I Tried To Finish The Tour Of Flanders With Just 8 Weeks Of Training

[@gcn]

🇧🇪 Have you ever cycled the Tour of Flanders route? Let us know 👇

[@two-eyedRoy]

No! It seems to be very selfishly European... should it ever be held in AUS, then maybe. :D Q) Did Cillian roll on for a bit to claim a 100 mile ride?

[@ToOldToTurnProcycling]

The same route as Ollies, 300km in one day😢

[@blissbouwerij4033]

Not yet! After watching you conquer it, I am inspired to give it a go! I am also an Aussie (@two-eyedroy4883) but I am in South Holland, the Netherlands...only ridden outdoors a few seasons on flat ground, and just back in the saddle after a 2 year break. You really inspired me with achieving this goal, from sharing your idea, to relishing in your accomplishment, bloody well done, and thank-you.

[@phillippitts6294]

I wish!

[@cloclob2002]

yes, 6 times and 4 times the full distance +220km. last time also to home = +40km >>> training and commitment!!!

[@kevinmchugh1780]

Brilliant, more Cillian please. The peoples champion.

[@Jan94712]

Would wish to see cilian take one of the iconic climbs in the alps, like the alpe d'huez or sth like this. That would make for some good content wouldnt it? Maybe si, hank or the others can ride along with him that time?

[@michaelverlanov8977]

Agree! Very inspiring!

[@cilliankelly1]

@@Jan94712 I actually did this already. I did the Etape du Tour as part of a GCN+ documentary back in summer 2022. Hopefully some day soon those films will see the light of day again on a new platform. But yeah that day was roasting hot, 40 degrees celsius in the middle of the day, went over the Galibier, Col de la Croix de Fer and finished on Alpe d'Huez. I think I prefer riding in Flanders!

[@gcn]

The 105 of GCN? What challenge should we set him next?

[@gregmcnicoll5520]

​@@gcn**Tiagra. 105 is mow far too expensive for your avg person

[@thsaintful]

"some people can climb, some people can sprint. I for one, can eat as many gels as I want" - Truly a hero of the people Cillian is!

[@jonheggen]

Cillian is now the GCN presenter I would want to go with on a ride! What a hoot!

[@cilliankelly1]

Come to Ireland and send me an email and let’s do it!

[@gcn]

Wow! Think you could keep up?

[@prispin]

Seriously one of the best GCN videos ever - Cillian, you really have shown us average people that we can do epic rides like this - thanks! (love the facial expressions - nice editing!)

[@TitanBene]

Yes! You are so right! Love this video and idea!

[@gcn]

Thanks! We really appreciate the feedback 🙌 Would you like to see more Cillian in videos?

[@morosis82]

Have done a lot of epic rides and there's usually a few hundred or thousand others doing it with me. Average people can do amazing epic rides with a bit of persistence and grit.

[@folixmute]

The hotrod flame socks must have added a couple of watts

[@gcn]

Minimum 5 watts

[@johnandrews3568]

@@gcn per sock, right?

[@bkerridge25]

Good job Cillian. Still missing the longer versions of videos like this that used to be put on GCN+

[@cilliankelly1]

Same 😔

[@gcn]

We miss GCN+ too 😢 We're working on a new home for the GCN+ Content, watch this space and we'll let you know soon!

[@bkerridge25]

@@gcn great to hear, I will keep my eyes peeled 🙂

[@derfx89]

6:10 Ah yes, the classic progression from "I will be giving it the beans" to "maybe some beans" to "well a single bean will have to do" within a sportive. Well done!

[@danbeel8533]

Been there. Realized I hadn't brought enough beans.

[@cilliankelly1]

Haha! Exactly!

[@gcn]

He gave it all the beans! 🫘 Proud of Cillian 🙌

[@nicholaswelsh8486]

This was my 20th edition of the long route. At 64 I was going to make next year my last, but someone told me the oldest rider to complete the 237k is 81! Good grief! No excuses then 😳.

[@cilliankelly1]

Haha! That is brilliant, to you've another 18 years to go to try and break the record!

[@gcn]

Keep it up! Drop back in here and let us know what you brake the record 🙌

[@nicholaswelsh8486]

@@gcn I actually might die trying, what a way to go though, on the Koppenberg preferably, not on the Hotond though! 😁.

