“Koppenberg” Details (Zwift Climb Portal)
Key Details
- Category: 4th
- Length: 0.6 km (0.4 miles)
- Elevation Gain: 63 m (207‘)
- Average Gradient: 10.8%
- Country: Belgium
- Watopia Climb Segment
- Watopia Descent Segment
- France Climb Segment
- France Descent Segment
- 5 W/kg: 2.2 minutes
- 4 W/kg: 2.8 minutes
- 3 W/kg: 3.7 minutes
- 2 W/kg: 5.5 minutes
Strava Segments
Time Estimates
Locally called “the bump of Melden”, the Koppenberg is known to cyclists worldwide for its inclusion in the Tour of Flanders Belgian classic. While only 600 meters long, it is feared due to its steepness (up to 22%) and lumpy cobblestones!
(Speaking of cobblestones: “Koppenberg” literally means “Heads Mountain”. “Koppen” is an abbreviation for cobblestones, which in Dutch slang language are called kinderkoppen, or “children’s heads.”)
Watch the men race up the Koppenberg in 2025:
Watch the women race up the Koppenberg in 2025:
Here’s the verified IRL Strava segment:
Unlike the Paterberg, the Koppenberg can be entered at higher speed, since there is a straight road leading into it. Why did even Eddy Merckx have to push his bike up this hill? What makes the Koppenberg so tricky are the worn cobbles, that can almost be called polished. Even a few raindrops make the Koppenberg slippery like ice. Even though I think Zwift can’t provide any feel close to riding it IRL, it’s nevertheless nice to have this icon added.
It’s a shame that the Tacx Neo cobblestone road feel probably won’t be enabled in zwift for this climb. I’ve ridden this climb virtually using the Tacx training software with road feel and it is brutal.