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Tour of Flanders

The Tour of Flanders (Dutch: Ronde van Vlaanderen) is a road cycling race held in Flanders, Belgium. It is held every spring, and is part of the Road Cycling World Cup.

The race was initiated in 1913 by Karel Van Wijnendaele[?], a former cyclist. Intially not a big succes, the race was interrupted by World War I, but continued in 1919. In the 1920s and 1930s, the race became more popular, and is currently considered to be the most important race in Flanders, where road cycling is very popular. The nickname of the race is Vlaanderens mooiste, or "Flanders's most beautiful".

The course of the race contains many steep hills, often paved with cobblestones.

Winners

Recent winners of the race

  • 1993 Johan Museeuw (Belgium)
  • 1994 Gianni Bugno (Italy)
  • 1995 Johan Museeuw (Belgium)
  • 1996 Michele Bartoli (Italy)
  • 1997 Rolf Sørensen (Denmark)
  • 1998 Johan Museeuw (Belgium)
  • 1999 Peter Van Petegem (Belgium)
  • 2000 Andrei Tchmil (Belgium)
  • 2001 Gianluca Bortolami (Italy)
  • 2002 Andrea Tafi (Italy)
  • 2003 Peter Van Petegem (Belgium)

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