Riding 59 Classic Cycling Climbs In One Day | Flandrien Challenge

Flanders is one of cycling’s true heartlands. This cycling mad region of Belgium is home to dozens of legendary climbs, or bergs, which are featured each year in classic bike races such as the Tour of Flanders, E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem. Ollie went to Flanders to take on the Flandrien Challenge, attempting to ride 59 iconic climbs of Flanders in a single day. How did he get on?
In association with:
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Take on the Flandrien Challenge 👉 gcn.eu/FlandrienChallenge
Check out the route 👉 www.cyclinginflanders.cc/rout...
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🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
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Asturias - Ballpoint
Bad Blood (Instrumental Version) - Vivera
Church Bell Ring 5 - SFX Producer
Crescendo Reverse 2 - SFX Producer
Destination - STRLGHT
Golden Triangle - Ava Low
Honey Sky - Torii Wolf
In Those Hazel Eyes - Tall Oak Town
Lonely Rooms - Nylonia
Mammoth - Sum It
Matrix - BLUE STEEL
Once Every 20 Years - At The End Of Times, Nothing
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Say My Name! - Candelion
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Timeless Clouds - Luwaks
Wheezing - Dylan Sitts
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[@gcn]

Have you ever been cycling in Flanders?

[@shaggy4344]

I plan to go out and see the menin gate ceremony. I may extend my stay to do some of the riding aswell

[@ViveSemelBeneVivere]

No, but I heard Ned has. 😆

[@vincentverstappen7351]

Yes i live there

[@kennyvdh]

@@shaggy4344 explore the hood, you'll miss it when you leave

[@richm.3477]

I rode there briefly in 2004. around the Antwerp area. I was randomly riding without any specific route. I happened to meet up with a local rider who claimed to have ridden for some of the developmental squads for the pro teams. I had no way to verify that claim, but it certainly seemed credible! I hope to go back again. If I do this challenge, it would certainly be over multiple days.

[@dasf89]

It's the coolest character arc for Ollie (Chem PhDs rise up! :)) to go from sort of lovable comic relief nerd to absolute endurance machine. Big props to completing this challenge.

[@gcn]

What a glow up 😊

[@ethangormong7506]

Chem PhDs who also love cycling! We are a very narrrow demographic 😂

[@charliebamford2807]

Well done Ollie. What a fantastic initiative by Flanders. I hope that other regions around the World watch this & create their own challenges

[@oliverbridgewood3929]

agreed! would be brilliant wouldn’t it!

[@gcn]

Great idea! Where would you want to ride? 🌎

[@The_One-Eyed_Undertaker]

@@gcn Well, obviously three come lightning fast to mind: the Roubaix Challenge, the Alpe d'Huez Challenge and the Mortirolo Challenge.

[@The_Cotswold_Cyclist]

I do this every year for my cycling club, I call it the 12 climbs of Christmas. 12 local hills to challenge us on. In and around the Cotswolds. To do a full round is usually a good 140km.

[@gcn]

@@The_Cotswold_Cyclist Sounds like a Great day out 💪

[@Seppster58]

As an Ollie Superfan, I got emotional at the end when he walked into get his cobble. Well done Ollie!! Kudos to the video editors for the awesome soundtrack and visuals. This was a great way to start my day.

[@gcn]

Thanks for waking up to GCN🙌

[@FlatSpinMan]

What a good idea! This is such a good way to combine the functionality of Strava with attracting tourists. Another mind blowing effort from Ollie, yet again.

[@richcrompton6891]

GCN memo to the team: With Hank ‘killed’ by the coffee shop challenge, it’s over to the TT-HillClimb-Endurance-Coffee immune, drop busting Yorkshire grit maester. Ollie, your mission is to complete the impossible!

[@gcn]

Hahaha do you have a man in the inside? that is uncanny 👀

[@richcrompton6891]

@@gcn I wish! Still waiting for the bottle I won guessing how much paint weight Alex scraped off that lovely old Trek! 🤣

[@elisgomer7164]

Ollie: "the Koppenberg scares me…it’s savage." Also Ollie: [does advertising plug for GCN Plus whilst climbing Koppenberg].

[@jordyd8916]

It was in the back end of it. And we didn't really see him climbing. All we know, he took an hour break in between. 10 sec in that gcn plus clip, you see the famous Koppenberg bench. Almost always filled with out of breath cyclists...

