The start of the men's Tour of Flanders returns to Bruges for the first time since 2016. The finish will continue in Oudenaarde, and the finale will once again be decided by a combination of Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg.

The women's Tour of Flanders will again start and finish in Oudenaarde, and as in 202, the Koppenberg will be on the route.

The men's Ronde has started in Antwerp six times in the past, but the Flanders Classic announced on Thursday that three of the next five will be held in Bruges, starting with this year's race on April 2.

Bruges' impressive Grote Markt was the starting point for the Tour de Flanders from 1998 to 2016.

"As in the past, the central starting point will be a combination of Grote Markt and "t Zand," said Nicolas Denis, head of the road department of the Flanders Classics. 'The center of Bruges will be immersed in cycling. Like us, the city of Bruges is looking forward to having the race depart from Bruges three times in the next five editions."

The men's race is 273 km long and features 19 climbs, starting with the Corte Asto after 114 km, with the first of the three climbs, the Oude Quaremont, coming after 136 km. Mur van Geraalsbergen is not on the route again, and the finale remains the same, starting with the first combination of Kwaremont and Paterberg with 50 km to go.

The route then continues through the Koppenberg, Steenbeekdries, Teienberg, and Kruisberg/Hotondo before crossing the Kwaremont and Paterberg and entering Udenalde at 13 km.

The 20th Flanders Women's Tour starts and finishes in Oudenaarde, with 13 mountains scattered along the 158-km route. The Koppenberg, which made its first appearance last year, will return and from there the route will have the same finale as the men's.

As in recent years, the women will finish one hour after the men.