tour of qatar cycling

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Tour of Qatar

•   »  
• Total editions: 15
• Country: Qatar
• First edition: 2002

• www.letour.fr/
• www.twitter.com/tourofqatar_
• www.qatarcf.org

Last winners

• 2016 CAVENDISH Mark
• 2015 TERPSTRA Niki
• 2014 TERPSTRA Niki
• 2013 CAVENDISH Mark
• 2012 BOONEN Tom
• 2011 RENSHAW Mark
• 2010 MOL Wouter
• 2009 BOONEN Tom
• 2008 BOONEN Tom
• 2007 CRETSKENS Wilfried

Name history

• 2002-2016 Tour of Qatar

Position on calendar

• 1 BOONEN Tom 4
• 2 CAVENDISH Mark 2
• 3 TERPSTRA Niki 2
• 4 RENSHAW Mark 1
• 5 MOL Wouter 1
• 6 CRETSKENS Wilfried 1
• 7 MICHAELSEN Lars 1
• 8 HUNTER Robert 1
• 9 LODDO Alberto 1
• 10 WILHELMS Thorsten 1
• 1 BOONEN Tom 22
• 2 CAVENDISH Mark 9
• 3 KRISTOFF Alexander 6
• 4 LODDO Alberto 3
• 5 TERPSTRA Niki 2
• 6 DÉMARE Arnaud 2
• 7 HAUSSLER Heinrich 2
• 8 CHICCHI Francesco 2
• 9 HUNTER Robert 2
• 10 NAZON Damien 2

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Tour of Qatar, The Finale

Winner of his fourth consecutive stage on the Doha Corniche, Mark Cavendish conquered his very first Tour of Qatar. On the sixth and final stage of the event, the Brit first witnessed a big fright when he hit the ground after just a few kilometres. Unhurt, he then flew to glory when he outsprinted Hutarovich and Markus to the line. Cav wins the GC ahead of Bookwalter and Phinney. A fine way to start the season for the Manx Missile.

Stage 6: Sealine Beach Resort ? Doha Corniche, 116.5 km 136 riders at the start: Sunny, light wind

At the start of the sixth and final stage of the 2013 Tour of Qatar, at the Sealine Beach Resort, Golden Jersey Mark Cavendish (OPQ) could enjoy a 15′ lead over his closest rival Brent Bookwalter (BMC). Enough to serenely consider a first overall success in Qatar. But what the Brit hadn’t expected was the fall he was to suffer at km 8 when he hit the ground as well as Bookwalter. A big fright without big consequences as he was able to hop back on his bike unhurt and returned to the pack well helped out by his Omega Pharma Quickstep team mates.  

Despite several attempts, the pack remained bunched all the way to the first intermediate sprint (at Al Wakra, km 38.5) won by Phinney (BMC) ahead of Eisel (SKY) and Van Keirsbulck (OPQ). At km 40, the first real breakaway occurred as five men took off: Popovych (RLT), Boucher (FDJ), Kreder (VCD), Isaichev (KAT) and Friedemann. But despite having a 20′ lead, they were gobbled up by the pack just two kilometres later. Team Omega Pharma Quickstep remained in the front positions of the pack, preventing any kind of attack. Once on the final circuit, the pack stayed bunched during the entire 10 laps to be covered. The second bonus sprint at the fourth crossing of the line (km 74.5) was claimed by attacking Van Avermaet (BMC) ahead of his team mates Blythe and Phinney.

The stage was to end with a bunched sprint. Well led out by his team mates, Mark Cavendish claimed his fourth consecutive win, beating Hutarovich (ALM) and Markus (VCD) to the line. The Brit now has eight stage victories in Qatar under the belt, far however from his new team mate and record holder Tom Boonen with 20.

A year after Boonen, Cavendish wins the Tour of Qatar GC, for the first time in his career. In the final overall standings the Brit has a 25′ lead over Bookwalter and 26′ over Taylor Phinney who finishes best young rider of the event (White Pearl jersey). ‘Cav’ also wins the points’ classification (Silver jersey) and the Qatar Airways Excellency jersey.     RESULTS:   Tour of Qatar, Stage 6 (116.5km):    1. Mark Cavendish (GBR/Omega Pharma) 2h 24.31min (average speed 48.368kph)    2. Yauheni Hutarovich (BLR) same time    3. Barry Markus (NED) same time    4. Adam Blythe (GBR) same time    5. Taylor Phinney (USA) same time    6. Robert Van Hummel (NED) same time    7. Alexander Kristoff (NOR) same time    8. Bernhard Eisel (AUT) same time    9. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) same time    10. Guillaume Boivin (CAN) same time        Overall classification:    1. Mark Cavendish (GBR/Omega Pharma) 732.5km in 15h 55.20min (average speed 45.969 kph).    2. Brent Bookwalter (USA) at 25sec    3. Taylor Phinney (USA) at 26sec    4. Adam Blythe (GBR) at 30sec    5. Bernhard Eisel (AUT) at 32sec    6. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) same time    7. Michael Schaer (SUI) at 35sec    8. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) at 39sec    9. Luke Rowe (GBR) at 40sec    10. Geraint Thomas (GBR) same time

THE TEAM REPORT Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Mark Cavendish snuck his way through a tough situation inside the final kilometer at Tour of Qatar Stage 6 on Friday. The peloton was determined to try and prevent his fourth straight victory, and as he was slightly boxed in within the final meters, it looked to be a tough task for the Manx Missile.

However, after his OPQS teammates protected him all race long, Cavendish found enough of an opening in the final 300 meters to sneak up the left side and accelerate for the win. His fourth straight victory at Tour of Qatar also sealed the overall win, and he even took home the points jersey with 70 points.

Cavendish’s stage and GC victories make it eight for OPQS, in three disciplines, in 2013.

