In Flanders, cycling is religion. The cobbles, the climbs, the punishing weather, the racing history – it all comes together to make the region something of a spiritual home for the sport. Hence why, for the bike brands born here, Flanders bleeds into everything they produce.
‘We build bikes that are meant to be ridden in real conditions, not just admired,’ says Emanuel Ramoudt, co-owner of Ghent-based Jaegher. ‘The heritage pushes us to prioritise durability, precision and a certain understated elegance. It’s about performance but it’s also about soul.’