In short
The Muur van Geraardsbergen (also called the "Kapelmuur") is a steep, roughly 1.1 km cobbled climb on the Oudenberg in Geraardsbergen, with an average gradient of 8-9% and peaks of up to 20%. The climb is an icon of Belgian cycling, known from the Tour of Flanders and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. In the Renewi Tour 2026 it forms the heart of the queen stage (stage 3, 21 August, Celles-Geraardsbergen), together with the Bosberg before the finish in Geraardsbergen.
Below you can read more about the climb's history, its role in the Renewi Tour and the climb record set on it since 2025.
What is the Muur van Geraardsbergen?
The Muur van Geraardsbergen, also known as the Kapelmuur, is a steep cobbled climb on the Oudenberg in the Belgian town of Geraardsbergen (Denderstreek, East Flanders). The official climb is roughly 1.1 kilometres long, covers a height difference of 91 metres, and has an average gradient of 8 to 9%, with a peak of up to 20% on the steepest section. The surface consists of narrow, old cobblestones.
The summit sits on the Oudenberg, at 110 metres, marked by a chapel and offering views across the Flemish Ardennes. Its steepness, the cobbles and the fight for position before the foot of the climb together make the Muur one of the most respected climbs in Belgian cycling.
History in the Tour of Flanders
For years, the Muur was the decisive, second-to-last climb of the Tour of Flanders. One of the best-known moments came in 2010, when Fabian Cancellara rode Tom Boonen off his wheel on the cobbles. The climb was absent from the Tour of Flanders route for a few years (2012-2016), but returned in 2017.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad still uses the Muur in its finale too: the summit comes at roughly 15.7 kilometres from the line, followed by the Bosberg at roughly 11.8 kilometres from the finish. That pairing of the two climbs in close succession also appears in other Flemish races and races in the region, including the Renewi Tour.
The Muur in the Renewi Tour 2026
In the Renewi Tour 2026, the Muur van Geraardsbergen is the heart of the queen stage: stage 3, from Celles to Geraardsbergen, on 21 August. The peloton climbs both the Bosberg and the Muur before the finish on the Vesten in Geraardsbergen. This pairing of climbs makes the stage the most selective part of the route.
If you want to see the rest of the stage schedule and the other stages, check our route page. Riders whose profile suits short, sharp climbs, such as defending champion Arnaud De Lie, traditionally rank among the contenders on this stage.
The climb record: De Lie and Van der Poel
During stage 3 of the Renewi Tour 2025 (23 August), Arnaud De Lie set a new climb record on the Muur: he covered the official 1.10 kilometres in 2 minutes and 34 seconds, an average speed of 25.7 km/h. Mathieu van der Poel actually passed him on the climb itself, but because Van der Poel didn't record his own ride publicly, the official Strava segment record is held by De Lie.
Want to check the betting markets for the queen stage and the rest of the Renewi Tour 2026? See the odds. 21+ only.
Why the Muur is so tough
The difficulty of the Muur isn't just the gradient. Narrow, uneven cobbles combined with a 20% peak mean riders already have to fight for position before the foot of the climb: anyone who hits the climb near the back of the peloton quickly loses ground. On a steep climb, adjusting position or changing pace is also harder than on a smooth road.
In a stage where the Muur sits shortly before the finish, as in the Renewi Tour's queen stage, that mix of steepness and positioning often carries through to the final kilometres. That makes the climb one of the defining moments of the race week.