“It was kind of like Al Khor, actually,” Cavendish said of the final sprint, comparing his tactics to the victory of Stage 4. “I knew the wind was coming from the right, knew a gap was coming from the left. Same as when I won in 2009. The same tactics. The guys were going, and going, and going.  Other teams started winding up with four laps to go. Still, it ended up the same way with one lap to go. It’s a bit safer into the last lap and everyone’s happy. The guys had been a bit used up for working for me all day and the entire race, so I knew I can kind of just go alone, can leave it late and come up the left side again. That’s exactly what I did. I knew they would go right, and I could just use other leadouts to move up in the last 300 meters and jump on the left hand side.”

Cavendish said he was a bit “rusty” after a crash earlier slightly after 15km into the final stage.

“I tweeted this morning that I’ve won and crashed this stage before – the previous one – and the fact is I did both again,” Cavendish said with a laugh. “I was just going along after 15km, came to a roundabout not going hard, just riding. I was riding on someone’s wheel and he just went down. He doesn’t even know what happened. But, that’s bike racing. It was a freak accident. I’m a bit banged up, but I’m OK. I am just kind of twisted, but we’ll get it sorted.”

Cavendish was all smiles talking about earned the first overall victory for OPQS in 2013 at Tour of Qatar – a race OPQS has been successful at since it began. Cavendish not only continued the tradition at Tour of Qatar, he also added a second stage victory to his palmares.

“I’m over the moon,” Cavendish said. “We come here every year almost guaranteed an overall victory with Tom Boonen, but he’s recovering from an injury. So it put a little bit of pressure on me and I was a bit nervous. But I’m really happy to get the win. The guys worked incredible here. They really looked after me so, so well here and delivered every single day. I am so happy and proud I can bring it home again for the team again. We’ve won Tour of Qatar six times, and I don’t know how many stages, so I am happy to be a part of that.”

Photo: ASO/B.Bades Road Bike Action & ASO

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Tour of Qatar, Stage 5

Being There: Michelin’s 2013 Tire Launch

CALIFORNIA COAST CLASSIC “THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME”

CLASSIFIED ADDS ANOTHER BIG NAME TO THE ROSTER

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Merckx: The Tour of Qatar is here to stay

The tour of qatar has won its place in the international cycling calendar and it could one day host a tour de france stage, cycling legend eddy merckx believes. this year's race, won last week by belgian powerhouse tom boonen, was the eighth edition of an event which has seen competitive cycling come to the gulf for the first time. the 64-year-old merckx, whom many see as the greatest cyclist ever, said he is convinced that the tour of qatar has gained in strength during that time..

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By Agence France Presse

The Tour of Qatar has won its place in the international cycling calendar and it could one day host a Tour de France stage, cycling legend Eddy Merckx believes.

This year’s race, won last week by Belgian powerhouse Tom Boonen, was the eighth edition of an event which has seen competitive cycling come to the Gulf for the first time.

The 64-year-old Merckx, whom many see as the greatest cyclist ever, said he is convinced that the Tour of Qatar has gained in strength during that time.

“The signs are there; more and more teams want to take part,” he said. “It says something that a champion like Boonen comes each year. He can cover the maximum of kilometers at a decent pace and in ideal climatic conditions.”

Merckx, who serves as an advisor to organizer ASO, said that the Tour suffered from the tragic death of 21-year-old Frederiek Nolf last week, but that the race managed to work through the difficulty.

“Ultimately, this is a race that has a great attraction for riders at this time of year,” he said.

“When I see the winter weather that has hit France at this time of year, I can only deduce that cyclists are better off here,” he added. “As for the Tour of California (which starts Saturday) it’s far too demanding at the start of a season with too many climbs. It makes no sense in February.”

Merckx, who said that seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong had indicated he could take part in next year’s Tour of Qatar, said that tests would be held to ascertain whether a Tour de France stage could be held around Doha.

“The Tour in Qatar?” he asked. “It may not happen tomorrow, but you can’t count it out. Nothing is impossible. Doha is only a four or five hours’ flight from Nice.”

Merckx also expressed his admiration for British sprinter Mark Cavendish who chalked up two stage wins in Qatar.

“He really is impressive,” he said. “The way he sprints is quite phenomenal, and he is only 23 years old.”

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ratio technology announce ovalsized jockey wheels\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"tour of flanders tech gallery: what we found today in belgium","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/tour-of-flanders-2024-tech-gallery\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/tour-of-flanders-2024-tech-gallery\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"tour of flanders tech gallery: what we found today in belgium\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/tour-of-flanders-2024-tech-gallery\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"tour of flanders tech gallery: what we found today in belgium\"}}\u0027>\n tour of flanders tech gallery: what we found today in belgium\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"without rival: mathieu van der poel dominates 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poel dominates tour of flanders with magnus sheffield in top-10\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"michael matthews relegated off tour of flanders podium in controversial ruling","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/michael-matthews-relegated-off-tour-of-flanders-podium\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/michael-matthews-relegated-off-tour-of-flanders-podium\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"michael matthews relegated off tour of flanders podium in controversial ruling\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/michael-matthews-relegated-off-tour-of-flanders-podium\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"michael matthews relegated off tour of flanders podium in controversial ruling\"}}\u0027>\n michael matthews relegated 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\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/review-specialized-search-helmet-recon-2-shoes\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"review: specialized\u2019s new search \u2018all-road\u2019 helmet & updated recon shoes\"}}\u0027>\n review: specialized\u2019s new search \u2018all-road\u2019 helmet & updated recon shoes\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"matteo jorgenson defends dwars tactics, plus injury updates for van aert, stuyven, girmay: \u2018wout cried out in pain\u2019","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/matteo-jorgenson-defends-dwars-tactics-and-injury-updates-for-van-aert-stuyven-girmay-wout-cried-out-in-pain\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/matteo-jorgenson-defends-dwars-tactics-and-injury-updates-for-van-aert-stuyven-girmay-wout-cried-out-in-pain\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"matteo jorgenson defends dwars tactics, plus injury updates for van aert, stuyven, girmay: \u2018wout cried out in pain\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/matteo-jorgenson-defends-dwars-tactics-and-injury-updates-for-van-aert-stuyven-girmay-wout-cried-out-in-pain\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"matteo jorgenson defends dwars tactics, plus injury updates for van aert, stuyven, girmay: \u2018wout cried out in pain\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n matteo jorgenson defends dwars tactics, plus injury updates for van aert, stuyven, girmay: \u2018wout cried out in pain\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"how many carbs inside the monumental menus that fuel tour of flanders, paris-roubaix, and cycling\u2019s cruelest 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bike","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/grand-tour-smashing-ds-zeeman-to-leave-visma-lease-a-bike\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/grand-tour-smashing-ds-zeeman-to-leave-visma-lease-a-bike\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"report: grand tour-smashing lead sport director to leave visma-lease a bike\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/grand-tour-smashing-ds-zeeman-to-leave-visma-lease-a-bike\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"report: grand tour-smashing lead sport director to leave visma-lease a bike\"}}\u0027>\n report: grand tour-smashing lead sport director to leave visma-lease a bike\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "}]' > >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>advertise >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>privacy policy >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>contact >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>careers >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>terms of use >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>site map >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>my newsletters manage cookie preferences privacy request healthy living.