[@manfrommontreal]

The man, the myth, the LEGEND: The Gel Smasher of Cork!

[@gcn]

Hahahah what a nickname 🤣

[@peterfireflylund]

@@gcnhwat indeed!

[@238949]

Go Cillian GO , what a fabulous ride and video, so proud of you, what an inspiration x

[@cilliankelly1]

Thank you so much. So glad you enjoyed it.

[@gcn]

Smashed it didn't he! 💪

[@238949]

@@cilliankelly1 loved it x

[@238949]

@@gcn he did 😍😍

[@inz_uzi]

Cillian is no average guy... He's a beast! Go Cillian! 😊

[@ronaldgjosey1254]

Great ride Killian. Kudos Killian at the 9:26 mark going up the cobbles to the Chapel and asking the Rider if he was, okay, rider gave a Thumbs up that he was. True sportsmanship.

[@cilliankelly1]

Haha! Well I’m glad he was ok. I really didn’t fancy stopping there. Very hard to get going again!

[@gcn]

Be more Cillian, always stop for fellow riders 🙌

[@jacksonmah90]

I also rode the 158km version this year and I have to say those were some of the worst conditions I ever faced on a bike (you mention that in the video, but you don't emphasise on that enough! :) ). So no matter the numbers you mentioned at the end Cillian, everyone who started and completed the race last Saturday definately needed a far more than average mindset!! For reference: The shimano service personell didn't have anymore brakepads after a certain time because so many people needed new ones because of all the dirt and water everywhere. I wore out both my front and back brake, even after they were at like 50% at the start of the race, which could get you through a whole dry summer.

[@cilliankelly1]

Wow! That’s mad. I wonder how many people didn’t finish? I kind of think the conditions could have been worse though. There was a lot of rain but there was mercifully very little wind.

[@recreativeco]

I love all the gcn presenters, but watching Cillian is the best. Congrats @Cillian 🎉

[@cilliankelly1]

Thank you so much, really glad you enjoyed it.

[@gcn]

We always love filming with Cillian! Never a dull moment 🙌 Should we do it more often?

[@recreativeco]

@@gcn for sure! #adventureswithcillian

[@Ravenblade86]

Cracking job Cillian, even with the weather treating you to some of those iconic classics seasons conditions you handled that really well and did a great job presenting it in the process!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much! The weather was all part of it. I'm glad it was horrible. Made it more authentically Belgian.

[@dalanywatkins]

Possibly one of the best GCN videos. This man is an absolute (gel-fuelled) legend!

[@socopower]

What a hero Cillian, managing to chit chat while climbing some of these 😂 still keeping his smile at the end, clearly he needs a bigger challenge!

[@osimnod]

Congratulations on finishing such an epic, iconic ride! Encouraging to see older, average but determined amateur riders tackling a Monument. And a "well-done!" to the organizers to create an event for the masses.

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much. Yeah I agree, I think it was the best organised event I've ever done. Marshalls absolutely everywhere, everything you could possibly want at more food stops than you possibly need. It was brilliant.

[@gcn]

It's such a cool event! Would you ever take on a ride like this? 🚴

[@osimnod]

@@gcn Well, since I'm across "the Pond" in northern California, that would take some planning but it would be quite a test at my age (66) and the lack of cobbled roads here would leave me without any prior experience with that tricky surface. When I was 33, I finished both the Davis (CA) Double (200 miles in one day) and the Markleeville (CA) Death Ride (aka the Tour of the California Alps) about 130 miles and 15,000 feet of elevation gain. But those were days when I wore a younger man's clothes.

[@robertsmme]

This was simply brilliant. His numbers were encouraging too. Well done and kudos to the film crew for making this such an interesting ride.

[@cilliankelly1]

Stefan the video creator is absolutely brilliant at his job. He worked harder than I did!

[@gcn]

Hard to make Flanders look boring 🙌 Great to hear you enjoyed the video, would you ever do an event like this?

