The Koppenberg | GCN's Epic Climbs

We take on the most brutal climb of the Tour of Flanders.
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It's steep, cobbled and mythical in nature. The Koppenberg has gained notoriety among the pro ranks and amateur cyclists alike. Matt, Tom and Simon ventured into deepest Flanders to find out why this 600m stretch of road is so special.
Riding the cobbles with Johan Museeuw ▶︎ gcn.eu/1Xvzt9D
Get ready for the Koppenberg - how to train for short, steep climbs ▶︎ gcn.eu/1RPLK4p
Buy GCN winter kit, casual wear and accessories in the GCN Shop: gcn.eu/TheGCNShop
Music:
Basement Freaks- The Calling
Lee Groves - Like Dis
Tom Linden- B Killerz
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The Global Cycling Network puts you in the centre of the action: from the iconic climbs of Alpe D’Huez and Mont Ventoux to the cobbles of Flanders, everywhere there is road or pavé, world-class racing and pro riders, we will be there bringing you action, analysis and unparalleled access every week, every month, and every year. We show you how to be a better cyclist with our bike maintenance videos, tips for improving your cycling, cycling top tens, and not forgetting the weekly GCN Show. Join us on KZbin’s biggest and best cycling channel to get closer to the action and improve your riding!
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Leave us a comment below!

[@Gunner_182]

"Legends like Boonen, Cancellara and Lloyd" haha

[@Dissidentmember]

Ya know GCN take on KOMs would be a great feature, right?

[@ThePrimaryKorea]

Brilliant idea.

[@FlatSpinMan]

+ThePrimaryKorea Hear hear! I'd love to see them suffer on the rides we all do as they attempt (probably quite easily) to beat us. That'd be awesome.

[@DreamClean]

Need this in my life.

[@Jules.C.]

Yes

[@mrfocus2005]

si on a RIDLEY in Belgium what other result did you expect #tested on pave :}

[@vic3197]

Dan Lloyd gonna ride the Brabantse pijl(live on sporza)amazing! You got me gcn!

[@Lodosj]

+Vic Ceulemans really? ga zeker kijken :P

[@oliviervanluijk4133]

het is een 1 april grap, niemand die dat snapt :s

[@Lodosj]

+Olivier oh haha ik was er ook ingetrapt...

[@vic3197]

+Olivier ik was er ook ingetrapt ......zag er anders wel heel professioneel uit met de nieuwe rotor groep ezv.

[@oliviervanluijk4133]

ik weet het niet 100% zeker maar ik denk niet dat je een 35 jarige renner aanneemt

[@assaultedpeanut9]

Fantastic rate of content! I would love to see more videos where the presenters push themselves to their limits :)

[@weerawarakul1817]

Koppenbaggggggggggggggggggggg

[@SSEF15]

Why did Richardson retire again?

[@BjerkeRobin]

"One final, monstrous 200W surge" Hahahaha 🤣😂👍💪

[@barmyflash]

"One final monstrous 200 watt surge" haha

[@abedfo88]

+William Ashman thats my type of level.......... :(

[@digbyodell2924]

That was a flat one for me...too far from the truth. No man could be better suited to paving the way than the Brick himself got me.

[@abedfo88]

Si Richardson with some wattage bazooka right there!! chapeau!!!

[@mnovo]

Race Support "Hitting cyclists since 1987" That should be a moto. (see what I did there?...)

[@lukesimonpfiallday3868]

this dan thing better be a joke

[@TheWaxChainFanClub]

I love Simon Richardson. There, I've said it.

[@experiment54]

compact cranks, 11/32 and you'd have got the KOM, spinners are winners. Heard it somewhere.

[@fullmetalgridlock]

+experiment54 hes probably making a video about his already hahah

[@alexapirot32]

+experiment54 no m8 chug it in the BIG DOG betta'

[@xlr8442]

+experiment54 Must have heard it from someone who doesn't actually win bike races. Winners are spinners, sure, but a 110 cadence doesn't make you Chris Froome.

[@joeyv.7360]

Bazza Barnes must be Matt Stevens' distant relative, Big Doggin' like a pro here.

[@markhabo7417]

+experiment54 Durian rider fan confirmed just like me :D

[@Emqil90]

Lasty was like a haystack on fire - huge flame... aaand it's gone :)

[@SlowBoyAthlete]

Dear Dan Lloyd, are you sure you read your script correctly at 3:40? Sure it didn't read the 2nd to 4th strongest members of the GCN team? What grace!

[@lkb3rd]

I'd love more videos that feature Lasty blowing up and feigning a mechanical. Best thing I've ever seen.

