The restored Koppenberg is waiting for the the Ronde van Vlaanderen. Work to repair the ancient cobblestone climb has been completed and cyclotourists can already sweat up the steep hill which has pitches up to 22 percent. The climb is most famous for the 1987 accident when race leader Jesper Skibby fell on the narrow road and almost got run over by race commissaire's car. To avoid blocking the approaching peloton, the commisaire had ordered his driver to press on, riding over Skibby's front wheel and narrowly missing his feet. Back then racers had pedal clips that were much harder to get out than today's clipless pedal technology.
