Paterberg at risk of being removed from Tour of Flanders and E3 Saxo Classic: "The earth has now disappeared up to the asphalt"

The Tour of Flanders sees in the Paterberg it's last climb, and often a decisive one. The steep Flandrien berg is one of the most famous in the region, but bad weather has put the climb at risk of being removed from the monument and also E3 Saxo Classic.

“For now, only the side has slipped away. The road itself is still intact," Willem-Jan Baert, public works councilor of the area explained to Het Nieuwsblad. "But we are closing the road because we fear that vibrations could cause even more subsidence. The lock is also gone. It is located meters lower, so it is not safe." Ultimately, the road is currently closed off to trafic, in fears of harsh damage. However, this is planned to be fixed in the short-term: 

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"We have received the contractor's quote and he promises that everything will be ready when the E3 Saxo Classic passes here. That is on March 22. The Tour of Flanders is a week later," he explains. The climb is a key part of both classics, in both occasions combined with the ascent to the Oude Kwaremont. The climb is 400 meters long only but averages 12.9% and has a maximum grade of 18%. It is a mythical climb of the cobbled classics and one of the hardest as well.

“If everything is safely restored, there is no problem. If the contractor is not ready, there is a plan B. The course then continues to take the next street. A walk around the block, so to speak," Baerts admits. "They then have to take a sharp bend where the earth has now disappeared up to the asphalt. That's where things have to be put in order first, so that the bend can be taken safely.”

There is exactly one month remaining until the start of the E3 Saxo Classic - the most important warm-up race for Flanders - and the race organizers are equally hoping that the problem is resolved until then. “If there are still problems, the bend will be safely closed off with concrete blocks and Boplans, because that road is the only way to the foot of the Paterberg."

"But let's assume that plan A succeeds. There is a good chance that the riders will experience inconvenience during E3 explorations. We already know that. We have to assume that everything will be fine for the important cycling races that will take place there. But it is clear that there is stress for everyone who has to deal with it," he concluded.