[@gcn]

He's a true Company man 🙌

[@douglaspate9314]

Yup...picked up on that!

[@SorinVBogdan]

Ollie has become such a good climber and is a real inspiration for me as climbing has I've always struggled on the climbs.

[@t1p1may0]

Always has - check out his project hill climb video on cycling weekly from his pre-GCN transfer.

[@CM-eo3kf]

@@t1p1may0 where can we find that?

[@gcn]

Keep it up! 🙌 It never gets easier, you just get faster.

[@damu6678]

The best move GCN ever made was signing Ollie. The best cycling host on any cycling channel!

[@davidburgess741]

He also made videos on hill climbing competitions for Bike Radar. He actually won one of the lesser British competitions. Check it out!

[@justittude1524]

From the guy that was being dropped to an endurance Cyclist, climber and challenge smasher, wow, congratulations Ollie, what an inspiration.

[@cb6866]

Ollie...the legend's only growing larger ! Thanks for that .

[@MrTuubster]

There's a mailman that does the Koppenberg every day on his bike.

[@jeremyedwards3612]

And as a native belgian his FTP is 430w

[@tomahoks]

And 1956 no gear 21kg bike.

[@stuartmclean3843]

Is his name Johan 😂

[@bertmortier7678]

I remember seeing this programme on Flemish television, where some pro riders were dying on the Koppenberg, and the postman speeds past them with his heavy bike and all of his bags. Absolutely hilarious XD

[@Psycho_FoxYt]

what the hell

[@james12221]

My wife and I completed this earlier this month after seeing it here. Amazing adventure. We’ll be back.

[@captainstars9265]

As a belgain cyclist this is my favorite episode

[@gcn]

You've got some great riding on the doorstep! Have you tried all these climbs?

[@captainstars9265]

@@gcn not all of them but i did a lot my dad did all of them a few times (my dad was a pro from 1991 -2013) this was for sure some of the best content ever ! I can't explain how glad i am that you commented en gave me a ♥️

[@gcn]

@@captainstars9265 No worries! Hopefully see you in the comments on videos to come 🙌

[@chrisccummins]

Belgium is the place to be at this time of year kzbin.info/www/bejne/hovKmaZma6mYo6M

[@guilhermeazevedo1250]

I'd love to see Ollie again on one more hour record attempt.

[@velodavid1287]

I don’t think Ganna would appreciate losing his record so soon…

[@leonbroekx]

Me too, but he won't beat his own record when this desire isn't his.

[@jascollinscork]

Well I think he’s going very very well ATM so he could hit 50k anyway with the right bike+kit at the right velodrome…… but it’s very expensive to do it abroad I guess🤞🏻😢

[@guilhermeazevedo1250]

@@jascollinscork yeah, it's expensive. But with the right sponsors maybe we could have a new attempt! Fingers crossed.

[@gcn]

Ganna shaking in his boots 😬

[@thomasmeier-muller2442]

I‘m going to take on the challenge in 4 weeks… I‘m very excited but I think its an amazing challenge

[@JDRELGOR]

Watching for a second time now, the first viewing inspired me to go and attempt it which I'm doing in a couple of weeks time, love a challenge. My new neighbour is a famous Belgium known as the King of the Bakers

[@BikePappy]

I doff my hat to you sir. This past spring we were in Belgium for the Amstel Gold and Paris-Roubaix challenges. Between the events we attempted this challenge and got about halfway through it before abandoning. We spent the third day at the museum. For anyone planning to do this challenge, it is way harder than this video would lead you to believe. I can not wrap my head around how Ollie finished this in one ride. 🎩

[@gcn]

Was one great ride from Ollie! Great effort Rick, will you go back to finish the job off? 🤔

[@BikePappy]

Definitely yes. Cycling in and around Flanders is a magical experience if you are a fan of the spring classics.

[@manhaesmusa]

I am sitting in Oudenaarde after doing two days of it and also giving up. My legs are still burning 😅 worth it, though. One day I will be back and finish it

[@JimKJeffries]

His willingness to joyfully and repeatedly leap into the void is awesome. Thanks for sharing sir.

[@wtfiswiththosehandles]

Does it mean we no longer get to make fun of Ollie? He's become some kind of monster climber... Mad props.

[@gcn]

Nah... we can still tease him a little 🤣

[@joeshmoe7967]

@@gcn LOL! My exact thought when I read the above comment: Nah, we can still make fun of him. Then I read your comment. Too funny. Ollie crushes it. The whole gang is awesome, and the film making crew totally rocks!

