{{Short description|Road in Geraardsbergen, Belgium}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} {{coord|50.7725|3.89|display=title}} {{Infobox cycling hill climb | name = Muur van Geraardsbergen | image = Geraardsbergen - Oudeberg top 2.jpg | caption = The Muur van Geraardsbergen | max_elevation_m = 110 | location = Flanders, Belgium | start = Geraardsbergen | altitude_m = 92 | length_m = 1075 | gradient = 9.3 | maxgradient = 19.8 }} thumb|Profile and slope of the Muur van Geraardsbergen The '''Muur van Geraardsbergen''' (English: ''Wall of Geraardsbergen/Grammont'', French: ''Mur de Grammont'') is a steep, narrow road with cobblestones in Geraardsbergen, Belgium. It is also known as '''Kapelmuur''', '''Muur-Kapelmuur''' or simply '''Muur'''. The hill starts near the river Dender at 18 m and reaches the top of the Oudenberg at 110 m after 1,075 m at 9.3 per cent. This climb is often part of the Tour of Flanders professional cycling race.
== Tour of Flanders ==
The '''Muur van Geraardsbergen''' has often been a climb in the Tour of Flanders. It has been used since 1950, although not consistently until 1970. The "Muur" was the final climb in 1973 and 1974, before the finish in Meerbeke. An extra stretch to the chapel ('kapel' in Dutch) at the summit was added in 1981 and climb became known as the "Muur-Kapelmuur". It was a regular feature from 1981 until 2011.
From 1988 until 2011 it was the penultimate, and often decisive, climb and always followed by the Bosberg before the finish in Meerbeke. The Muur was removed from the 2012 race. With the finish in Oudenaarde, instead of Meerbeke, it was no longer possible to include it while the race was starting from Bruges. When the start was moved to Antwerp for the 2017 race, the Muur was returned to the course, albeit as the eighth climb of the day, approximately 95km from the finish. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-of-flanders-2017-route-unveiled/ |title=Tour of Flanders 2017 route unveiled |date=30 November 2016 |accessdate=3 March 2017}}</ref>
== Other cycling races == <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Wesemann rvv2004.jpg|thumb|left|Steffen Wesemann climbing the ''Muur'' in the 2004 edition of the Tour of Flanders (men's race).]] --> The Muur was climbed in the 1960 Gent–Wevelgem and in 49 editions of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Since 2019, the Muur is the penultimate climb in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kapelmuur - Iconic Climbs |url=https://www.procyclinguk.com/muur-van-geraardsbergen-kapelmuur/ |website=ProCyclingUK.com|date=3 January 2015 }}</ref>
The Tour de France visited the Muur in 2004 but did not climb the actual Muur of Geraardsbergen.
After omission of the Muur from the Tour of Flanders, it was announced that the climb would be in the 2012 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, although not in the final.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/muur-van-geraardsbergen-to-feature-in-e3-prijs |title=Muur van Geraardsbergen to feature in E3 Prijs |author=CyclingNews |date=24 November 2011 |publisher=CyclingNews |accessdate=1 February 2012}}</ref>
The Muur was announced as the centerpiece of the final stage of the Eneco Tour for 2012, 2013, 2014. Geraardsbergen and possibly the Muur will be in a stage for the next five years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/muur-van-geraardsbergen-finale-for-eneco-tour |title=Muur van Geraardsbergen finale for Eneco Tour |author=CyclingNews |date=1 February 2012 |publisher=CyclingNews |accessdate=1 February 2012}}</ref>
The Muur has been used as the start of the Transcontinental Race.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.transcontinental.cc/|title=TCRNo5 // Home|website=TRANSCONTINENTAL|access-date=2017-01-16}}</ref>
In 2019, it was used as the first climb of the Tour de France.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cyclingstage.com/tour-de-france-2019-route/stage-1-tdf-2019/|title=Tour de France 2019 Route stage 1: Brussels - Brussels}}</ref> {{-}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[http://www.rvv.be/2008/eng/hellingen/muur-kapelmuur.html Photos and profile on rvv.be] *[http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Mur-de-Grammont&qryMountainID=925 Profile on climbbybike.com]
Category:Climbs in cycle racing in Belgium Category:Tour of Flanders Category:Mountains and hills of East Flanders Category:Cobbled streets Category:Geraardsbergen
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