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GOAT cycling day

Writer's picture: Patrick GabrionPatrick Gabrion

Monday, April 1, 2024.


My time aboard a bicycle has a pannier full of momentous occasions. While almost too numerous to recall, I will mention just a few. There was the unexpected pleasure in 1982 when I found myself in the middle of a group ride along the French coast. Additionally, many of the moments during my 2002 solo journey from North Carolina to Texas come to mind. Closer to home, there have been the countless treks with good friends and the three opportunities when I captured gold in the Maine Senior Games. And lest we forget, it was because of a two-wheeled machine that I met my wonderful wife.


The just-completed 2024 also provided several special memories. But one day, in particular, during last year stands out as the "greatest of all time" cycling day of my life. And it occurred on the date highlighted in bold that I've alluded to at the beginning of this posting.


Not surprisingly, this exceptional experience took place during my week-long trip in Belgium. It should be understood that none of this would have been possible without the wonderful service furnished by Wisconsin-based Trek Travel.


It all commenced with our small group — ten guests and two guides — departing from our hotel in Ghent and driving to Oudenaarde. Once there, we parked our two vans topped with bicycles at the Tour of Flanders Centre and Museum — but more later on that must-see attraction for cyclists.


We spent the first part of the day gliding along roads and bike paths throughout the Belgian countryside, dipping into tiny villages along the way. It was sunny and dry, the best period weather-wise for the entire time I was in Belgium. The main purpose of our 55-mile excursion found us retracing key segments from previous Tours of Flanders that had been utilized over the decades, but were presently no longer part of the classic race.


Our group at Bar Gidon in Geraardsbergen.
Our group at Bar Gidon in Geraardsbergen.

This ride through history involved several cobbled climbs, including the Muur in Geraardsbergen. The legendary berg, which features the Chapel of Our Lady of Oudenberg on its summit, is relatively short in length — 3,527 feet — but strains one's legs with a maximum gradient of 20 percent. Many races have been won or lost on this very hill.


Our brief stay in Geraardsbergen also had us stopping at Bar Gidon to refuel with food and drink. The famous hangout is owned by former professional cyclist Frederic Penne and houses the official fan club of current Belgian star Remco Evenepoel. It is where I enjoyed my first taste of mattentaart — a small, round sweet puff pastry that is viewed as a delicacy. Furthermore, during our pit stop I had the chance to chat with former pro Koen de Kort of the Netherlands, who was now team support manager with Lidl-Trek. It was kind of neat cycling with someone who had competed in the Tour of Flanders 14 times.


Finishing up our ride and arriving back in Oudenaarde in the early afternoon, it was time to soak up the cycling environment emanating from the Tour of Flanders Centre and Museum. Provided with the use of showers, we then gathered at their Peloton Cafe for a well-deserved beer and an assortment of delicious snacks. The place was packed and full of excitement; a remarkable atmosphere for meeting others before or after any spin on the bicycle. Our group was then given what seemed like an endless amount of time to explore the centre's shop — which had anything and everything having to do with cycling — and the museum. The Tour of Flanders has been around since 1913, so there was plenty to digest about one of the greatest one-day races in the world.


Viewing exhibit at Tour of Flanders museum. (Photo courtesy of Trek Travel)
Viewing exhibit at Tour of Flanders museum. (Photo courtesy of Trek Travel)

Here's a fun fact about Oudenaarde. When approached about being a part of the Tour of Flanders in the early beginnings, it wanted nothing to do with the race. Now, it hosts the centre and museum, and it is where the finish line is located.


One more huge highlight awaited us after leaving Oudenaarde, something that wasn't even part of the trip's original itinerary. We were on our way to Bruges. What was waiting for us there? Well, because of the vast number of spring races conducted within the region, it was where the hotel was located that the Lidl-Trek men's and women's professional cycling teams used as a home base.


Pulling into the parking lot, we were greeted by an array of colorful team vehicles — which we later toured through — and very welcoming staff members. Almost immediately, they gave each of us a musette filled with team swag, including a cycling cap covered with the athletes' autographs.


Inside the hotel, we were treated to a meet-and-greet reception with several of the Lidl-Trek pro cyclists, where we also had the opportunity to ask questions. Being the day after the Tour of Flanders, where many of them participated, it was awesome getting their insights into how the race transpired. This was followed with the taking of a photograph of our group and the team members. I was positioned just in front of Mads Pedersen, whose race results I had been following for years. Our special day was finished with an excellent dinner at the team hotel.


Needless to say, when I finally put my head to pillow that night back at our splendid accommodations in Ghent, I had a huge smile on my face and was sure of having sweet dreams of the GOAT cycling day that had just taken place.


A challenging cobbled climb awaits us in Belgium.
A challenging cobbled climb awaits us in Belgium.
Our group with members of the Lidl-Trek professional cycling teams. (Photo courtesy of Trek Travel)
Our group with members of the Lidl-Trek professional cycling teams. (Photo courtesy of Trek Travel)
Touring Lidl-Trek team vehicles at hotel in Bruges. (Photo courtesy of Trek Travel)
Touring Lidl-Trek team vehicles at hotel in Bruges. (Photo courtesy of Trek Travel)

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