesterday so you now know what it’s all about – and you can now watch the pros with a new sense of appreciation. Life as a pro cyclist is tough and nothing comes any tougher than racing from Paris to Roubaix.
Our status as Official Tour Operator gives us privileged access to the VIP areas at the Race Start and at the Race Finish inside the famous velodrome. You’ll also witness the action on one of the cobble sections, so get ready for drama and an action-packed afternoon. Crashes, spills, punctures, broken bikes, broken bones will all play a part in the outcome of this legendary race, and you’ll be there to witness it all – LIVE!
Day 11
Distance
Elevation
Au Revoir!
Unfortunately, our Spring Classics trip has come to an end.
Our shuttle will drop you off at Lille Europe TGV Railway Station. From here you can catch a high-speed train to downtown Paris or to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Map & Profile
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No major climbs today |
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No major climbs today |
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No major climbs today |
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No major climbs today |
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Geulhemmerweg |
4.6% | 4 | |||
Bemelerberg |
4.6% | 4 | |||
Loorberg |
4.9% | 4 | |||
Gulperberg |
6.3% | 4 | |||
Kruisberg Botterweck |
7.4% | 4 | |||
Eyserbosweg |
7% | 4 | |||
Fromberg |
3.8% | 4 | |||
Keutenberg |
7.6% | 4 | |||
Cauberg |
4.6% | 4 |
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mur de Huy |
8.9% | 4 |
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cote de Stockeu |
11.9% | 4 | |||
Cote de la Haute-Levee |
5.3% | 4 | |||
Col du Rosier |
5.9% | 4 | |||
Col du Maquisard |
5.1% | 4 | |||
Cote de la Redoute |
9.2% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
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Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons |
9.4% | 4 |
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No major climbs today |
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
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No major climbs today |
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
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No major climbs today |
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
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No major climbs today |
Climbs
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Climbs
Dates & Prices
Date | Booking Status | Availability | Price / Per Person | Single Supplement | Non-rider Discount | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | |||||||
Apr 4 - 14 |
Taking Bookings |
Places Available |
USD $7,295
|
USD $950 |
USD $1,400 |
Book this trip |
Waiting List
Sign up to the waiting list for this departure, to be notified if a space becomes available. Please fill out the information below:
Trip Hotels
Hotel Mercure Lille Marcq Baroeul
Van der Valk Hotel Verviers
What's Included
What's Included | What's Not Included |
---|---|
Accommodations & Meals
Race Passes & Gran Fondo Entries
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
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What's Included |
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Accommodations & Meals
Race Passes & Gran Fondo Entries
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
|
What's Not Included |
|
Pick-up/Drop-off Info
Arrival
Pickup Location | Time |
---|---|
Lille Europe TGV Train Station (direct trains from Paris downtown or CDG airport) |
9:30am |
Departure
Drop Off Location | Time |
---|---|
Lille Europe TGV Train Station (direct trains to Paris downtown or CDG airport) |
8:00am |
Rental Bikes
Specialized Aethos Expert
Frame
Aethos FACT 10r Carbon
Groupset
Di2 Shimano Ultegra
Weight
699g (size 56)
Wheels
Roval C38
Chainrings
52/36T
Cassette
11-34t (12-speed)
Sizes
49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61
USD $600
View DetailsSpecialized Diverge Expert Carbon
Frame
Specialized Diverge FACT 9r carbon
Groupset
SRAM Eagle
Weight
Under 1kg (size 56)
Wheels
Roval Terra C
Chainrings
40T
Cassette
11-50t (12-speed)
Sizes
49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61
USD $600
View DetailsSpring Classics
No-one does the Classics like Thomson!