[@bensmith2609]

Excellent stuff. Flanders is such an underrated trip from the UK. Train to Dover; ferry to Dunkirk; 100km cycle to Flanders; check into a hotel; cycle around for a few days; head home. Great trip for very little money! And you can go in the summer when it’s quiet, dry and sunny!

[@gcn]

Such a good trip! Did you catch Hank doing this very ride with stranger? 🚴 kzbin.info/www/bejne/onuypXZ8msyWY5Y

[@cb6866]

Thank you Cillian...sir , you are amazing , you did that whilst speaking ! How are you feeling now ? Thanks to the crew as well. Great episode , Cillian was laughing , something I appreciate greatly . His sense of himself ? Rest , recover .

[@cilliankelly1]

I actually felt OK in the days after it. I felt good enough at the end that I could have kept going! Maybe it was all those energy gels....

[@WarHammerWH]

Well done Cillian! Wear the GCN colors with pride. They were well represented this day.

[@gcn]

Once you put the GCN kit you really get an extra push 👌

[@raysmith2602]

My wife and i did the flanders sportive some years ago on our Cannondale MT800 tandem. We had a great system of getting in the right hand gutter on the climbs cos tandems are very slow on the hills and people were unimpeded by us. Once over the climb i would give a big whistle snd the groups who had passed us on the climb shouted up "tandem" and move over as we descended so much faster than them. We got up every climb on two wheels but on the Muur we had to bump on the pavement cos somebody fell off in front of us and no way was i clipping out. So many people were amazed to see a tandem and one Belgian guy commented on how you couldn't climb out of the saddle on a tandem. We both got out of the saddle and climbed next to him. Best day out on a bike ive ever had in 55 years cycling

[@gcn]

love it! And there is nothing quite like seeing the motion of a pair climbing out of the saddle on a tandem! Poetry in motion! ❤️

[@ricardonascimento3545]

Brilliant! Cillian is a man with a full life who enjoys cycling, never hiding the difficulty of the routes. In between, he can still create a good atmosphere and bring a smile. Awsome!

[@gcn]

Always fun filming with Cillian! Would you take on an event like this? 🚴

[@ricardonascimento3545]

He is a person with a lot of knowledge and even with a busy life he can do something as difficult as this route. I've done a few, but this will be one of the trickiest challenges. One day, I would love to try this! 😊

[@01FozzyS]

Bravo,Cillian! All that blood sweat and tears in your training paid off. Congrats and looking forward to see what's next on your list!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much! I’m looking forward to finding out too! I think…

[@gcn]

We're cooking something 🧑‍🍳

[@dannelordbanana8362]

Thank you, very inspiring video! Good job! 👍 Next up, you should try the Vätternrundan 315km in June here in Sweden. 😉 Quite an experience to ride through the night with people all along the road, drinking beer and cheering on you!

[@gcn]

That sounds amazing! Is there a change we can get some beers after too? 🍻

[@mikepalmer8]

One of the best videos GCN has ever done. Really inspiring for all us (below) average guys

[@killering5]

More Cillian! Seriously, mate - great content; GCN, please do more with this fine young man. Also - how about a contest, where winners get to go on rides with Cillian, on borrowed dream bikes? That's a good idea, I think.

[@cilliankelly1]

This is the greatest idea I have ever heard.

[@carsonlewiscycling]

The best craic! You’re a superstar, Cillian! More of you on here, please. ❤

[@cilliankelly1]

Thank you so much. Really glad you enjoyed it.

[@rbonn3880]

The man. The legend. Epic hero. Cillian, way to go!

[@gcn]

Amazing effort from Cillian here! 🙌

[@danbeel8533]

Cillian is truly a presenter for the people. I love your perspective and guts, mate!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much! So glad you enjoyed it,

[@ThielemanMaarten]

What a beast, casually holding a conversation on the Muur. Strong!

[@cilliankelly1]

Haha! I knew I was going OK when someone jokingly complained to me that I was passing them out on a climb while presenting!

[@contactking]

"Crash up there." "Y'all right?" "Lord Jesus." -- Great commentary throughout Cillian. Well done on the ride (and the video)!

[@cilliankelly1]

Ah thanks a million! Think I just said oooooh Jesus rather than ‘Lord Jesus’. Don’t think I’ve ever said that!!