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Tour of Qatar

The Tour of Qatar was due to return for its 16th edition in 2017, and for the first time with WorldTour status, but was cancelled in December 2016 citing lack of sponsorship.

Both the men's and the women's races will not run in 2017, with no indication about whether they will return in 2018 or the near future.

The Tour of Qatar was a firmly-established fixture of the early season, attracting attention as a meeting for the top sprinters, and an indication as to how the Classics riders were shaping up ahead of spring, specifically in the race’s inevitable crosswinds.

Those crosswinds over the five-stage race made for some fast and often entertaining racing as the powerful riders fought for splits in the bunch, with virtually no uphills along the route.

The roll-call of winners is a mixture of rouleurs and sprinters, with Britain's Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) the overall winner in what could be the final edition, in 2016. The GC often came down to the one individual time trial in the race, with the flat and fast roads favouring all out power over time trial riders that prefer technical or climbing courses.

Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) holds the record number of overall Tour of Qatar victories with seven, taking 22 stage victories along the way.

Since 2009 the organisers have also held the Ladies Tour of Qatar shortly before the men's race, with Dutch sprinter Kirsten Wild holding a record number of victories with four.

Tour of Qatar: Recent winners

2016: Mark Cavendish

2015: Niki Terpstra

2014: Niki Terpstra

2013: Mark Cavendish

2012: Tom Boonen

2011: Mark Renshaw

2010: Wouter Mol

2009: Tom Boonen

2008: Tom Boonen

2007: Wilfried Cretskens

2006: Tom Boonen

Website: Tour of Qatar official website

Alexander Kristoff takes third stage win in Tour of Qatar

Niki Terpstra hangs on to Tour of Qatar overall lead with one stage remaining

The 2015 cycling season in review: February

February was a busy month in the 2015 season, with Chris Froome's first race of the year, the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race, a new world Hour Record, five-day races in the Middle East and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

By Stuart Clarke Published 30 October 15

Bradley Wiggins third in Tour of Qatar time trial

World time trial champion Bradley Wiggins beaten by Niki Terpstra and Fabian Cancellara

By Nigel Wynn Published 10 February 15

Michael Hepburn wins stage three of the Tour of Qatar

Michael Hepburn wins the time trial as Niki Terpstra retains the lead

By Cycling Weekly Published 11 February 14

Sam Bennett wins Tour of Qatar final stage

Irish sprinter Sam Bennett takes final stage victory as Niki Terpstra seals overall win in 2015 Tour of Qatar. Photos by Graham Watson

By Stephen Puddicombe Published 13 February 15

Luke Rowe races with the best in Qatar during one of his "hardest ever" days

The Welshman finishes in select group of 13 including Boonen, Sagan and Terpstra.

By Nick Bull Published 9 February 15

Alexander Kristoff wins stage two of the Tour of Qatar

Crosswinds splinter the peloton as Alexander Kristoff and the classics men make their mark in the Tour of Qatar

By Nigel Wynn Published 9 February 15

Mark Cavendish wins the 2016 Tour of Qatar

Alexander Kristoff wins the final stage in a photo-finish with Mark Cavendish, but Cavendish wins overall

By Owen Rogers Published 12 February 16

Tom Boonen wins Tour of Qatar stage four

Tom Boonen takes his 22nd career stage win in the Tour of Qatar

By Nigel Wynn Published 12 February 14

Bradley Wiggins's Paris-Roubaix support team taking shape

Team Sky starts to form the back-up team for Bradley Wiggins's tilt at Paris-Roubaix in April

By Gregor Brown Published 10 February 15

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Tour of Qatar guide

Thursday 6 February 2014 17:54, UK

Fresh from basking in the warmth of Australia and Argentina, the world's best cycling teams head to the Gulf for another dose of sunshine at the Tour of Qatar (February 9-14).

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Cycling in Qatar

Explore the great outdoors on two wheels

The thrill of cycling is becoming more popular by the day. Not only a pleasing way to get around but biking provides excellent exercise. It’s a great stress reliever too and an enjoyable way to get fitter.

Jump on a bike and you’ll discover new destinations, new experiences and meet new friends. It’s quite typical then of Qatar to lead the way by laying miles and miles of paths for the country’s growing number of cyclists. They include Olympic and pedestrian/cycling paths with monitoring devices with information on the weather, temperature, warnings of possible accidents and announcing major sporting events. 

The top cycling routes in Qatar

What better way to engage with the sights, sounds and culture than on two wheels. And with idyllic weather through the winter months, more and more people are checking out places to go.

Lush and vibrant, visitors adore the plant maze, while others are attracted to the 1.1 km bike path that’s ideal for beginners. There’s also a 1.4 km jogging path available to cyclists.

Olympic Cycling Track

At 33 km, it holds the Guinness World Record for being the longest continuous cycle path and features 29 underpasses and five bridges to encourage non-stop riding away from the road. 

