Muur van Geraardsbergen
Coordinates: 50°46′21″N 3°53′24″E / 50.7725°N 3.89°E
| Muur van Geraardsbergen | |
|---|---|
 The Muur van Geraardsbergen. |
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| Elevation | 110 m |
| Location | Flanders, Belgium |
| Start | Geraardsbergen |
| Altitude | 92 m |
| Length | 1075 m |
| Average gradient | 9,3 % |
| Maximum gradient | 19,8 % |
The Muur van Geraardsbergen (English: Wall of Geraardsbergen/Grammont, French: Mur de Grammont) is a steep narrow road with cobblestones located 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 1075m with a steepness of 9,3%. This climb is famous for being part of the route of Ronde van Vlaanderen professional cycling race.
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[edit] Ronde van Vlaanderen
The Muur van Geraardsbergen was a climb in the Ronde van Vlaanderen, but is nowadays not included in the route. It has been part of the race since 1950, although not consistently until 1970.
The 'Muur' has been the final climb in the Ronde during the 1973 and 1974 running of the race before the finish in Meerbeke. From 1981 onwards an extra stretch has been added to the climb and the name was changed from 'Muur' to 'Muur-Kapelmuur' (due to the extra stretch around the Chapel (kapel in Dutch) on top of the climb). The 'Muur-Kapelmuur' has been a regular feature in the race from 1981 until 2011.
From 1988 until 2011 it was the penultimate, and often decisive, climb in the Ronde and was always followed by the Bosberg before the finish in Meerbeke.
The Muur has been removed from the race for the 2012 edition. With the renewd final and arrival in Oudenaarde instead of Meerbeke it was not possible to include the Muur in the route of 'De Ronde'.
[edit] Other cycling races
The Muur van Geraardsbergen was climbed in other races than the Tour of Flanders: In the 1960 edition of Gent–Wevelgem and was climbed in 49 editions of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Also the Tour de France visited the Muur during the 2004 edition but the peloton did not climbed the actual Muur of Geraardsbergen.
After the ommition of the Muur from the route of the Tour of Flanders it was announced that the climb will be included in the 2012 running of the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, although it will not be climbed in the final of the race.[1]
On the first of February 2012 it was announced that the Muur will be the centerpiece of the final stage of the Eneco Tour for the next three editions (2012, 2013, 2014). The town of Geraardsbergen (and possibly the Muur) will be featured in a stage for the next five years. [2]
[edit] References
- ^ CyclingNews (24 November 2011). "Muur van Geraardsbergen to feature in E3 Prijs". CyclingNews. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/muur-van-geraardsbergen-to-feature-in-e3-prijs. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- ^ CyclingNews (1 February 2012). "Muur van Geraardsbergen finale for Eneco Tour". CyclingNews. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/muur-van-geraardsbergen-finale-for-eneco-tour. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
[edit] External links
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