I’m visiting my friend Lydia and her family in Maarkedal.  She was working at her business yesterday and suggested I come into the office in the afternoon and do a loop walk among the green fields.  Sounded good to me.

As we drove there, the twists and turns of the narrow roads confused me and I asked her to draw me a map.  She did.  Describing the route, she came to this point:

“Right here [a Y-shaped intersection], turn left.  On the right is the Taaienberg.  It’s all cobbles.”

As Lydia kept going with the directions, my mind wandered to the recent Ronde van Vlaanderen cycling race. 

Taaienberg … that was one of the climbs during the Ronde!  You mean I’m there?

Indeed I was … about to be.  I saw the future.  I wouldn’t make it back to the business at our appointed time.  We agreed that if need be, she’d pick me up on the road.  I knew need it would be, for there was a hill to climb.

After my walk, Lydia told me she knew I wouldn’t be able to resist the Taaienberg.

***

Here are the bare facts.  The Taaienberg is 800 metres long.  Its average gradient is 7.2 %, with a maximum of 18%.  For the uninitiated, those are just numbers.  For the cyclist doing the climb, the body is screaming.  The riders have already ridden 233 kilometres and have done 13 major ascents.

I had walked about 45 minutes when the asphalt road started climbing and ahead loomed a certain Y-intersection.  Oh my God … I’m almost there!

And now the cobbles.  I stared at the upness.  Here’s a view from near the bottom:

And looking back down:

Imagine the roadside packed with cheering fans.

Looking up from farther along:

And down:

The view from the top.  I wonder if exhausted bodies spared a glance to the right.

Here’s just a little sign.  But what an immense achievement.  From the riders, and actually … from me.

On April 5, 2025 I may very well be standing on the Taaienberg during the Ronde van Vlaanderen, watching my heroes gasp and strain and prevail. 

I’ll be home