Lusail International Circuit

A state-of-the-art motor racing track that indulges enthusiasts and has bikes available for hire. Its 5.3 km circuit is ideal for fast riding.

Hamad International Airport

A popular route running from the Doha airport to the C-Ring Road. 

Discover hills and explore the scene from Cuban Hospital to Umm Bab in the south and all the way up the peninsula.

Al Bidda Park

One of the most visited parks in Qatar is also one of the best places for beginners. The Al Bidda Park  offers 5 km of smooth, stress-free riding surrounded by natural beauty.

Al Abraj Park

Designed in the shape of a dew drop, the park features a track made with recycled rubber and locally sourced materials.

Aspire Zone Park

Boasts a 5 km track and offers a hire scheme called Cycle in Aspire Park . The idea is to encourage residents to aspire to a healthier quality of life. Bikers are given a special helmet. The Park’s Learn to Ride initiative is aimed at children. 

Al Khor Road

There’s 38 km of track along here that integrates with the Olympic track. It is also linked to Lusail and Al Bayt stadiums, with easy access to Al Rayyan Stadium via Al Majd Road.

Join a club

You may have a group of friends who love to ride; you could be seeking new acquaintances; whatever you want, there are numerous cycling clubs where you will find sociable, enthusiastic people to gel with. Simply click any of the links below and you’re good to go.

·         Malaysian Qatar Cycling Community

·         Qatar Chain Reaction

·         FitQ

·         VeloStar

·         Veloettes

·         Pinoy Mountain Bikers

·         Padyak Qatar

·         Indonesian Fun

·          Qatar Sandstormers

·         Qatar Cyclists

·         Pinoy Roadies

·         TriClub Doha

Tips for newbies

With more and more riders on trails, paths and roads, these tips for beginners will help make rides safer, less strenuous and more fun.

Protect your head

Always wear a strong helmet from a reputable company. Even if there are no bike helmet laws, you should always wear one even if you don't have too.

Don't pedal in high gear for long periods

You want to try and keep your pace steady. When you pedal in a high gear it puts added strain on your knees.

Get a bike fit

Having your bike set up to fit your body will make riding much easier, more efficient and will cause less pain and soreness during and after your ride.

Get the right saddle

This makes a huge difference. A longer seat with a cut-out will generally be the best type. Check online for reviews.

Change position while riding

Move your hands around the bars and move your rear end around on the saddle. This keeps things from going numb due to staying in the same position for too long.

Don't ride with headphones

It’s dangerous. Full stop. You must stay alert to sounds from emergency vehicles and other noises. But if you must have music, get a small clip-on radio with a speaker.

Wear a reflective vest or straps

and make sure your bike has front and rear lights if you plan to ride at night.

Know the rules

Obey the road signs. Pay attention to vehicles so you can try to anticipate what they are going to do next.

Keep your head up

Look far enough ahead so you can react to any obstacles.

Take refreshments

You should be drinking two litres of water a day, and you’ll definitely need to up your intake during hot, sweaty hours on cycle paths.

Follow these tips to have a more enjoyable time on your bike.

Many regard cycling as a sporting activity, a hobby or a great way to meet new friends. It’s an amazing way to discover the great outdoors and to appreciate gentle winds, a glorious climate and breathtaking backdrops. There are so many Instagrammable scenes to explore, discover and remember. Get on your bike, get fitter and uplift your mood.

Things to know before travelling

Want to travel visa-free? Check if you qualify here.

Getting here

Planning your trip to Qatar? Check how to get here.

Travel tips

Make the most of your visit with our handy travel guide.

Getting around

From a dhow boat to our world-class metro, here’s how to easily explore Qatar.

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The Concept

Following the success of the “Ride of Champions” campaign and mass participation event, hosted during the UCI Road World Championships in October 2016, Qatar Cycling Center have taken the significant step, with the support of Qatar’s cycling and sporting communities, to host and grow the event on an annual basis and build a sporting and health and fitness legacy in the community.

Qatar Cycling Center

About Cycling in Qatar

Qatar has gained recognition over recent years as a location for international cycling events. World Class events such as the UCI recognized Tour of Qatar and Tour of Al Zubarah were hosted in the country from 2002 to 2016, attracting some of the superstars of road cycling.

The State of Qatar hosted the 89th edition of the Road World Championships organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale. Doha welcomed around 1000 athletes from 75 countries and more than 5700 participants from national federations, delegations, technicians and journalists. Qatar was the first country in the Middle East and the Arab World and the second in Asia after Japan to host the event.

During the World Championships, Qatar Cyclists organized the biggest mass participation cycling event to date in Qatar with over 900 cyclists (including around 150 cyclists arriving from abroad) taking on the lap of the Road World Championships.

We believe it is a great time to seize the momentum and spin the wheels even faster to grow the beautiful sport of cycling to greater heights.

Cycling in Qatar has taken off in the past few years due to more and more people engaging in an active lifestyle. It is a low impact sport and can be done individually but also as a group. It is a great family activity, which can be enjoyed in a safe and friendly environment, on road or off road.

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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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Just deserts: racing in the Middle East

Procycling looks at the history of races in the Middle East and their place in the sport

The Middle East races have been a part of cycling’s landscape for 19 years. Procycling looks back at their history and place in the sport.

This article was taken from Procycling magazine issue 265, February 2020.

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Only die-hard cycling nerds will remember Ivan Quaranta. A larger-than-life Italian sprinter at a time when shares in larger-than-life Italian sprinters were soaring in value, he made headlines when he outsprinted Mario Cipollini, then at his peak, in stage 1 of the 1999 Giro d’Italia. Quaranta picked up two stages a year at his national tour between 1999 and 2001, but the rest of his career was a steady diminuendo of results and status through second division Italian teams, and his last recorded finish was second in stage 6b of the 2008 Tour of Morocco, riding for Amore e Vita.