[@RixterNow]

How did Dimension Data give The Boss time off so soon to do yet another GCN video? LOL. Way to put the hurt on Si. Beast

[@mattwilliams8614]

Si think how I think. If u were a woman u would have QOM

[@netfischer]

+Matt Williams Yeah, if he was a women he would also be 15kg lighter so I think it's fair to say he basically got the KOM!

[@strenkp]

hmm put strava link to the segment into movie notes/details there is huge spam of text and most important thing missing :)

[@ubollevadergast8019]

Like als ge uit België komt

[@saracen888]

This was the best kind of GCN content. Subtle brand promotion, good presenting and fun without all the fancy editing. Enjoy the Classics season everyone

[@cameronroche9239]

That lead out was an absolute classic, made me laugh so much, Llloydy's commentary as well!!

[@zakloney7366]

AMATEUR!! shifting into big ring before cobbles. Then attempting to shift into little ring on the climb.....under power, on at least a 10% gradient and on cobbles!? Now we know Tom last never presents any videos on how use your gears. :p

[@julianidrobo55]

Are you ever going to make a video about the Mur de Huy?

[@ohorok2]

You have to stay in the saddle otherwise you lose a grip and traction on rear wheel

[@patrickbisogno1441]

Matt practicing his cx skills with the bike on the back

[@mrkringlan]

Where is Dan, is he back with some Cervelo sponsored team?

[@koDiacc]

do riders use some 38 chainrings on flanders? I mean the domestiques for sure their legs will be empty after 200k but the main favorites? because 39x28 must be really tough > 15%

[@Lodosj]

hey GCN! have you ever tried to climb up "'de keutenberg"'? it is very steep!

[@VincentBorgmans]

+douwe jonkbloed Love that one! The whole area there has a lot of "epic" climbs

[@stuartare]

Outstanding commentary from the Boss!

[@mrkringlan]

One of your greatest videos yet!!

[@HappyTrucker]

If that was a reliable edit of the climb chapeau to Simon for doing the thing seated. Good climbing. And to follow on an earlier comment I think GCN take on KoMs would be a good new segment as well :)

[@jarretgosbee7717]

#BrickZooka

[@leeroysilk01]

Can't help but wonder how Team Dimension Datas latest recruit would have faired?

[@craigpaterson5085]

Lastly should be re-named the cobble

[@adilabs2772]

...or The Clobbled

[@timonhaerens1726]

Craig Paterson in dutch koppen means heads, and an synonym for cobbles is roughly translated kids heads ( sounds strange that way) so it actually is called that way

[@pokie0622]

It would have never been a solid video had Dan not mentioned himself amongst the legends who have climbed this iconic stretch of cobble. Nicely done Simon. #WattageBazzoka for Simon this week...

[@tomertal2287]

As a mountain biker I dont a see a problem with this climb LOL

[@mediumrick7667]

Dimension Data Dan (D3) would've beat the record.

[@MagliaNera]

I think this is the first time for me to watch the detail of the whole road of the famous Koppenberg. thanks!

[@chrisccummins]

I really struggled up the Koppenberg... at one point I thought it might all grind to a halt! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hovKmaZma6mYo6M

[@JonJOn0]

Did it yesterday for the cyclo, truly monstruous climb haha

[@michaelnewman4302]

"...one, final, monstrous 200 watt surge..."

[@mysticalforest3385]

Did it today with my electric bike. It is a very nasty one! Even with an electric bike.

[@flopez1397]

This is the moment when the car smash the wheel kzbin.info/www/bejne/haSveZiCfLF_iLcm27s

[@marcelobecerra5083]

Acabo de leer de ciclismo en Flandes. Esta es una de las empinadas, además con adoquines 😐😒🚴‍♂️más parece un ciclocross en terreno duro

[@starkparker16]

And Lloyd. Never forget Lloyd.

[@bikeanddogtripsvirtualcycling]

I know that you like your bike tech, Si and wondered if you ever visited kickstarter? I came across a bike on there yesterday (work was a bit slow) - aero with full internal wiring and integrated cycle computer, fully carbon with different wheels and groupsets ranging from around $1200 to $2500 Not going to paste a link, however it is in the technology section and is called "SpeedX Leopard". Thought that you might find it interesting.

[@alejandromartinezrodriguez6996]

Andrea I hace 12 years. To easy

[@thijsvandenbroek5333]

Nice to see a KZbin video in a area where i live

[@1977minicooper1380]

I would love to do this soooooooo much.

[@oil_moon]

I can't find this Lee Groves guy anywhere! Loved the 2nd track used - can you help me out?

[@rodyDB]

Make a video about the climbs of the Amstel Gold Race, Keutenberg, Eyserbosweg and more

[@ChrClausen]

GTN, that would be interesting, but I wouldn't recommend trying to ride a bicycle afterwards.

