Belgian cycling: the “flat country” shapes a new generation of climbers

With bike helmets under their arms, three young boys confidently arrive in the hotel parking lot. All are wearing the official Belgian team jersey: a light blue T-shirt adorned with the black, yellow, and red flag. While waiting for the rest of the team, the teenagers get ready in the morning sun of Ménil (Vosges). With elastic bands around their calves, one warms up while the other two fine-tune their cycling shoes. This Saturday, July 19, is the first big day of training for the ten junior riders, aged 17 and 18. On the program: 103 kilometers and three passes: the Ballon d'Alsace, the Planche des Belles Filles, and the Ballon de Servance.

About ten years ago, Belgian Cycling, the Belgian Cycling Federation, set up a "Climber Project." The goal: to identify young talent capable of quickly climbing steep roads. While Belgium has a long history with this sport, it has long lacked good climbers. "We realized we were focusing a lot on the classics. And obviously, most races in Belgium are held on the flat," points out former Belgian professional Serge Pauwels, who now leads the camp. "The result: we had riders who had potential in the mountains, but who couldn't show it. So to avoid losing talent, we launched this project."

This year, around 150 young people tried their luck. After selection phases