[@homersadiarin9299]

Congrats to Cilian finishing the Flanders. Riding in wet cobbles is the hardest and even more, it's a climb. Wish I could also smash 13% gradients easily.

[@cilliankelly1]

22% some of them!

[@gcn]

@@cilliankelly1 You didn't let that one slide 😉

[@gcn]

@@cilliankelly1 Here you go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4HZgWBqrr2rj80 - maybe save it until your lunch break

[@adamwilkinson6679]

I love this guy. I was there this year and rode all the climbs😀, not that it matters but a minor point of pride. It's a cultural experience I would recommend to everyone! Flanders is awesome

[@WalterDill-d9j]

That was awesome - I loved it! Well done Cillian in all respects. Well done GCN - all the videos where the presenters are in an event sharing the experience are some of my absolute favorites!

[@cilliankelly1]

Ah that’s great to hear. Really glad you enjoyed it! And very humbled to be referred to as ‘a presenter’. Fantastic!

[@pabloscope]

Nice one Cillian! I did a similar ride with these iconic climbs and cobbled streets a few months ago and it was moving to see them again. Also, I acquired an extra level of admiration for the pros that smash these climbs.

[@cilliankelly1]

Yeah absolutely, it's so hard to get a sense of the gradients and conditions when you're just watching on TV. It's like I'd been watching them in black and white before now and now I get to watch them in full colour

[@deputyfk]

Cillian you are a beast! We need more content for "our" man of the people! Cillian represents the majority of us all and does it well!! Great ride!!!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much. Really glad you enjoyed it. Have you ever been riding in Flanders?

[@deputyfk]

No sir, I have not. Been in awe for a long time and much respect to anyone pro or "Joe" who does it!

[@KimiTheCat09]

Big up, Cillian, big big up! 🎉I haven't rooted for a presenter to make it through to the end of the ride this hard since Si sang/cried along to James Blunt and I genuinely began fearing for his sanity 😅. I can't explain how proud this feat made me feel for Cillian, cracking effort, well done! 🫶👏

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much! I don’t think I’ve seen that James Blunt video. I must dip into the GCN back catalogue and try find it!

[@KimiTheCat09]

@@cilliankelly1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4HZgWBqrr2rj80si=Y4geziHKEnZRyfUs at 29:42 😁

[@gcn]

Luckily there was no Blunt on this ride 🤣

[@aghorn]

Congratulations, Cillian. Way to go!

[@jimim1882]

Love this! Also rode the sportive this year, except for the walk up the Koppenberg which was just too crowded and slippery. A genuine achievement to get around that tough course successfully. Well done to Cillian and everyone else who completed their ride there, to those with a mechanical, or worse, a fall or injury-related DNF - good luck for next time.

[@henningsykkellarsen]

the year I turned 50 cycled the rondhe! a memory for life! You managed to awaken this memory! the following day we stood at odekwaremont to cheer on the pros! we stood there with mother and father bettiol.... the following year he won the whole thing! we got to experience it all, test the trail ourselves and meet the stars on the trail the day before the pro race❤ Make more of this!

[@kevinbrown7616]

That was awesome! What a great accomplishment. Plus, you had such a great attitude. Love it! KB

[@larter_larter]

With all the facts and stats Cillian knows, he's riding those roads in a whole other dimension, compared to most people. I can imagine it's almost like travelling through time. Brilliant work, Cillian!

[@cilliankelly1]

It was amazing. Cycling through so many places which had previously just been place names on a list of race results. It was surreal to finally be there and living it. Have you been to Flanders?

[@larter_larter]

@@cilliankelly1 I can image. Thats awesome! No, I've not been there. Not yet. It's on my bucket list.

[@cilliankelly1]

@@larter_larter Definitely do it! It was the best most enjoyable sportive I've done. Even with the rain. Maybe because of the rain!

[@larter_larter]

​@@cilliankelly1 See you on the Koppenberg!

[@cube04]

That was seriously very entertaining! I really love your passion for the race and how you tackled the Muur. I did the Tour of Flanders Sportive 8 or 9 times. A couple of times in typical Flanders weather, but this years edition was really not easy…well done, mate. Greetings from 🇩🇪

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much! And well done to you on your own achievements. Fantastic! Yeah I absolutely loved it. Felt like I was riding through history.