But there’s more to Quaranta’s career than six Giro stage wins and a brief spell of notoriety as the new Cipollini (before the old Cipollini reasserted himself) – the Italian sprinter has a unique place in cycling history. On January 21 2002, Quaranta won stage 1 of the very first Tour of Qatar , outsprinting Luciano Pagliarini and Jean-Patrick Nazon in Doha. At the time, races outside Europe were not the norm – the Tour Down Under had just held its third edition and was largely seen as a training race; the Tour de Langkawi was comparatively prominent, with a small handful of big teams competing; the Tour of California was still some years away. But the first hints of cycling’s gradual growth into a true worldwide sport were being dropped, even if two decades later we’re still waiting for any sense of coherence in the whole thing.

Over the next 14 years, the Tour of Qatar established itself as a high-quality, if visually uninspiring training race at the perfect time of year for the classics riders. The event ran until 2016, but its legacy was clear – the Worlds were held in the country in 2016, and it spawned and inspired a series of races which still hold a solid grip on the month of February. The Tour of Oman, a more climber-friendly and scenic affair, started up in 2010 and is still running; the Tours of Abu Dhabi and Dubai flourished briefly before amalgamating into the WorldTour-level UAE Tour which runs for the second year in 2020. The Tour of Saudi Arabia will hold its first edition this year. And the Middle East now funds two WorldTour teams, Bahrain-McLaren and UAE Emirates .

On paper, the region looks like a cycling heartland. Big races, two WorldTour teams from the Arabic countries – that’s two more World-Teams than Italy. Of course, it lacks two of the most important things for a real cycling heartland – fans and interesting roads. The question is, does cycling care that the region’s real compensation for not being able to offer either of those things is to throw large amounts of money at it? And that’s without mentioning the elephant in the room. Though western European nations are not without their geopolitical flaws, some of the Amnesty International human rights reports on Bahrain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia make for very uncomfortable reading.

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The 2001 Tour de France was not a vintage edition. Lance Armstrong was at his peak – clearly better than his closest rival Jan Ullrich. The only real suspense of the race was provided by the stubborn presence of Frenchman François Simon, who gained 33 minutes in a break in the Vosges, in the yellow jersey. The defining image of the race at the time was the infamous ‘look’ that Armstrong turned around and gave Ullrich before accelerating away to win the Alpe d’Huez stage.

That same day, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, happened to be in France and was stuck in a traffic jam caused by the Tour caravan. Struck by the excitement, atmosphere, colour and crowds, he was reported to have said, “I want that in my own country.” It didn’t take long. The Emir had a Belgian photographer, who wangled a contact for Eddy Merckx; Merckx got in touch with the Tour’s boss Jean-Marie Leblanc. Six months later, the inaugural race took place, organised by ASO in a country which at the time had just 1,230km of roads. 

It wasn’t Qatar’s first big sporting event – the Qatar Open tennis tournament had been running since 1993, and the Qatar Open golf tournament since 1998. But the development of the Tour of Qatar was another step, via the 2006 Asian Games, to turning the tiny, almost featureless country into a sporting powerhouse. (The Olympic bid is currently dormant, after failures to win in the 2016 and 2020 bidding processes, but the FIFA World Cup takes place there at the end of 2022.)

Most editions of the Tour of Qatar counted six stages. Every now and again the organisers threw in a team time trial or prologue, but mainly the race consisted of flat stages on straight roads through the desert. The race rarely changed. However, Qatar changed around it. By 2002, Doha was already growing rapidly, with a population approaching half a million, many of them migrant workers. The skyline of the city altered every year, and the huge, architecturally diverse and ambitious buildings along the long curve of the Corniche road which hugged the bay provided a dramatic and ever-changing backdrop for the race’s finishes.

It was a good advert for Doha and Qatar. Ahmed Al-Hemaidi, a member of the race’s organising committee, explained that the Tour of Qatar had a purpose. “Cycling is not a big sport here, but we know it is popular in Europe,” he told Cycle Sport magazine in 2006. “The race has helped raise the profile of our country. When people think of this region they may think of our neighbours Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but with events like this they will learn the name of Qatar.”

Any queasiness about wider political issues was put in the background as the race grew. The 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre had taken place only months before the first edition, and the race also weathered brief controversies such as the presence of the Danish CSC team in 2006, the same time as a Danish newspaper had inflamed tensions in the Middle East by depicting a series of cartoons featuring the Prophet Muhammad. Al-Hemaidi’s viewpoint was consistent with any criticisms or political tensions before or since: “This situation has nothing to do with cycling.”

The race grew and the cycling calendar adapted around it. There was now a coherent structure to the start of the season: Australia in January, the Middle East in February, and back to Europe in March, which more or less remains to this day. As television coverage grew, fans started paying more attention.

The Tour of Qatar gained a great deal of lustre in the mid-2000s when it became Tom Boonen’s favoured early-season hit-out . The Belgian won 22 stages in total, including four in 2006 and 2007, plus four GC titles. Boonen wasn’t just there for the victories, though every stage winner was presented with a gold trophy in the shape of a boat and by the end, he had an armada. He said that the training benefit of the race was huge – with no corners, uphills or downhills, there were no opportunities to coast, and he claimed that his heart rate never went as high in any other race. Mark Cavendish was another fan – he won nine stages and two GC titles. And considering the Tour of Qatar has as little variety of terrain as any event in the world, the racing itself could be brilliant. The sprint stages were bland, but when the wind blew across the road, the helicopter shots showed the peloton exploding and forming echelons. Year after year, Boonen’s Quick Step team blew the race to pieces, and they won eight out of the 15 editions.

But if a bike race takes places in a desert and nobody is there to see it, did it really happen? The other reality of the Tour of Qatar was miles and miles of straight, featureless roads. It’s a misunderstanding to say that deserts are empty, because they are full of culture and nature of the most hardy and fascinating kind. But you can’t see it from the helicopter TV shots, so it doesn’t translate. Few fans beyond a few expats came to watch the race on the roadside, while the organisers got around the lack of atmosphere by piping in crowd sounds to the finish line. The Tour of Qatar looked like a bike race and sounded like a bike race, but crowds and fans are what give the sport its colour, atmosphere and emotion. Take those three things away from races, and you’re not left with much. It didn’t feel like a bike race.

