Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl riders Yves, Bert and Stijn take you along their training route in Ypres.
Yves Lampaert, Bert Van Lerberghe and Stijn Steels regularly train on the roads around charming Ypres, and they shared this experience with us recently in a video. Meeting and starting point was the Ariane Hotel in the city center of Ypres, where the riders could use the hotel’s facilities to change clothing.
Not far from the hotel the three riders passed through the famous Menin Gate, also known for the start of the classic Gent-Wevelgem. The Menin Gate is dedicated to the memory of the British soldiers who passed away during the First World War and never got identified, 55 000 names are engraved on the walls. “The Menin Gate offers one of the most beautiful start places in the sport, just standing there before Gent-Wevelgem gets underway really leaves you silent, and it’s important this keeps on being remembered”, Yves says.
A quick coffee stop in beautiful Palingbeek couldn’t be left out, before heading towards the famous Kemmelberg.
ITT and former Road Race Belgian Champion Yves is a big fan of training here: “This region is the Tuscany of Flanders, training here gives the perfect preparation towards the races.” Heading back towards the hotel for a nice lunch and chat after the training is the perfect ending of a training ride. Ypres offers multiple locations where you can eat or drink something after having completed your bike ride, one of these being the big market, which is also very popular.
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
Yves Lampaert 