[@johnandrews3568]

Cillian, man, this was awesome! Congrats and VERY well done, mate. Love the laughter on the Koppenberg and love the Belgian gloves. GCN needs more Cillian Kelly! ❤

[@johnwoodard8717]

OK, I'm going to say this once and only once, loudly: MORE AVERAGE JOE CONTENT LIKE THIS! It's so freaking nice to see someone who puts up power numbers similar to my own, and this took me back to my biggest rides with all of the feels.

[@michaelberenzweig6096]

Amazing job completing the ride! Cillian, you crushed it! Loved the flaming socks & knitted gloves! More of Cillian PLEASE!!!

[@gcn]

He did amazing! Such a hard ride 🥵 let's cook up another challenge for him! Any ideas?

[@michaelberenzweig6096]

@@gcn His challenge is to fix the up-loader for the bike vault and hodge/bodge! 😂

[@TheBridgee100]

You cracked me up when you were quoting all the winners of the Flanders. Prodigious memory right there. You are a legend! Well done on the completion of the ride; and most importantly that you enjoyed yourself!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much. Yeah was such an enjoyable day out. I would recommend it to anyone! Despite the weather... or maybe actually, *because* of the weather

[@gosteveb]

Well done Cillian…. Long time fan going back to your days before GCN and your work on the podcast. Next time go back and try the Flandrien Challenge over three days. I also failed on the Koppenberg in the sportive but managed it last weekend when doing it on quieter, dryer roads

[@cilliankelly1]

Aha! Thank you very much! That's good to hear that's is possible when the roads are quieter, I'd love to go back and give it another go. As for the podcast, I really miss doing that and there may be something very similar brewing within GCN currently.... so watch this space...

[@EricMartinRobinson]

Great video, very impressive to keep talking while putting in those miles! Maith an buachaill!

[@lilbruin]

That was brilliant. Well done, C! (Privately not sure what was the best part: the comment re mudguards, the ride itself, or those fabulous gloves!)

[@cilliankelly1]

Was so delighted I chose to put the mudguard on. I know Si Richardson was disapproving. But I don’t care.

[@andyfairchild2383]

Awesome! Well done Cillian ❤ Lovely video, really enjoyed that.

[@mgapagnolo1819]

Cillian you are one of my favorite part time presenters. Loved the beans expressions. Whats next? the Alpe d’Huez and or, the Tourmalet? I would love to see that journey.

[@cilliankelly1]

Well, thank you so much. They've actually made me do Alpe d'Huez already. I did the Etape du Tour in 2022 for a GCN+ film. Hopefully it will see the light of day on another platform sometime soon. That included the Galibier, Croix de Fer and Alpe d'Huez. I must admit, I preferred cycling in the rain in Flanders, than cycling in the sun in the Alps.

[@danm5021]

@@cilliankelly1 I did both of these too and I concur that the rain last weekend was far more preferable than the mind-melting heat of the '22 etape... Well done on another cracking ride!

[@cilliankelly1]

@@danm5021 Thanks so much! Well done to you for getting through that Etape! I remember digging into the numbers at the time - all of the results from previous years, and it was the Etape with the lowest percentage of finishers ever.

[@alinapopescu872]

Cillian, you are a hero ! Well done!!! ❣❣❣🥇🏆

[@rderouck]

9:00 - And you did it without a motor! Epic ride, Cillian, and the weather made it twice as hard. Love this video!

[@cilliankelly1]

Haha! I actually had to stop myself mentioning that. I pause just before I say Cancellara powered away. “Don’t say motor don’t say motor”

[@rderouck]

@@cilliankelly1 Now I cannot unhear that pause anymore 😅

[@michelleshinn5231]

I truly enjoyed this! Well done, Cillian! Your completing the sporting gives me hope!

[@cilliankelly1]

Really glad you enjoyed it. You should sign up for Flanders next year. Would you do it?

[@Z-u-m-a]

Brilliant effort Cillian. Really like your open style / approach to it all too including the presenting.

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks a lot! Really appreciate that. The cycling bit was the easy part. It’s the presenting bits I get more nervous about.