Even with the demise of the Tour of Qatar, Middle Eastern racing is, on the surface, thriving, though it still can’t draw a crowd. In Doha and Dubai, despite them being flat and spacious, cycling is not a popular mode of transport (not helped by summer temperatures which regularly reach deep into the 40s). But the races continue, because they are an influential part of each country’s image. The rulers of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar have been looking for some time at a future when the oil wells have run dry or become uneconomical, and tourism and finance keep money flowing into the region.

And cycling doesn’t ask enough questions about what else these races achieve. You don’t have to dig very far to find very valid criticisms of Saudi Arabia, or Qatar, or the UAE, or Oman. Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have amazing architecture and the sporting venues are lavish. But consider the environmental impact of things like air-conditioned stadia, or Dubai’s indoor skiing area. And consider who actually built many of these structures. Qatar has been promising for years to do something about the ‘kafala’ system under which labourers are employed, but even in 2019, Amnesty reported that migrant labourers were being exploited and remained unpaid. The German WDR broadcaster reported that according to the Nepalese government, 1,426 Nepalese workers alone died in Qatar between 2009 and 2019. Women’s rights are extremely limited in Qatar, the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

You can imagine the official viewpoint regarding these criticisms might be: ‘This situation has nothing to do with cycling.’ But the races, along with the Bahrain and UAE teams, enjoy a high level of government support and involvement. The Saudi Arabia Tour is particularly contentious – the murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi caused international outrage in 2018.

Cycling is by its nature intimately tied to the geography of the region in which it takes place. The geographical is political, so cycling cannot take place in a politics-free bubble. The question is: does an entertaining early-season block of racing, and the torrents of money flowing into the sport when other sources have run dry, mean we can turn away when faced with these issues?

Edward Pickering is Procycling magazine's editor. 

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Edward Pickering is Procycling magazine's editor. He graduated in French and Art History from Leeds University and spent three years teaching English in Japan before returning to do a postgraduate diploma in magazine journalism at Harlow College, Essex. He did a two-week internship at Cycling Weekly in late 2001 and didn't leave until 11 years later, by which time he was Cycle Sport magazine's deputy editor. After two years as a freelance writer, he joined Procycling as editor in 2015. He is the author of The Race Against Time , The Yellow Jersey Club and Ronde , and he spends his spare time running, playing the piano and playing taiko drums. 

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Mathieu van der Poel crushes rivals to claim third Tour of Flanders title

• Men’s world champion produces devastating attack on cobbles
• Elisa Longo Borghini wins women’s race in sprint finish

The men’s world champion, Mathieu van der Poel, crushed his rivals with a devastating long-range attack to claim his third Tour of Flanders on Sunday.

In the women’s race, the Italian Elisa Longo Borghini came home first after outsprinting Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma and Shirin van Anrooij of the Netherlands.

Van der Poel, who now has five Monument titles to his name, produced a trademark brutal acceleration in the Koppenberg’s cobbled ascent, 45 kilometres from the finish, and never looked back as several riders had to step off their bikes. The cycling calendar has five Monuments: Milan-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Giro di Lombardia.

Van der Poel also won Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix last year. He will be the heavy favourite for the Flanders-Roubaix double when he rides in the “Queen of the Classics” next Sunday.

The Dutchman, the first rider with five consecutive podium finishes on the Tour of Flanders, was in a class of his own in the Belgian rain in an event Wout van Aert missed after sustaining injuries in the Dwars door Vlaanderen one-day race on Wednesday.

The warm-up race was won by Matteo Jorgenson but the American cracked as he was chasing Van der Poel after the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider’s attack. The 29-year-old Van der Poel was in a class of his own and crossed the line more than a minute ahead of the Italian Luca Mozzato and the German Nils Politt, after the Australian Michael Matthews, initially third, was demoted following an irregular sprint after 270.8km.

Britain’s Josh Tarling (Ineos) was 17th, Owain Doull (EF Education-Easypost) was 19th, Tarling’s teammate Ben Turner was 38th and Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) was 50th of 87 finishers. Tadej Pogacar, the defending champion, did not take part in the race as he is focusing on a Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double this season.

Longo Borghini, of Lidl-Trek, was celebrating her second Tour of Flanders title, having won it first in 2015. Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) was the highest-placed British rider in the women’s event, 1min 46sec off the lead in 13th place.

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How you can help fight hunger in Franklin Township on April 28

The Franklin Food Bank’s Tour de Franklin Charity Bike Ride is returning in late April.

The 35th annual event will be held on Sunday, April 28 at Franklin High School. Up to 800 cyclists are attracted to the Tour de Franklin, the Franklin Food Bank’s largest annual fundraising event, which provides critical funding for its operations.

The event has grown into a spring tradition in Franklin, when avid cyclists, the community and sponsors join to fight local hunger. The Tour is the first cycling event of the season for many cyclists.

The Tour de Franklin consists of seven events in one day, including 62-, 40-, 25-, 10-, and 5-mile rides through the township, as well as a 10-mile ride and 1.5-mile walk-or-ride along the D&R Canal, offering something for casual riders and families as well as experienced cyclists. The rides are staggered throughout the morning with breakfast, lunch and snacks provided.

All participants are eligible for a free bike drawing. Everyone who fundraises $150 or more than $300 receives a special silver and black or gold and black T-shirt. To encourage fundraising, ThorLabs of Newton donated $10,000 as matching funds to bring people closer to their fundraising totals.

The Tour de Franklin started in 1989 when a small group of cyclists banded together to support the Franklin Food Bank, raising $1,500. The Tour continued annually since then and grew to become part of Somerset County’s community fiber and an anticipated annual ride among avid cyclists while raising funds.

