The former Belgian Champion Yves Lampaert ( Deceuninck – Quick-Step) expressed his thoughts on the importance of the race, its absence and Sunday’s virtual edition of Flanders
![]() |
Yves Lampaert: “De Ronde is our World Championships”
The former Belgian Champion expressed his thoughts on the importance of the race, its absence and Sunday’s virtual edition of Flanders.
Unquestionably one of the main attractions of the year, Ronde van Vlaanderen is more than one of cycling’s most sought after races. It’s also a national obsession, an event where champions are born and legends are forged, with Flanders’ demanding bergs offering the perfect backdrop for some epic fights between those vying for glory.
Photo: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
Created in 1913 and held without hiatus since 1919, Ronde van Vlaanderen is also a race deeply ingrained in the DNA of Deceuninck – Quick-Step, our team being the most successful in the modern era, with seven victories since 2005. In normal circumstances, on Sunday we would have targeted another win at what should have been the season’s second Monument, but as you all know, things have changed in the past weeks, forcing everybody to adapt to what at the beginning of the year would have been an unthinkable scenario.
But even so, we try to make the best out of the worst and give our fans something to soften their disappointment of not having any Classics this spring. That’s why we talked recently with cobblestone specialist Yves Lampaert about the Ronde van Vlaanderen, its place in the Belgian culture and its main attractions.
… continued after advert
Yves, what does De Ronde mean for a Belgian?
Yves: For me and for many others, it’s not just the biggest goal of the year, it’s our very own World Championships, as it carries the same significance and prestige. It’s the day an entire country stands still, a national day which draws hundreds of thousands of roadside fans, who want to see the peloton pass even if it’s just for a brief moment. De Ronde is part of our identity, it’s something that defines us.
Do you remember the first edition you saw live on TV?
Yves: Not really, but the race which is the most vivid in my memory from when I was a kid is the one Tom Boonen won as World Champion. That gave me goose bumps, it was truly inspiring.
How was your debut at the race?
Yves: It wasn’t easy. I was in my second year as a pro, and had a puncture, then managed to come back in the peloton, only to crash pretty hard just before the second time up the Oude Kwaremont. But overall, I still enjoyed that day. That’s the thing about Flanders, you have a love-hate relationship with it. Last time up the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg is one of the hardest moments of the cycling season and it makes you suffer and dig really deep, but on the other hand, just being on the start line gives you a lot of pride and getting to enjoy that fantastic atmosphere makes you want to give 110%.
Talk us through the iconic climbs of the race.
Yves: Well, you have the Muur-Kapelmuur, which despite featuring early on the course, stirs things up, making everybody nervous, because they all know you’ve got to be in a good position there, as almost every year something happens on that hill. Then, with around 50 kilometers to go, you take on the Koppenberg and its uneven and gruelling cobbles. It’s the steepest climb in Flanders, it’s also very narrow, and you’ve got to do it at your own pace. Another hot point of the race is the Oude Kwaremont, which is also my favourite climb. Steep in the beginning, then a very fast middle part, and again quite steep towards the top. If you are good on the Oude Kwaremont, you will be good also on the Paterberg, which has a 100m section at around 22%, where it’s really important to put in a really good effort, while being careful not to blow up.
How does it feel not having De Ronde this year?
Yves: It’s more disappointing by the day, as we get closer and closer to Sunday. I talk with my neighbours about it and knowing there will be no race this weekend makes you understand how strange everything is. On the other hand, people’s safety is the most important thing now, and all you can do is hope this whole situation will soon pass and we’ll get to race again this year. What helps a bit is knowing we’ll have the Virtual Ronde van Vlaanderen on Sunday, which although it will be very different, still motivates you to do good.
Cycle Division’s Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Result: British Men’s RR Championship
- Result: British Women’s RR Championship
- Features, Reports, Results
- Result: Royal Navy & Marines CA 10m TT
- Result: City Road Club Hull 10m TT
- Result: Essex Roads 11.5m TT
- Result: Lichfield No Frills 2
- Result: Team LDN – Brother UK Summer Crit Series 3
- Result: Henstridge Circuit Races 4
- Result: Harvey Hadden Crit Series 5
- Result: Isle of Man Youth League
- Result: Mens Otley Grand Prix
- Result: Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix
- News: Shimano 105 Di2 Ribble Range
- Result: SACA Salt Ayre Tuesday 12
- Result: West Thames League 14
- Result: Tameside Tuesday League 10
- Result: Lotus Cars Cycle Race League 9
- Result: Brooks Cycles Track League
- Result: Hove Park Crits 2
- Result: Port Talbot Wheelers TTT
- Result: Warrington RC TTT
- Result: Severn RC 10m TT
- Result: Salford CC 25m TT
- Result: ECCA 10m TT
- Result: Utag RT 10m TT
- Result: LRRA 10m Time Trial
- Result: VC Glasgow South 10m TT
- Result: Cliff Pratt Deca Community Crits 5
- Result: Kent Valley RC 10m TT
- Result: Sussex CA 50m TT
- Result: Thanet RC 25m TT
- Result: Colchester Rovers CC 47m TT
- Result: Kent Valley RC 25m TT
- Result: Oxonian CC 25m TT
- Result: Houghton CC 25m TT
- Result: Giant Helston 25m TT
- Result: King and Queen of the Bowl 4
- Result: Santini Bovingdon Bomber Summer Series
- Result: Castle Combe Summer Series 7
- Result: L’Etape de la Defonce 2-day
- Result: Omega Circuits
- Result: Scottish National Youth Circuit Series 3
Other News on VeloUK
- News: Shimano 105 Di2 Ribble Range
- News: Ben Healy wins Irish national time trial
- Events: Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix is back!
- News: Pedal Club Lunch, June ‘22
- Latest Podcast: Brother Cycling UK
- Commonwealth Games: UK Islands
- Commonwealth Games: Wales
- News: British Championships on TV
- Commonwealth Games: Team England
- Startlist: Stockton Grand Prix Women
- Preview: 2022 Cicle Classic Day 2
- News: Mildenhall Cycling Mini-Fest
- News: Scottish CX Champs for Dundee
- Events: Bath CC Women’s Road Race
- Startlist: 2022 CiCLE Classic (Women)
- Startlist Stockton Grand Prix Men
- Startlist: Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic
- Riders: British Road Championships
- 2022 Women’s Tour
- Next Week: Women’s Tour
- New Shoes Anyone?
- News: Sammie Stuart goes UCI!
- News: Brother UK Sponsors Biggest UK Races
- Scottish Team for Commonwealth Games
- Events: BikeStow Three-Day
- Startlists: Junior Road Championships 2022
- Feature: The Pedal Club Lunch May
- Barnsley Road Club Races This Sunday
- Sunday: Proper Northern Road Race Series 2
- This weekend: 48th Totnes Vire Two Day
- 2022 British Road Championships Venues
- TOUR SERIES: Round 3 (Sunderland) (Men)
- Startlist: Tour Series Round 1 Guisborough
- 2022 Tour Series Rider Squads Revealed
- News: Simon Yates to Vuelta a Asturias
- Events: Shrewsbury Sports Village
- News: 2022 Women’s CiCLE Classic Saved!
- Startlists: 2022 Rapha Lincoln GP
- Startlist: Oakenclough RR
- News: ŠKODA DSI Cycling Academy