The Paterberg is a quarter mile (400 m) of cobbles at an average of 12%, with 157 ft (48 m) of climbing to the 262 ft (80 m) top, in Kluisbergen. Since 2012 it has been the last climb of the Tour of Flanders, the one that usually decides who wins in Oudenaarde.
What the climb is like
It’s only a quarter mile, but there isn’t a single yard to recover: the average is 12% and the ramps hit 20%, all on cobbles. That’s why you ride it flat out, as a two- or three-minute effort, and what counts is power, not pacing.
As on the Koppenberg, keep your weight back so the rear wheel doesn’t spin, and don’t stand up on wet cobbles. If you’re in a group, pick your line before the ramp starts: once you’re on the wall, changing lines costs a lot.
A note on the numbers
Wikipedia gives 400 m (1,312 ft), 157 ft (48 m) of climbing, an average of 12.5% and a maximum of 20%, with the top at 262 ft (80 m). Climbfinder gives 0.4 km and 148 ft (45 m), or 12.5%, with the top at 249 ft (76 m) and a maximum of 17.5% over 100 m segments. The published averages don’t quite match the length and elevation gain; we use the 12% that Wikipedia’s figures produce.
History
According to Wikipedia, the hillside wasn’t paved until 1986, when a farmer cobbled it because he wanted the Tour of Flanders to pass his house. It worked: the wall became one of the legendary places in Belgian cycling, and in 1993 the street was protected as a monument. Since the 2012 route overhaul it has been the race’s final obstacle: Fabian Cancellara (2013) and Peter Sagan (2016) dropped their last rivals here. The E3 Saxo Classic and Dwars door Vlaanderen climb it too.
When to go, water and traffic
You can ride it year-round, although it’s very slippery in the rain. It’s a narrow local street with very little traffic. On race days it fills with fans and barriers go up. The Oude Kwaremont is nearby.
What gearing to use
For a 20% ramp on cobbles, a 34x30 or 34x32. At 3 W/kg (watts per kilo of body weight) and 159 lb (72 kg), you’ll ride about 4.7 mph (7.6 km/h) on 12% (57 rpm with a 34x32) and under 3.1 mph (5 km/h) on 20%. Run your numbers in the gear calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to climb the Paterberg?
A 159 lb (72 kg) rider on a 21 lb (9.5 kg) bike takes about 3 min 10 s at 3 W/kg (216 W), 3 min 45 s at 2.5 W/kg and 2 min 25 s at 4 W/kg. It's a short, very intense effort, close to all-out.
Who cobbled the Paterberg?
According to Wikipedia, a local farmer cobbled it in 1986 because he wanted the Tour of Flanders to pass his house. It has been protected as a monument since 1993.
How steep is the Paterberg?
Wikipedia gives an average of 12.5% and a maximum of 20%. Using its length and elevation figures (400 m and 48 m), the average works out to 12%.