More: Franklin Food Bank 'ridiculously busy', expands outreach

“We are thrilled to reach this 35-year milestone! While the Tour de Franklin has seen changes over the past 35 years, it has always been a fun day for everyone and a great way for cyclists and the community to support the Franklin Food Bank. We look forward to a great Tour event on April 28th!” said Tour de Franklin Chairperson Lisa Frey in a news release.

All proceeds raised by the Tour de Franklin directly support the Franklin Food Bank operations and the funding is critical to fight hunger in the community. The 2023 United Way ALICE report estimates more than 9,000 families in Franklin are experiencing food insecurity.

The Franklin Food Bank was recently awarded a $1 million grant from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving Open Call Awards, recognizing the significant impact that it has had on the community it serves. The funds are earmarked for a larger location, as the Food Bank has outgrown the current facilities.

“The Franklin Food Bank plays a vital role in reducing food insecurity in the community through a variety of programs and partnerships,” said Franklin Food Bank Executive Director Derek Smith in the press release. “In 2023, the Food Bank distributed an estimated 2.75 million pounds of food and accommodated approximately 30,000 visits to the Client Choice Market and Drive-Through events. We are very appreciative of the funding that the Tour de Franklin provides to support these efforts.” Last year the Tour raised more than $120,000, directly supporting these efforts to fight hunger in the Franklin Township community.

To learn more or register for the Tour de Franklin, visit franklinfoodbank.org/tourdefranklin/ and follow @TheFranklinFoodBank on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

Brad Wadlow is a staff writer for MyCentralJersey.com

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2024 Tour of Flanders: Preview, schedule, how to watch men's and women's cycling classic races live

Who will succeed defending champions Tadej Pogacar and Lotte Kopecky? Find out the routes and the main contenders for this year's 'De Ronde' one-day races, in our preview.

Sunday 31 March 2024 is a date to mark on the calendar for road cycling fans.

On that day, the Tour of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaanderen), the second classic Monument of the 2024 season, will celebrate its 108th men's and 21st women's editions.

The men's event, which has taken place every year since 1919, will start again from Antwerp, as it did between 2017 and 2022, covering 17 iconic climbs and five cobblestone sectors for a total of 270.8 kilometres. The women will tackle 12 climbs, taking on a 163km traverse through the Flanders region in Belgium.

Who will succeed defending champions Tadej Pogacar and Lotte Kopecky ?

Find out in our preview below.

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2024 Tour of Flanders course routes

The men's route covers 270.8 kilometres.

The organisers have decided to modify the first 100 kilometers for safety reasons, removing the climbs of Kortekeer and the Kanarieberg. A year ago, the start was in Bruges, while this year it will be in Antwerp. The finish will be in Oudenaarde.

The riders will have to tackle 17 climbs:

• Vieux Quaremont (km 136,7)
• Kappelle Berg (km 155,7)
• Wolvenberg (km 158,9)
• Molenberg (km 171,3)
• Marlboroughstraat (km 175,3)
• Berendries (km 179,3)
• Valkenberg (km 184,7)
• Berg Ten Houte (km 197,1)
• Hotond (km 206,6)
• Vieux Quaremont (km 216,5)
• Paterberg (km 219,9)
• Koppenberg (km 226,2)
• Steenbeekdries (km 231,6)
• Taaienberg (km 234,0)
• Kruisberg (km 244,3)
• Vieux Quaremont (km 254,1)
• Paterberg (km 257,6)

The women's route spans 163 kilometres.

Both the start and finish are scheduled in Oudenaarde.

There are 12 climbs to face during the race:

• Wolvenberg (km 72,1)
• Molenberg (km 84,6)
• Marlboroughstraat (km 88,6)
• Berendries (km 92,6)
• Valkenberg (km 97,9)
• Kappelle Berg (km 109,7)
• Koppenberg (km 118,4)
• Steenbeekdries (km 123,7)
• Taaienberg (km 126,2)
• Kruisberg (km 136,5)
• Vieux Quaremont (km 146,3)
• Paterberg (km 149,7)

2024 Tour of Flanders riders to watch

Men's race - 2024 riders to watch.

A mass crash during the Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday ruled out some of his biggest contenders, including Wout van Aert, who suffered fractured collarbone and ribs. Defending champion Tadej Pogacar decided to skip the Ronde this year to focus on the preparation of the Giro d'Italia. The big names who will be competing are:

• Mathieu van der Poel (NED/Alpecin Deceuninck): The two-time winner (2020, 2022) is considered the undisputed favourite after dominating the E3 Saxo Classic and finishing second at last week's Gent-Wevelgem, and with archrival van Aert not competing.
• Matteo Jorgenson (USA/Team Visma | Lease a Bike): The American rider is expected to lead his team following his win at the Dwars door Vlaanderen and the injuries carried by both Tiesji Benoot and Jan Tratnik. This season he also claimed the general classification at the Paris-Nice.
• Alberto Bettiol: The Italian is a former winner of the Ronde and, despite suffering from cramps at the recent Dwars door Vlaanderen, has demonstrated a good form by winning the Milano-Torino and finishing fifth at the Milan-San Remo.

Women's race - 2024 riders to watch

• Lotte Kopecky (BEL/SD Worx-Protime): The Belgian superstar and reigning world champion is aiming for a third consecutive Flanders title after her convincing victories at Strade Bianche and Nokere Koerse so far this spring.
• Demi Vollering (NED/SD Worx-Protime): The Tour de France Femmes reigning champion, who finished third at Strade Bianche, is ready to step up as a leader if Kopecky finds herself in difficulty.
• Elisa Balsamo (ITA/Lidl-Trek): Italy's 2021 road world champion has impressed this season, showing that she can both climb and sprint by winning the Trofeo Alfredo Binda and the Brugge-De Panne.

