50°46′21″N 3°53′24″E / 50.7725°N 3.89°E / 50.7725; 3.89

Muur van Geraardsbergen
The Muur van Geraardsbergen
LocationFlanders, Belgium
StartGeraardsbergen
Gain in altitude92 m (302 ft)
Length of climb1,075 m (3,527 ft)
Maximum elevation110 m (360 ft)
Average gradient9.3 %
Maximum gradient19.8 %
Profile and slope of the Muur van Geraardsbergen

The Muur van Geraardsbergen (English: Wall of Geraardsbergen/Grammont, French: Mur de Grammont) is a steep, narrow road with cobblestones in Geraardsbergen, Belgium. It is also known as Kapelmuur, Muur-Kapelmuur or simply Muur. The hill starts near the river Dender at 18 m and reaches the top of the Oudenberg at 110 m after 1,075 m at 9.3 per cent. This climb is often part of the Tour of Flanders professional cycling race.

Tour of Flanders

The Muur van Geraardsbergen has often been a climb in the Tour of Flanders. It has been used since 1950, although not consistently until 1970. The "Muur" was the final climb in 1973 and 1974, before the finish in Meerbeke. An extra stretch to the chapel ('kapel' in Dutch) at the summit was added in 1981 and climb became known as the "Muur-Kapelmuur". It was a regular feature from 1981 until 2011.

From 1988 until 2011 it was the penultimate, and often decisive, climb and always followed by the Bosberg before the finish in Meerbeke. The Muur was removed from the 2012 race. With the finish in Oudenaarde, instead of Meerbeke, it was no longer possible to include it while the race was starting from Bruges. When the start was moved to Antwerp for the 2017 race, the Muur was returned to the course, albeit as the eighth climb of the day, approximately 95km from the finish. [1]

Other cycling races

The Muur was climbed in the 1960 Gent–Wevelgem and in 49 editions of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Since 2019, the Muur is the penultimate climb in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.[2]

The Tour de France visited the Muur in 2004 but did not climb the actual Muur of Geraardsbergen.

After omission of the Muur from the Tour of Flanders, it was announced that the climb would be in the 2012 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, although not in the final.[3]

The Muur was announced as the centerpiece of the final stage of the Eneco Tour for 2012, 2013, 2014. Geraardsbergen and possibly the Muur will be in a stage for the next five years.[4]

The Muur has been used as the start of the Transcontinental Race.[5]

In 2019, it was used as the first climb of the Tour de France[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Tour of Flanders 2017 route unveiled". 30 November 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  2. ↑ "Kapelmuur - Iconic Climbs". ProCyclingUK.com. 3 January 2015.
  3. ↑ CyclingNews (24 November 2011). "Muur van Geraardsbergen to feature in E3 Prijs". CyclingNews. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  4. ↑ CyclingNews (1 February 2012). "Muur van Geraardsbergen finale for Eneco Tour". CyclingNews. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "TCRNo5 // Home". TRANSCONTINENTAL. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  6. ↑ "Tour de France 2019 Route stage 1: Brussels - Brussels".
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