The Tour of Flanders will come up with a new final next year. The organizers announced this yesterday and thus also met the taste of the professionals. “We've heard a lot of positive things about the route planning over the past two years, but we've also been aware of the criticism. For the new route, we focused on the main points.", according to an official statement.
The finish loop in particular was heavily criticized in the course of the last two events. Although it placed the Oude Kwaremont at the center of the racing action, it excluded traditional ramps such as the Muur and the Bosberg. Neither will be integrated into the route next year either, as a look at the map reveals. However, there will also be fewer flat sections in the final.
The Oude Kwaremont will also have to be tackled three times in 2014, while the Paterberg will only have to be tackled twice. This means that the last kilometers of the race will be similar to those of this year's edition. The approach to the finish lap will also be changed. The vars organizers have integrated the climbs into the course in a way that should allow outliers to stay in the lead longer. Compared to the past two years, there will be fewer flat sections between the ramps. In 2014, the riders will conquer the Oude Kwaremont for the first time after just 108 kilometers before it again 100 kilometers later under the wheels device. Then follows the first crossing of the Paterberg, from where the drivers are directed in the direction of Koppenberg. This now has to be mastered with 45 kilometers to go. This is followed by the Steenbeekdries (39 km), the Taaienberg (37 km), the Kruisberg (35 km), the Oude Kwaremont (17 km) and the Paterberg (13 km).
The pros, most notably Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Leopard), winner of this year's edition, are sympathetic to the changes. Across from Nieuwsblad.de he said: “It's a great, challenging track, much more traditional. The fans can be satisfied with this course. It will definitely be an exciting race.” Stijn Devolder, winner in 2008 and 2009, and Nick Nuyens were equally impressed: "The course really appeals to me. I think that the short succession of the climbs is good for the race”, according to the winner of 2011.