As the central climb in the modern Tour of Flanders, Oude Kwaremont holds a special place in the hearts of cycling fans. Few races match the prestige of De Ronde, and while it may seem that such a short climb wouldn’t have a major impact on such a long race (250km for men), it always does.

It may not be as steep as the Koppenberg and Paterberg climbs, but it’s the longest cobbled climb of the race and always seems to inspire a tactical battle. This is especially true since 2012, when the racecourse was redesigned to include the Kwaremont 3x for men and 1x for women. Its final ascent, in combination with the Paterberg, is certainly a crux point of the race.

Here’s the IRL segment: