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.

Tour of Flanders Winners (since 1950)
Year Winner Nationality
1950Fiorenzi MagniItaly
1951Fiorenzi MagniItaly
1952Roger DecockBelgium
1953Wim van EstNetherlands
1954Raymond ImpanisBelgium
1955Louison BobetFrance
1956Jean ForestierFrance
1957Fred De BruyneBelgium
1958Germain DeryckeBelgium
1959Rik Van LooyBelgium
1960Arthur DecabooterBelgium
1961Tom SimpsonUnited Kingdom
1962Rik Van LooyBelgium
1963Noël ForéBelgium
1964Rudi AltigWest Germany
1965Jo de RooNetherlands
1966Edward SelsBelgium
1967Dino ZandeguItaly
1968Walter GodefrootBelgium
1969Eddy MerckxBelgium
1970Eric LemanBelgium
1971Evert DolmanNetherlands
1972Eric LemanBelgium
1973Eric LemanBelgium
1974Cees BalNetherlands
1975Eddy MerckxBelgium
1976Walter PlanckaertBelgium
1977Roger De VlaeminckBelgium
1978Walter GodefrootBelgium
1979Jan RaasNetherlands
1980Michel PollentierBelgium
1981Hennie KuiperNetherlands
1982René MartensBelgium
1983Jan RaasNetherlands
1984Johan LammertsNetherlands
1985Eric VanderaerdenBelgium
1986Adrie van der PoelNetherlands
1987Claude CriquelionBelgium
1988Eddy PlanckaertBelgium
1989Edwig Van HooydonckBelgium
1990Moreno ArgentinItaly
1991Edwig Van HooydonckBelgium
1992Jacky DurandFrance
1993Johan MuseeuwBelgium
1994Gianni BugnoItaly
1995Johan MuseeuwBelgium
1996Michele BartoliItaly
1997Rolf SørensenDenmark
1998Johan MuseeuwBelgium
1999Peter Van PetegemBelgium
2000Andrei TchmilBelgium
2001Gianluca BortolamiItaly
2002Andrea TafiItaly
2003Peter Van PetegemBelgium

External Links