Flemish Cycling Week Explained

The Flemish Cycling Week (Dutch:Vlaamse Wielerweek) or simply Flemish Week, is a series of five road cycling races held in Flanders in late March and early April.

The series in fact spans two weeks. It has begun with Classic Brugge–De Panne since 2018 and ends 11–12 days later with the Tour of Flanders, which is the most important race of the series.^{[1] [2]}

Events

Since 2018, the series has consisted of five one-day races:

• Classic Brugge–De Panne, on Wednesday of the week before the Tour of Flanders. Known as Three Days of De Panne until 2017 and held as stage race from Tuesday to Thursday in the same week as the Tour of Flanders
• E3 Saxo Bank Classic, on Friday or Saturday of the week before the Tour of Flanders. Previously known by other names, including E3 Harelbeke.
• Gent–Wevelgem, on Sunday before the Tour of Flanders
• Dwars door Vlaanderen, until 2017 held on Wednesday of the week before the Tour of Flanders, since 2018 in the same week
• Tour of Flanders, the final race of the series

Originally the Brabantse Pijl was part of the Flemish Cycling Week as it was run the Sunday before the Tour of Flanders, but in 2010 it was rescheduled to a later date, because the race course was more suitable for riders participating in the Ardennes classics. The gap in the calendar was filled by Gent-Wevelgem, which used to be held on the Wednesday after the Tour of Flanders.

Winners (since 1990)

From 2018

In 2018, multi-stage race Three Days of De Panne was rebranded as one-day race Classic Brugge–De Panne and moved to mid-March.

See also

• Tour of Flanders for Women

Notes and References

1. Web site: Axelgaard. Emil. E3 Harelbeke preview, 27.03.2015. Cycling Quotes. 29 November 2015.
2. News: Spring Classics: How to win cycling's hardest one-day races . 27 March 2015 . BBC Sport.