[@juditheneric8811]

Si, retired? did get ahead off Daniel Lloyd in 2009, 2.27 vs 2.33 . That is just horrendous, Chapeau!

[@MozOnBikes]

The Koppenberg looks like a good training hill for Constitution Hill in Swansea UK, now thats a real cobbled climb!

[@SSEF15]

+JDM4K Been up there, killed myself on a compact.

[@Josh-el2nw]

Loving the race element to the 'Epic Climb' video. A race up Alpe D'Huez next?

[@necrossis]

Should've gotten Dan to set the KOM as he's "very close to producing the same power numbers" to when he was a professional.

[@TheMonsterPool]

What gearing did you use? Quite a lot of grinding. 34x30 would be good for the steapest part. I use a 36x30 myself. Quite nice as well.

[@markavogler]

oi Stevens no! I know you're in Belgium but this isn't cyclocross. get back on your bike & pedal up that climb. you going soft in your old age??

[@kaboom555]

Damn Richardson is FAST! I mean we all know that the presenters are more than reasonably fit, but that was properly quick!!

[@erikvanbommel9458]

When are you guys going to start using 'snippets' of video? Showing Jesper getting run over, riders crashing uphill, the crowds, etc would really make this vid, and others you guys make.

[@dhmacher]

"One final 200 W surge!" Hahaha!

[@roxic1212]

Si kicked butt Lasty just lost steam, next time if he paces himself the "Wattage Bazooka" can do it.

[@richardm9688]

Lasty needs a power meter - to gauge his power better so he doesn't blow up too soon - Go Simon, experience vs youth! Although, if Dan the BOSS had been there it would have been game over for everyone - but he's at Team Dimension Data, right? lol

[@llamarinio8090]

Is it considered cheating if you use a mountain bike with road tyres? surely that would be faster?

[@llamarinio8090]

+MRGRUMPY53 I mean is there like an unwritten rule that you should be on a full road bike for the record. I'm just wondering if it might be faster on fatter tyres with more grip and suspension is all.

[@MECHcore]

They need to try "De Muur" or "The Wall" in Geraardsbergen, a shame that they skipped that one since some few years from the tour, the tour is not like it was anymore, i love the Koppenberg aswell tho, greetings from Belgium, tomorrow is the day 100th anniversary tour :)

[@mattwilliams8614]

1.25 Tom Last the ultimate scrape

[@bajcsevattila5708]

I guess someone have seen the top 10 cycling excuses....

[@petinka721]

Lasty had bad luck and shit can happen anyone. I sure he had pass. Great work Simon. Matt did well if he only used one pedal cinco he have problem clip in. :)

[@Radchenister]

So ... how many times did you have to climb it for filming?

[@harolds789]

Three strongest members if the GCN team, do I hear an objection??

[@alejandromartinezrodriguez6996]

Iclimb it

[@matthewsaliba4811]

With a lead out like that, I think Lasty deserves a Wattage Bazooka... or a special mention at the very least.

[@twpenick]

Great video, loads of fun, thanks!

[@GordonMoat]

Lasty looks smooth there. Who knew that The Brick would be so good on the bricks.

[@joeVpower]

......Tom!.....................TOM!.................. Great vid lmao

[@ryanstokes7419]

Is there such thing as a good climb?

[@Extermotron]

What's faster on cobbles an aero bike or a more comfortable bike

[@hannesdhondt3096]

Si, did you ever ride the Koppenbergcross in your days as a 'cross rider?

[@potusdumbledore3481]

"Who is the fastest" ... then you give 2 names ...

[@gierbil]

No dan? Off training with dimension data?

[@goldfever4570]

Great vid. How many times did you have to ascend to get all the takes?

[@paradox963]

ETap for the win Di2 for the fail.

[@JimTheGlawsFan]

One of my favourite climbs ever, can't wait to smash it again.

[@Purefunk4]

You should make a video on how to avoid/deal with numb hands!

[@kingzarse2828]

Where is Dan ? On a team training ride ? Or shooting a prank for April fools ? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah !!

[@jtuds]

Did Lasty ever redo it and finish it?

[@ewokedits5861]

gcn epic climbs York hill ?

[@mfiola13]

Outstanding. Great to see you guys truly push it.

[@mikemccray5304]

look like its gone on Strava?

[@matthewkluge5441]

I would hate to ride on those stones .

[@squareeyesfilms5030]

Global Tractor Network

[@VincentBorgmans]

Would love to see more of the KOM features!

[@fwcustoms5997]

lasty is a wattage bazooka

[@paulkazjack]

This is great telly.

[@upward_onward]

Top bar commentary

[@aaronpaterson7582]

feeling the music

[@mkipp271]

Do the Zoncolan next

[@barefeg]

spin to win anyone?