[@gcn]

He's great isn't he 🙌 What should we challenge him to next?

[@Z-u-m-a]

​@@gcnFred Whitton challenge. Going to try it myself next year too I hope.

[@patrickevans1632]

Bloody hell! Brilliant mate

[@jan_phi_lip]

Absolutely brilliant!!! Love him, love the format, this was really great to watch 😊

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much. So glad you liked it. Did it make you want to ride in Flanders?

[@andrewstephan8303]

Best video ever GCN!!!

[@xavierhulbert5849]

Seeing those numbers was much more motivating than I thought they would be. That’s really impressive!

[@scottjohnson6056]

Cillian has more heart than anyone else on GCN. Congratulations!

[@iansingleton]

Brilliant mate! Not only did you complete the ride, I had no doubt in my mind! But you also proved with some dedicated training everyone can! I love doing sportives, folk from all walks of life turn up, there's some great banter and personally I've made some good friends while riding them. I can't wait to get over to Belgium and do that route! Looking forward to your next challenge! Well done!👍

[@gcn]

You will love the riding the route! ❤️

[@quekshio]

Holy moly 😲 Cillians presenting skills got really good… really fast… its amazing 👏👏👏

[@cilliankelly1]

Wow! Thanks so much Quek! Absolutely love your videos.

[@jamesporter5630]

Monumental! Great ride. Great video. Good project from conception thru completion. Congratulations.

[@jamesbull9879]

What a legend! Loved this!

[@emersonVZLA]

It was a pleasure running into Cillian during the We Ride Flanders! What a great guy, super friendly and still smiling after the long ride 🙌🏽

[@allanfoster6965]

Congratulations. Brilliant stuff!

[@SJPMs]

Fantastic achievement Gillian💪👏👍. You have inspired me to have a go next year 🙂

[@spuddysadventures3054]

Great job Cillian, and great to see you at the Muir, definitely a highlight of the day on that tough cobbled climb.

[@cilliankelly1]

Aha! Nice one! Did you say hello? Well done on getting through it too!

[@USC9210]

This proves that the Muur needs to come back to the actual race. Such an iconic climb, and on Ronde race day, the sight of all the fans screaming on the grass embankment up to the chapel is just one of the great sights in the sport. To me, more iconic visual than Alpe d'Huez or the Angliru. Please reinstate the Muur!!

[@DG-tf9rp]

What helped you a lot was the awesome white Flame socks. Very well done. an accomplishment to be very proud of.

[@cilliankelly1]

Haha! Yes! That was the idea. Surely worth a few extra watts

[@twraven1]

You’re a thought old bird. Congrats on this accomplishment. What always amazes me about the pros is more about their agility and keeping the rubber on the road even more than speed.

[@davidkeddle4192]

Outstanding video. Cillian is an excellent presenter, and I hope to see more of him.

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much David. Really glad you liked it.

[@richardhasler6718]

Chapeau sir! Extra points for listing the Tour of Flanders winners in reverse order as you rode. Definitely worthwhile to research a course and the history before you ride it, to add to the experience when you're there.

[@cilliankelly1]

Absolutely agree. It made it so much more fulfilling. They weren’t just roads with steep bits. It was history. I was riding through and over all of the cycling history I’ve come to know and love so much.

[@jimmckenna9811]

Superb...effort AND vid!

Cillian, the Flandrian of hearts! What a ride and an amazing effort. Loved to watch your training and racing, and inspires me to ride The Ronde also. Hope you've had the opportunity to have a beer afterwards? Well deserved! Thank you for taking us with you, and ride on!

[@cilliankelly1]

Well thank *you* for watching! You should definitely sign up for next year. It was the most enjoyable sportive I've ever done.

[@chrisdeal6229]

Great stuff Cillian

[@ic8658]

I love all your content and it was great seeing how someone who is so relatable to many of us busy parents / weekend warriors made out! Great studf GCN!

[@cilliankelly1]

Ah that’s great to hear. That’s the whole idea I suppose. Trying to fit a decent challenge in around busy family life. Would you do it next year?

[@ShawnIsBatman]

An incredible ride, congratulations! Any debate over who is the "hardest man" of the GCN cycling crew has truly been settled once and for all.

