Backstage at the Tour of Flanders - What's it like to watch the race live?

OUDENAARDE BELGIUM APRIL 02 Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates competes at Paterberg cobblestones sector during the 107th Ronde van Vlaanderen Tour des Flandres 2023 Mens Elite a 2734km one day race from Brugge to Oudenaarde UCIWT on April 02 2023 in Brugge Belgium Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images

The Tour of Flanders is The Big One. For classics riders, it's the one they all dream of winning, and it holds a place in the cycling consciousness only challenged by Paris-Roubaix. 

We've already bought you complete coverage of the race, a mega tech gallery from the start, and some racing shots too. Thanks to Ridley I was able to see the race from the roadside and get a feel for what it's like to watch it live and close-up. 

I didn't get any great shots of the riders but I discovered what it's like to be in the beer tents with the smell of sausages in the air, what it's like to be halfway up the Molenberg in a braying crowd, and what it's like to be nearly run over by the Israel-Premiertech team car. 

Kilometer zero

We were first dropped off more or less at the kilometre zero point of the race in one of the many little towns the race passes through. 

Despite the fact the race was only just underway, the crowds were large, the racing fast, and people were already on the beers.

Even team car parking is part of the inside knowledge (Image credit: Will Jones)

The bars opened early (Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

Who is in the break? (Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

A beer tent atop a climb

Next, we were whisked to the top of a climb of no great importance, at least not enough for me to remember its name ever being mentioned. 

It was a small climb, with a feed at the top for riders, but also home to a packed, muddy beer tent with a barbeque churning out sausages at an alarming pace.

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

The Molenberg

The climbs are steep, muddy and narrow. Fans are hemmed in on either side between farm fencing and a red rope. 

Locals ride up until the very last minute, and the cars don't stop for anyone. 

The police try and keep order while the race is approaching, but at the first sight of one of the racers, the hemmed-in crowd instinctively lean in making it feel like you're in a rapidly clogging artery.

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

A timely road closure

We were racing to the Kanarieberg and fell foul of a road closure. By a stroke of luck, it was right on a high-speed apex, giving me a chance to nearly get run over by some more team cars as I parked myself on the apex.

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

The mixed zone

The finish is chaotic too. Beyond the finish line, the television and media clamour to get some information about the race from any exhausted rider willing to stop and give up five minutes of their time (for which we are always grateful). 

It's a bit of a scrum, especially around the big names, but you get to really see how hard the race was in the face of the riders, and how filthy their bikes are too.

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)

(Image credit: Will Jones)