Take on the cobbled streets of Northern Europe with the Spring Classics

The 2021 Spring Classics have been throwing up all sorts of surprises over the last couple of weeks, with the Tour of Flanders most recently seeing Jasper Asgreen taking his first ever Flanders win in a nail-biting sprint finish against Mathieu Van der Poel.

The Classics are arguably the best time of the year for many cycling enthusiasts so we wanted to bring the cobbled streets of Northern Europe to your home and give you the opportunity to try six of the climbs on the Wattbike Hub.

1️⃣ Muur van Geraardsbergen, Tour of Flanders
2️⃣ Strade di Colle Pinzuto, Strade Bianche
3️⃣ Poggio di Sanremo, Milan San-Remo
4️⃣ Kruisberg, Tour of Flanders
5️⃣ Le Col du Rosier,Liege Bastogne Liege
6️⃣ Côte de Cherave, La Flèche Wallonne

We trust it’ll test your Wattbiker grit and determination - are you ready?

Head to theWattbike Hub> Climbs category to conquer six of the 2021 Classics. Remember your time spent on the Wattbike Hub counts towards the chance of winning epic prizes from Sigma Sports as part of theInside Outchallenge.

MUUR VAN GERAARDSBERGEN

FEATURES IN: RONDE VAN VLAANDEREN / TOUR OF FLANDERS

The Muur van Geraardsbergen (Wall of Geraardsbergen), or simply the ‘Muur’, is a famed Belgian cobbled climb. A regular feature of Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) since 1950, the climb has also featured in Gent–Wevelgem, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and has once been climbed in the Tour de France.

Starting at the river Dender, the Muur will see you gain 84m / 276ft of elevation over 1.1km / 0.7 miles, with a gradient averaging 8%.

Connect the Wattbike Hub and Strava before you start to see your Wall attempt added to Strava as a virtual ride. Set yourself a target and challenge your friends to beat your time.

• Distance: 1.1km / 0.7miles
• Elevation Gain: 84m / 276ft
• Average Gradient: 9.3%
• Classification: 4th Cat

STRADE DI COLLE PINZUTO

FEATURES IN: STRADE BIANCHE

East of Siena, the Strade di Colle Pinzuto is a gravel road climb that features in Strade Bianche, Italy’s young but already prestigious one day race named after the white gravel sectors that constitute around ⅓ of the race’s total distance.

After a brutal opening 0.5km / 0.3miles at around 15% gradient, Strade di Colle Pinzuto levels off to a much more manageable slope, only once briefly touching double-digits again for the remainder of the climb. By the finish point you’ll have climbed 96m / 315ft over 2.3km / 1.4miles, at a gradient averaging 3.9%.

Connect the Wattbike Hub and Strava before you start to see your Colle Pinzuto attempt added to Strava as a virtual ride. Set yourself a target and challenge your friends to beat your time.

• Distance: 2.3km / 1.4miles
• Elevation Gain: 84m / 276ft
• Average Gradient: 3.9%
• Classification: 4th Cat

POGGIO DI SANREMO

FEATURES IN: MILAN SAN-REMO

The Poggio is the final and often decisive climb of Milano-Sanremo - one of cycling’s Monuments and the longest one-day race on the pro cycling calendar.
Rising up the Poggio di Sanremo from sea level, the climb takes in 134m / 440ft of elevation gain over 3.6km / 2.2miles at a gradient averaging 3.7%.

Following the ascent, the pros descend into Sanremo before winding up for the final sprint to the finish line. But as long as you’ve connected the Hub to Strava before your Poggio attempt, you’ll instead be able to sit back and check your position on the leaderboard. Don’t forget to set yourself a target and challenge your friends to beat your time.

• Distance: 3.6km / 2.2miles
• Elevation Gain: 134m / 440ft
• Average Gradient: 3.7%
• Classification: 4th Cat

KRUISBERG

FEATURES IN: TOUR OF FLANDERS / E3 HARELBEKE

Rising up from the centre of Ronse in Flanders, Belgium, the Kruisberg includes a steep cobbled section before reaching the top of the Hotond hill. A staple of Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) the climb also features in the Tour of Flanders for Women and E3 Harelbeke.

The Kruisberg will see you gain 85m / 280ft elevation over 1.8km / 1.1miles, at an average gradient of 4.7% and the steepest middle section reaches over 9% in places.

Connect the Wattbike Hub and Strava before you start to see your Kruisberg attempt added to Strava as a virtual ride. Set yourself a target and challenge your friends to beat your time.

• Distance: 1.8km / 1.1miles
• Elevation Gain: 85m / 280ft
• Average Gradient: 4.7%
• Classification: 4th Cat

LE COL DU ROSIER

FEATURES IN: LIEGE BASTOGNE LIEGE

Located to the south of Spa in Liège Province, Belgium, Le Col du Rosier features in Liège-Bastogne-Liège: the oldest of the Monuments and usually the final race of the spring classics.

Climbing through the Ardennes to the hamlet of Rosier, this 3rd category climb will see you gain 229m / 750ft elevation over 3.9km / 2.4miles, at a gradient averaging 5.9% and reaching over 10% at times.

Connect the Wattbike Hub and Strava before you start to see your Col du Rosier attempt added to Strava as a virtual ride. Set yourself a target and challenge your friends to beat your time.

• Distance: 3.9km / 2.4miles
• Elevation Gain: 229m / 750ft
• Average Gradient: 5.9%
• Classification: 3rd Cat

CÔTE DE CHERAVE

FEATURES IN: LA FLÈCHE WALLONNE

A feature of La Flèche Wallonne, the Côte de Cherave is a tough 1km / 0.6miles ascent starting in Huy, climbing parallel to the Meuse river south west of Liège in Belgium.

The relatively short distance and average gradient of 8.6% underplays this climbs toughness: a short but very steep opening section exceeds 20% gradient, followed by a brief respite before a middle section with gradients in excess of 10%. Overall you’ll gain 84m / 276ft of elevation as you rise above the water.

Connect the Wattbike Hub and Strava before you start to see your Col du Rosier attempt added to Strava as a virtual ride. Set yourself a target and challenge your friends to beat your time.

• Distance: 1km / 0.6miles
• Elevation Gain: 84m / 276ft
• Average Gradient: 8.6%
• Classification: 4th Cat