Like all religious holidays, the Tour of Flanders has its holy places and its rituals. Some of the sacred sites are obvious, like the Kwaremont, the Paterberg or the Grote Markt in Bruges. Others, like the laminate flooring showroom in Wielsbeke, are more esoteric.
QuickStep has been sponsoring Patrick Lefevere’s team for over two decades, and its headquarters eventually began doubling as the location for the squad’s pre-race press conference. In time, the Friday afternoon pilgrimage to this industrial park just off the N43 near Waregem simply became a part of the rhythm of the Ronde.