[@gcn]

@@joeshmoe7967 Thanks Joe, Ollie really is smashing it, we might have to lay of him a little 😬

[@billmccaffrey1977]

Congrats Ollie! Doing this challenge in a single day solo was quite a task.

[@gcn]

One big push 🥵

[@The_One-Eyed_Undertaker]

I think it's about time all of you out there (you know who you are!) to stop making fun of Ollie about "getting dropped". This man now has become a true Flandrian. My respects from a fellow Velominati.

[@gcn]

He's smashing it

[@DG-tf9rp]

Wow, Dr. Ollie is a GOAT. The only one at GCN that could have completed this challenge the way he did. Congratulations.

[@prestachuck2867]

Pretty certain Simon could also have done it. Probably a little bit faster as well.

[@poilbrun]

One of the most impressive parts of the video is commenting while climbing the Koppenberg. Congrats!

[@kimfitzwater3475]

I think this is one of the best if the not the best films GCN has made. Well done Ollie and team.

[@gcn]

Thanks for watching Kim! Glad you enjoyed it 🙌

[@bubblesezblonde]

5:34~ Yes. The early morning scenes reminded me of throwing newspapers in the early morning. Great riding vibes. Enjoyed it very much Dr. Bridgewood.

[@thomasmeier-muller2442]

I did the challenge because of your video and i had so much fun, it was just amazing!!

[@simonsmith2949]

Completed my first 57 mile gravel ride last weekend. That is all from the bike and riding advice from this channel. Thanks GCN team!

[@gcn]

Nice one Simon! Hope you enjoyed the ride? 😊

[@simonsmith2949]

@@gcn very good thanks. Looking forward to the next one!

[@gcn]

@@simonsmith2949 Great work Simon 🙌

[@grahamballard7041]

Strava segments marked in the road, only in Belgium! Well done Ollie.

[@herderpete859]

Amazing ride Ollie, if I had known you were in my hometown at 6AM, I would have been there to salute you! Epic.

[@edmundo47]

He's in the middle of the Koppenberg and they make him plug GCN+, what a beast Ollie is :D

[@gcn]

Ollie Bleeds GCN 🙌

[@Grant_Ferstat]

My wife's homeland. Love the place and looking forward to being back there in December.

[@gcn]

Will you take the bike? 🚴‍♀

[@184cWayne]

Enjoyed see you stomp my old grounds Ollie….well done lad!

[@quekshio]

wow breathtaking cinematography! kudos Ollie

[@stevenpike7530]

Great work Ollie…loved it.

[@Pedreone]

Well done, Ollie! Too bad I didn't know you were coming. I could have assembled a few fans to cheer you on. The sunrise in the Vlaamse Ardennen is beautiful!

[@rogervansimpsen1657]

Awsome achievement Ollie, grtz from Flanders...👊🏻🍻.

[@bartroberts5953]

Fantastic! Great job! Production quality just keeps getting better! You guys are awesome!

[@usmanghias3276]

I dont think I was ever so excited about a cycling challenge and now I want to do it.

[@gcn]

Do it! One hit, or multi day? 🤔

[@usmanghias3276]

@@gcn Multi-Day or I need a pick-up vehicle at the finish :D

[@gcn]

@@usmanghias3276 Go for it 🙌

[@billmontgomerie9526]

I LOVED THIS SEGMENT!!!!!! wow great job and very inspiring , these are the thing i love to see as well as the other segments. And this is something i would love to attempt . thank you for doing this it was great . also hoped you enjoyed the beer .

[@peterleffler2062]

Great work - and you stayed out of the gutters too! Top job.👌

[@gcn]

No cheating from this man 🙌

[@aarondangelo6313]

What an amazing ride, Ollie! Congratulations! Bucket list for sure, wish I was closer.

[@Arrow352]

Well done Ollie!

