Koppenberg Travel Guide

 filipdebont Says:  Well of course, when you are climbing this hill on bike, you do not have time to enjoy the view. And that is a bit a pity, because from the Koppenberg you have a splendid view over the Flemish Ardennes.I was lucky (and happy) that this time I was with my car, so I had plenty... 

 filipdebont Says:  The Last end of the Koppenberg is also very hard. With pain in your legs and arms you can reach the top.It looks as the cyclist on the picture is going to do it without putting foot on the ground.It must be said, that since these cobbles have been restored it has become less... 

 filipdebont Says:  As you can see there is no gutter on the sides of this road. It is not like on the Paterberg, where there is a gutter. And choosing the gutter to ride it makes it a bit more comfortable then on those cobbles.But here on the Koppenberg you have no choice; you have to defeat... 

 filipdebont Says:  For the Flemish crowd who are fond of cycling, this Koppenberg is a real cycling monument.This steep hill near Oudenaarde, only 75 meters high, on the right bank of de Schelde River. So not exactly a Col as they say, but nevertheless this "mountain” is much feared because of... 

 filipdebont Says:  At this place the Koppenberg begins, the beginning of a nightmare.However, now that the cobbles are restored, it is a bit easier to climb this hill.The old cobbles of the Koppenberg, it is impossible to describe.In the past I tried to climb this hill several times with my... 

 filipdebont Says:  Welkom op de Koppenberg.Welcome to the Koppenberg says the sign, as we approach this terrible hill.This is a typical painting by Nesten. Nesten is a local painter who lives in Kuurne near Kortrijk.His specialty is painting caricatures. I think he already painted every famous... 

 filipdebont Says:  Every cyclist supporter can remember these tragic images. It was in the Tour de Flanders of 1978. The Danish cyclist Jesper Skibby was on the run together with Ludo Schurgers, when halfway the climb of the Koppenberg, Skibby did fall down and that way he blocked the road for... 

 filipdebont Says:  About two years ago they decided to restore this cobbled road. The old road was in such a bad condition, that it was really dangerous.With the restoration, the Flemish government secured an old tradition of road building for the future. Like this the Koppenberg is protected... 

 filipdebont Says:  Before you have reached the top, you should stop and turn around to admire the splendid view.At the top you are surrounded by houses, and like this it is impossible to see the great scenery. The view 

 filipdebont Says:  For the cyclist among you here some numbers:Length : 600 mHeight : 75 mAverage rising percentage : 10.8 %Highest rising percentage : 22 %Height difference : 65 mLength of cobbled road : 428 mEveryone who has ever climbed a hill by bike, knows that this is very difficult.Even... 

 filipdebont Says:  Be careful when you want to climb the Koppenberg by car. As on many occasions cyclists are trying to climb this hill too, and they do not climb very fast, mostly they can not climb in a straight line, so the most of them are zigzagging.So it is matters of respect for their... 

 filipdebont Says:  The Koppenberg is easy to be found. When you are driving along the big road, coming from Kaster / Berchem in the direction of Oudenaarde, in the small village of Melden, you turn right, and from there on you can easily follow the Koppenberg signs. The satisfaction when you...