[@smithpauld1501]

Thank, you Cillian, achievable numbers but a lot of grit.

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Prince Kelly, you are a legend and my favourite presenter. That was an epic one, wasn‘t it? I still have that mud on the Koppenberg in my mind that was slowly running down the cobbles. At one point I thought „my gears are really sounding crap, I hope they don‘t break down“ and a moment later I realised that it was the gears of the guy behind me. 😂

[@cilliankelly1]

Haha! The slime was incredible. I wonder was the Koppenberg that busy all day, or was I just unlucky with the timing of when I arrived there and it just happened to be particularly busy.

[@chrisridesbicycles]

@@cilliankelly1 Given that even a lot of pros hat to get off and they were 160ish and we were over 11000, I‘d say it was busy all day.

[@cilliankelly1]

@@chrisridesbicycles Wow, was there really that many people! I suppose a lot of them probably would have started in Antwerp, so it never felt too crowded on the roads (apart from the Koppenberg)

[@markmabbs8240]

Good ride first off. We flew from Canada to Brussels on the Friday (last year) and did Flanders on the Saturday. We climbed all the cobbled climbs without walking. The trick is to put more weight behind the saddle if needed. The Koppenberg and Paterberg I was at the way back of my saddle and the front wheel was just hovering over the cobbles. It was EPIC!!!

[@willmo1725]

Way to go cillian!!! Looked like a blast, great video.

[@larryvaught3053]

Awesome Job Cillian ! YOU ARE A ROCK STAR !! I always enjoy the videos you are in. This may be one of The Best ! Hats Off to the crew as well. Another stellar job! I don't know how you do it in those circumstances? BRILLIANT !! 😁💯👍

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much Larry, really glad you enjoyed that one. Yes! The video creator Stefan had to work harder than I did on the day! He was brilliant.

[@Stelth846]

What a legend! More of Cillian!

[@schrodingerthecat]

Way to kill it Cillian! Very impressed, loved to see your smile when you finished!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks really glad you enjoyed it. Did it make you want to ride in Flanders? Despite the rain?

[@donaldyoung8866]

Chapeau Cillian, well done. We need more Cillian onscreen

[@redauwg911]

Brilliant video!👍

[@NoorSmal]

Love to see someone with my power numbers on GCN! Gives me confidence for when I am taking on the flandrien challenge in a few weeks (3 days to do all the bergs). And I love the mitts!!!

[@cilliankelly1]

Oh great stuff! How many bergs are you doing? The gloves were bought in the Ronde van Vlaanderen centre in Oudenaarde. You should get yourself a pair while you’re there!

[@shanestowers6706]

This is fantastic! Go Cillian Go!!!

[@jeffreywilliams3646]

Well done. Very relatable. Now GCN needs to see who can done the most gels without digestive distress. My money is on Cilian.

[@cilliankelly1]

Well coincidentally Hank gave it a good go in a GCN video last week.

[@ralfamann2849]

Thank you for this masterpiece! It is authentic and an important counterweight to the glossy cycling of the time! Keep up the good work! 👌

[@cilliankelly1]

Thank you! Glad you like it.

[@andrewhayes1339]

Another fantastic video Cillian & congratulations on doing what you set out to do, completing it, even the pros had to walk sections as we all saw later. PS love the socks & the retro look gloves 👏👏👏👍

[@liviucseki4125]

Great Guy Cillian. Love to see him tackle these kind of challenges.

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much. I really enjoyed this one!

[@michaeldehert]

Great effort, I recognize it all. I finished the full distance in 2018 at 28km/h (dry) thanks to 33km/h average in the first 75km and a 37km/h pack to the finish after the Paterberg. Now try the 250km Liege, that’s twice as brutal!

[@dennish9519]

I love the always up beat attitude that Cillian has. Great video.

[@cilliankelly1]

Thank you! I loved every minute of that even though the rain was constant. Have you ever gone cycling in Flanders?

[@dennish9519]

@@cilliankelly1 No I have not, I wish I could cross the pond one day to do some riding.

[@jEsperesence]

@ 14:42 Rider from the 80s-90s in orange smashing it the old way with summer Lycra shorts!💪