The Tour of Flanders: a Belgian festival

Rain or shine, the Tour of Flanders is expected to attract almost a million spectators, who will line the route. This Sunday marks the 100th edition of Belgium's most important sporting event, but it will be held amid heightened security in light of the recent deadly terrorist attacks in Brussels.

Eddy Merckx, Rik Van Steenbergen, Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara - the great winners have immortalized themselves on the rough pavement of Flanders. A win gives one folk-hero status here. For example, when Frenchman Jacky Durand drove too fast in his car after his win in Flanders, the police recognized him and simply let him go.

The "Ronde van Vlaanderen" demands everything from the cyclists. It was first organized in 1913 by Belgian publisher Karel van Wijnendaele. The up to 20 percent incline of the Wall von Geraardsbergen is famous and feared. In 1980 Jan Raas (l., Niederlande) and Francesco Moser (r., Italien) pushed their way up the wall, but the traditional climb is bypassed today.

Initially the Tour of Flanders was very succesful, though it was interrupted by the First World War. The Tour of Flanders became more popular in the 1920's and 1930's and took place throughout the Second World War. By then about half the distance was on non-paved roads. Today, the main problem is trying to find enough cobblestone routes.

The route of the approximately 260 kilometer bicycle race changed again and again throughout its history. This time it will start in the Grote Markt in Bruges' old city center. Against the historical backdrop will be a large audience, team presentations, and the first fan parties.

Coming out of the city the peloton has to fight through the lower parts of West Flanders. It is not always barrier-free. The weather in April is ever-changing and characterizes the race. Sometimes the wind can be very strong, costing the riders valuable time and making them miss the final charge. Flanders is more of a rugged beauty.

The setting is similar to Karneval in Germany. Thousands of people line the street in any place they can find. The happiest are those who live right there and can comfortably watch from above. The riders need full concentration as the streets are narrow, windy and bumpy.

Vlaanderens mooiste (Flanders' finest) is what the locals call the race. Weeks before the race the tension rises. It dominates the streets and media. People take vacations to go to the races. "For the people here it is more important than Christmas and New Year's put together," said German cyclist Andre Greipel, who rides for Belgian team Lotto-Soudal.

Cycling in Belgium is a part of life, a part of the culture. And the "Ronde van Vlaanderen" is like a national holiday. The Flemish fans celebrate their beer and sport on race day. It means huge business for the domestic economy. According to a study, 7.25 million euros ($8.25 million) worth of food and drink will be purchased on the Ronde-Route.

Crucial to the outcome of the race are the 19 "slipways": short and steep climbs of usually no more than 2 kilometers in length, which are also mostly unpaved. Most famous and feared are the Oude Kwaremont, the Koppenberg and earlier the Wall of Geraardsbergen. Not everyone manages this well while riding high up.

Falls are as much of the Tour of Flanders as the fans and beer, especially when it rains. The "Kasseien" or cobblestones as they are known in Flemish, can be very slippery. Here, they took down Spanish cyclist Jose Angel Gomez from team Saunier Duval.

Whoever crosses the finish line first in Oudenaarde gets eternal glory. Each winner enjoys hero status in cycling crazy Flanders for life. The current record for career Tour of Flanders victories is three. Fabian Cancellara (photo) and Tom Boonen could write history this year if one of them earned their fourth victory.

They had to wait long enough: women started taking part in the Tour of Flanders in 2004, 91 years after the men. But the winning woman does not receive as much prize money as the winning man. The women's champion receives a check in the amount of 20,000 euros ($22,800).

Belgians have won 68 of the 99 races so far and Germans have won twice. 50 years ago - an anniversary no less - Rudi Altig won the "Ronde." Steffen Wesemann, who is now a Swiss citizen, triumphed ten years ago and is seen here standing next to the Flemish cycling monument.

The triple was the goal: after his victories in the classics San Remo and Roubaix the previous year, Germany's best professional cyclist wanted to be on top of the podium at the Tour of Flanders this year. But after a serious training accident earlier this year, when a car sped into the team, John Degenkolb is training again with the Tour de France as his new goal.