Martesana Van Vlandeeren

This story dates back almost ten years.

We had just started cycling. And the longer our rides became, the more likely we were to meet people from far away. You’d arrive somewhere new, look around, and go chat with the strangest guys hanging out by the bar. The bike was the new nightclub. That’s how we were — a bit talkative, always buzzing around.

One day, toward the end of that cold, damp winter, outside a bar in Inzago, there was this formidable cyclist with a huge, heavily loaded bike. He was sitting there alone on a low wall. We looked at him — and this time he was the one who spoke first:

“Do you guys want some cheese?”

Some cheese?! we thought. This guy must be completely nuts.

Sure enough, he pulled a knife and a chunk of Grana cheese out of his jersey pocket. Shortly after, we discovered that he carried Lambrusco wine in his water bottle.

That’s how we met our friend Giovanni.

He told us he was obsessed with cycling and with the Ronde van Vlaanderen. He said that if he couldn’t win it, he could at least try to recreate it in his own backyard, riding around the garden paths with his bike. He was on a quest to find all the most famous “muri” (walls) of Belgium’s most iconic race. And not only did he find those climbs — he renamed them with a toponymy that echoed the Flemish language.

It all started by mapping those short, punchy climbs along the banks of the Naviglio Martesana and the Adda River on Strava.

When naming the segments, it felt natural to take the local town or landmark and translate it into a playful Flemish dialect, adding the word muur or berg to each name.

But the real fun was just beginning. The challenge was to find a way to link as many of those climbs as possible — and that’s when the spark ignited.

Belgium has the Kapelmuur, the Koppenberg, and the Paterberg.

We can now boast the Tresskastelmuur, the Padernmuur, and the Koncesheiligdommur.

In our own unique way, these climbs have nothing to envy of their famous Northern cousins.

Around 100–110 km with 1,000 meters of elevation gain, long gravel sectors, some fun single tracks, and quiet backroads.

A tribute to the Ronde and the Northern Classics — an amazing adventure that will leave its mark on your legs.

Within just a few Instagram posts, word of mouth began spreading among enthusiasts and climb addicts. Giovanni invited a few friends to join the meeting. The chosen day was the one before the pro race.

That Saturday, more than 100 people showed up at the start line.

It was the beginning of the madness.

For the following years, we all knew that the day before the race meant this appointment with beautiful insanity. It was a way to come together and pay homage to the greatest race of them all.

Thank you, Gio, for giving us a dream — and for bringing us to Europe!