2024 Tour of Flanders: Race schedules

(All times local CEST, approximate after race start. Assumes an average race speed of 44km/h for men and 40km/h for women)

Sunday 31 March 2024

10:00 Start men's race (Antwerp)

13:25 Start women's race (Oudenaarde)

16:29 Estimated men's race finish (Oudenaarde)

17:44 Estimated women's race finish (Oudenaard)

Tour of Flanders: Last five winners

• 2023 Tadej Pogacar (SLO/UAE Team Emirates)
• 2022: Mathieu van der Poel (NED/Alpecin-Fenix)
• 2021: Kasper Asgreen (DEN/Deceuninck-Quick-Step)
• 2020: Mathieu van der Poel (NED/Alpecin-Fenix)
• 2019: Alberto Bettiol (ITA/EF Educational First)
• 2023: Lotte Kopecky (BEL/SD Worx)
• 2022: Lotte Kopecky (BEL/SD Worx)
• 2021: Annemiek van Vleuten (NED/Movistar Team)
• 2020: Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (NED/Boels-Dolmans)
• 2019: Marta Bastianelli (ITA/Team Virtu Cycling)

How to watch 2024 Tour of Flanders - Ronde van Vlaanderen

List of regional broadcasters (TV / online):

• Belgium – RTBF
• Czechia – Czech TV
• Denmark – TV2
• France – France TV
• Italy – RAI
• Netherlands – NOS
• Norway – TV2
• Slovenia – JOJ
• Spain – Enjoy
• Switzerland – SRG SSR
• Pan-Europe – Eurosport, GCN
• Canada – Flobikes
• United States – Flobikes
• Australia – Flobikes, SBS
• New Zealand – SKY Sport
• Central and South America and the Caribbean – ESPN
• Sub-Saharan Africa – Supersport

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Tour of Flanders live stream 2024: How to watch Flemish cycling, start time

I t's safe to say that for Belgian cycling fans the Tour of Flanders is bigger than Christmas — way bigger. The climax to the Flemish cycling 'holy week' and the second cycling Monument of 2024 will see the worlds best Classics riders cover an epic 271 kilometers between Antwerp and Oudenaarde, taking in no less than 17 brutal cobbled climbs. 

Read on and we'll show you how to watch Tour of Flanders 2024 live streams from anywhere with a VPN , and potentially for FREE .

The build up is over and it’s time for the big one, the ‘Ronde van Vlaanderen’. The hype has been growing since opening weekend in late February and has now reached fever pitch with the whole of Belgium buzzing in anticipation. 

Leaving Antwerp, the first half of the race is predominantly flat. Then, after 136 kilometers, the route arrives at the first of three ascents of the Oude Kwaremont and from here on it's brutal. The climbs and cobbled sectors come in rapid succession, each one hitting the riders hard and testing their strength and skill to the absolute limit.

The Koppenberg, the Mariaborrestraat, Steenbeekdries and Stationsberg will lead the riders to the climbs of the Taaienberg and Oude Kruisberg before hitting the Oude Kwaremont for a second time. Then the final combination of the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg coming just 13 kilometers from the finish line is where the killer blows will almost certainly be dealt.

Last year’s winner Tadej Pogačar has decided to skip the race this year so the role of favorite passes over to Mathieu van der Poel who is in scintillating form having destroyed the field to win the E3 Saxo classic and also take second behind Mads Pederson at Gent Wevelgem. It’s Pederson who will lead the challenge against Van der Poel.

Read on to see how to catch the action from wherever you live.

FREE Tour of Flanders live streams

If you live in Belgium then you can look forward to a FREE Tour of Flanders live stream in 2024. Belgium's Sporza is set to serve up a free stream of this one-day UCI World Tour race.

Another great option for those in need of an English language commentary is the Tour of Flanders free live stream on SBS On-Demand in Australia.

But what if you're based in Belgium or Australia but aren't at home to catch that free Tour of Flanders coverage? Maybe you're on holiday and don't want to spend money on pay TV in another country, when you'd usually be able to watch for free at home?

Don't worry — you can watch via a VPN instead. We'll show you how to do that below.

Tour of Flanders 2024 live streams around the world

It's only natural that you might want to watch a 2024 Tour of Flanders live stream from your home country, but what if you're not there when the race is on?

Look no further than a VPN, or virtual private network. A VPN makes it look as if you're surfing the web from your home country, rather than the one you're in. That means you can access the streaming services you already pay for, from anywhere on Earth. Or anywhere that has an internet connection, at least.

They're totally legal, inexpensive and easy to use. We've tested lots of the best VPN services and our favorite right now is NordVPN . It's fast, works on loads of devices and even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 5,000 servers, across 60 countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend.

Save loads on NordVPN in the spring sale! VIEW DEAL ON

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice . As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're in the U.S. and want to view an Australian service, you'd select Australia from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to SBS or another streaming service and watch the action.

How to watch a Tour of Flanders live stream in the U.S.

Cycling fans in the U.S. can watch the 2024 Tour of Flanders on  FloBikes . A subscription will set you back US$149.99 for the year or US$29.99 on a monthly basis.

And if you're currently out of the U.S. but still want to watch the race, then don't forget to explore  NordVPN  set out above.

How to watch a Tour of Flanders live stream in the U.K.

Live coverage of Tour of Flanders will be broadcast on Eurosport and Discovery+.

A 'standard' subscription to Discovery+ which includes Eurosport's cycling coverage will set you back £6.99 per month. The package includes year-round cycling streams as well as other live sports including snooker, tennis, motorsports, the Paris Olympic Games, and more.

A premium subscription, which includes all that plus TNT Sports (Premier League, Champions League and Europa League football plus rugby, wrestling, UFC, and MotoGP) costs an additional £30.99 per month.

If you're currently traveling overseas, don't worry, as you can use NordVPN to watch from abroad.

How to watch a Tour of Flanders live stream in Canada

Cycling fans in the Canada can watch the 2024 Tour of Flanders on  FloBikes . A subscription will set you back CAN$150 for the year or CAN$29.99 on a monthly basis.

Not at home right now? Use NordVPN or another VPN service to trick your device into thinking you're still in Canada.

Tour of Flanders 2024 route map

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