Flandrien cycling
by Dominic Barton
Nestled in the hills of east Flanders near the town of Brakele is the Flandrien Hotel. Catering to cycling fans and aficionados it provides a place of rest, access to some of the best parcours in Belgium and easy access to cycling’s flemish heartland.
Set up in 2021 by Jamie Anderson, a cycling enthusiast and a former professor of business strategy who was looking for a holiday home. He quickly realised that there was nothing catering for the legions of cycling fans from across the world, 200,000 of them, who come all year round to experience the flemish cycling culture and so the Flandrien hotel was born. The hotel has quickly established itself as a hub for riders all arounD the world from the US to Erupe an even further afield; and has partnered with the likes of Flamme Rouge Podcast and the Centrum Ronde Van Vlaanderen in nearby Oudenaarde.
We arrived on Monday and were swiftly shuttled from Geraardsbergen station to the hotel ten minutes down the road where we settled into our accommodation. After dropping our bags, the affable and enthusiastic hotel manager Andras showed us round the Allan Peiper Library. Bedecked with many ex-professional bikes, including Maranne Vos’ olympic gold medal winning Time Trial Bike from the 2012 Olympics it also includes as historical retrospective of the Giant TCR bike, as well as bikes from the likes of Andrei Greipel and Mark Cavendish. Walking around and taking in the 30 plus years of history on display that has been lovingly accumulated and curated by the team was a real treat for a cycling fan
Whilst we were being shown around, the hotel buzzed with activity as the apprentice riders popped out for their training rides or were working on their own race bikes. The hotel sponsors a number of riders from all over the world from as close to home as Denmark and the UK and as far flung as Australia. As Jamie explained, he wanted to give back to kids whose dream was to race in the po-ranks but might not be able to get the chance due to not having the financial means. The riders, some of whom were away from their families for the first time were always happy to help out and set up a bike that we were able to pop to the shops to get some food for our stay. Using the kitchen at the hotel to make sandwiches for our lunches or pasta for dinner.
The next day we were ready to ride properly and got to experience what can only be described as a cycling enthusiast’s death-row track day. A day out around Flanders on an ex-pro bike. But not just any domestiques bike, Niki Terpstra’s S-Works Roubaix bike which he rode the same year that he took the victory in both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. The bike was set up fantastically by the staff who not only provided all the accessories needed for a day out in the saddle including the favoured preferred pedals or tyres. All we had to do was bring our cycling kit and shoes.
Stocking up from the clubhouse bar with a range of gels and energy bars we headed out to attack the winding Belgian lanes and cobbled climbs. Riding the S-Works up the Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Valkenberg was a dream come true and surely akin to being put behind the wheel of an F1 Maclaren in Silverstone or teeing off at Augusta; possibly even better as there was also the chance to ride Carlos Rodriguez’s Canyon but as this was Belgium the S-Works felt only appropriate; and the bike handled like a dream with its deep section aero wheels and 12 speed Dura Ace Di2 Groupset. If there was ever a problem, Andras or someone from the hotel was always happy to pop out in the car for a roadside service or pickup, something which allowed peace of mind whilst whizzing around the beautiful lanes of East Flanders. When we got back in the late afternoon we were able to unwind in the garden, soaking up the wonderful weather or if we preferred to head back into the clubhouse to grab a beer from the bar. The hotel allows you to come and go as you like and the clubhouse is all self service, from the food to the drinks which meant we never felt like we were in someone’s way. In fact the opposite, it made things feel very relaxed as we chatted with the apprentice riders about their favourite cyclists or their thoughts on the week’s racing.
The second day brought on something different and even more special. The Hotel has a partnership with Ridley to sponsor its young apprentice riders as Ridley lent us a fully decked out Gryphon endurance bike. Kitted out with a one-piece aero cockpit, fully carbon frame and the newest 12 speed 105 di2 groupset, it was the perfect bike to cycling westwards through the historic city of Ronse and up the Knockteberg where we were able to watch the actual professionals storming up in the annual Dwars Door Vlaanderen one day classic., Surrounded by the heady smell of cigarette smoke and alcohol fumes the absolute passion that was on show from the flemish was was a site to behold, almost dwarfed by the pelotons speed as they raced up the bergs.
As we cycled through the countryside we couldn’t help but be stunned by the incredible passion that people in Flanders have for the sport of bike racing. Old ladies would shout “allez, allez” as you grinded up the steep bergs, dustbin men would shout “Op, Op, Op” as you put more pedal to the metal and even stopping off in the local Aldi; and as Jamie put it: “the cashiers will ask you what you thought of Wout Van Aert’s chances in the upcoming Tour of Flanders”. Someone was even kind enough to allow us into their group ride to shelter us from the wind. After getting back we dropped off the bike to be taken care of whilst we showered and then headed down for a celebratory beer, chatting about the race with the staff there it’s obvious how much love and passion is shared by the people who run the hotel and the other guests.
The next day we were quickly shuttled by Andras and the team over to catch our train back to Brussels but not before a quick photo outside of the Peugeot team car to commemorate our stay.
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