[@n22pdf]

Well done Ollie.. Chapeau.. awesome ride.. true inspiration you've come on so well as a complete rider.. congrats the cable.. ride on man

[@rnor3146]

....hi and many thanks for that video and advice to go cycling there! Beautiful landscapes to cross! Have a good continuation.😉👍

[@cherriagana]

It's weird to see what I have been taking for granted living in Flanders trough the eyes of somebody else :D Makes me wanna hop on my bike right now xD

[@gcn]

What's your favourite climb? 🗻

[@cherriagana]

@@gcn thats geraardsbergen "the wall" good memories from riding with friends and the delicacies called mattetaartjes are even better then the ricecakes ollie had :D

[@martinhoaut7]

Well done, your are a real Flandrien

[@petersauer94]

Brilliant absolutely brilliant, job well done Ollie and all in one day 👏

[@iansingleton]

Yeh Oli obviously drafting behind the motorbike. Does this really count? 😂 😂 😂 😂 Just joking. Great video, too short. That should've been an hour film! You could see by the massive grin on Oli's face the next day that he was genuinely chuffed to have done the ride. Well done Oli, massive effort mate. Oli is looking in real good shape. I don't think anyone at GCN mega base takes the piss anymore about dropping him. Great film 👍

[@sensesfailler]

No Images of the Kemmel? One of the most underestimated cobbled bergs in Belgium! Would love to have seen that.

[@MajorBuzzkill23]

I started cycling as a hobby thanks to gcn. About two months in, unknowingly I turned onto the Koppenberg climb. I thought I was gonna have a heart attack near the summit, broke my seat as well. Still remember that day fondly :)

[@deathgogOG]

Ollie is a beast! Thank you for the video. I am laid up with a knee injury right now and this video has helped me be excited about when I can get back on the bike.

[@gcn]

Glad we could help! Rest up and see you out on the road 👀

[@proos165]

Congratulations!! What an amazing feat!!! I hope to do sections of this ride, but doubt I’ll ever be able to do all of them, especially in one day! Thanks for sharing your experience:) Again, TOTALLY AMAZING!!!

[@jeffreyjones9532]

That is a proper performance! 180+ miles plus all the climbing in one day. Really impressive Ollie!

[@pecangrower]

Another ride for the bucket list! I like the 'You can do this destination too' aspect of this video. More please.

[@gcn]

We're lucky to have this sort of riding within a days travel from us. I bet you've got some great riding near you? 👀

[@whatwelearned]

Well done, Doctor. You earnt those (waffles/frites/leffes). The engraving element is awesome!

[@Colquhoun7]

Great content with this, Kudos to Ollie. Can’t knock the guy, he loves the endurance side of cycling… chapeau 👏 a legitimate cycling journalist with a legitimate love of cycling. Good man.

[@timurkilicarslan2738]

Ollie great video, looking forward for more videos like this 👍👍👍

[@ethangodridge6833]

Cracking work Ollie. Definitely going to try this myself.

[@julianallen515]

Congrats Ollie, on completing the Flandrien Challenge. It reminded me of when I took the steel Naked, that you and Alex superniced, to Oudenaarde in April. It rained heavily in the first hour and I skidded my way up the Koppenberg on the wet pavé. The Kappelmuur was amazing and I completed both the red and blue CRVV loops but a broken seatpost clamp put the Flandrien Challenge beyond my reach. Still it's a good reason to go back. Thanks for the memories.

[@stuartmcgill5065]

That was brilliant, Ollie ;-) Many thanks for taking on the challenge and smashing it! 🙂

[@paulmorrison30]

Awesome and inspirational Ollie ✊🏾💪🏾Well done 👏🏾👍🏾

[@SergioCristancho]

bucket list for next year definitely... chapeau Oli!

[@PhantomMs1]

Fantastic job on the ride! Just starting to plan my first century ride, videos like this are great motivation for the longer rides keep them up!

[@gcn]

That's what we like to hear, Enjoy the century! Have you seen our tips for riding 100 miles 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmSzZ4Glotljmqs

[@m.t.keepmoving4137]

Chapeau Ollie, monster day!

[@Homer1Wells]

This might be the best video you've ever posted! Thumbs up to Ollie (and whoever did the music selection).

[@martinandersson5833]

Great job Ollie! What an effort. That looked like a lot of fun👍👏😊

[@dermotbarry-murphy9451]

"It's like 15% and cobbles and 'orrible" Nice work Ollie.👍

[@4726trav]

Ollie you are a stud

[@rosscads]

Gorgeous cinematography from GCN, a next-level ride from Ollie, and 👌 that bike from Orbea! Chapeau all, this was a delight to watch. 👏🏻

[@gcn]

The perfect trifecta 🙌

[@nightsfalling]

GCN why are you putting ideas in my head? I'm too old for this challenge 😂

[@nickpatten5263]

Bloody brilliant. Well done Ollie. What a marvellous achievement and in just one day. And the feeling of walking into the centre to get your cobble engraved after that long day's effort must have been fantastic.

[@gcn]

He's still grinning in the office 😃

[@zoralth]

congratz,great effort!!

[@ggirault]

Amazing, thanks!

[@BozoTheBear]

Well done, what an achievement!!

[@neilaquino5294]

what a day to remember for Ollie! Big up to you! much love from the Philippines!

[@gcn]

Big day followed by a big rest 😴

[@Z-u-m-a]

Epic. Loved it. Well done that man.

[@peterl3463]

Wish i could do that too.... Well done Ollie for this amazing achievement!!!!

[@robertm1552]

Thanks for taking me back. Lived and rode a bike there for a few years.

[@brew-jameshenrybreward4889]

Excellent! Well done Ollie!

[@micahvanderwiel617]

Amazing ride Ollie! That's a serious amount of climbing!

[@ChrisGuarraia]

Amazing ride, Dr. Ollie! Congratulations! You really are killing it both on two wheels and in your lab coat when you drop science knowledge bombs. And thank you for the inspiration. My bucket list grows.

[@gcn]

Thanks Chris! Glad you're enjoying the videos! 🙌

[@BikesRGuid]

Ollie you absolute legend! Chapeau Sir1

[@chrisbaum998]

Amazing cycling challenge Ollie!!, I just added that to my bucket list if I can get back to Europe again to ride!

[@donaldyoung8866]

Cracking run Ollie chapeau!

[@babybopkidsrock5713]

Ollie has amazing endurance. Very motivating. Great stuff.

[@phillweely2108]

Ollie is a beast

[@gcn]

Hope you are fired up to get riding 🔥

[@mugenmrx5]

Well done Ollie, one EPIC ride! Awesome stuff very motivating and inspirational!

[@gcn]

What challenge do you fancy seeing Ollie take on next? 🤔

[@mugenmrx5]

@@gcn I’ve signed up for Mallorca 312 2023 but I know GCN has already covered that one! The video you did on Zero to Hero for that event inspired me to give it a go! Any of the EPICs that the GCN team do are always a treat and I love every one of them. Keep up the amazing work GCN I’m hooked.

[@geoffreyhoney122]

Jaw droppingly epic insane challenge and chapeau to Ollie! Ilovethis personal best,epic challenge stuff gcn! Like Manon and her gravel steamboat springs, Paris to Ancaster, Si extreme hill climbing on a mountain bike, Connor and Hank on Olympus! Please keep it coming and get Dan Lloyd to risk getting out of his comfort zone. That would be something to see! More of this please! Really looking forward to the results of the commuter challenge!

[@peterslater7791]

absolutely ace, ollie. bravo!!

[@georgehinds9104]

Ollie, that was fantastic-Kudos to you my man!

[@ricktoth7418]

Well done Ollie, very impressive that you are still walking after all those cobbles!

[@hananas2]

Feels a bit odd, seeing familiar routes on GCN ;P Hello from Flanders!

[@238949]

All I can say, Ollie, you are my hero

[@manderse12]

Chapeau, Ollie! You've become quite the GCN Beast this year. Congratulations on all of your hard work. This was fun to watch.

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rionfindlay2236]

I'm inspired by Ollie to install Rouvy and do this virtual. It is a big exercise, flying to Europe to do this, but easy in my lounge room!. Well done Mr Bridgewood!

[@will44bott]

What an amazing ride and an incredible video! So well edited. Torii Wolf - Honey Sky by the way, what a belter. Had to Shazam it

[@BarryGForde]

Find it a tad hilarious when ollie compares his time to the KOMs as if he would be anywhere near the time if he wasn't doing an endurance ride 😂 super 💪 effort

[@swissride4k]

What a good idea! This is such a good way to combine the functionality of Strava with attracting tourists. Another great effort! Thanks for sharing

[@hotsky83]

Ollie is a beast! Mt favorite presenter

[@oliverbridgewood3929]

thanks pal

[@kaltonian]

well done Olli, a hefty days challenge completed, hats off to you m8, i have cycled up the koppenberg about 20 years ago & omg was it bumpy, think i spent most of the ride bounced out of the saddle, i here that it's not as bad nowadays, it's a great place to ride as everybody is aware of cyclists unlike here were you feel like your in the way, I would like to go back there & try out some of the famous routes, would be pretty cool to have a name on the wall.