Binche–Chimay–Binche is a Belgian one-day cycling race connecting two historic towns in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of southern Belgium. First contested in 1911 and also known as the Mémorial Frank Vandenbroucke, the race combines rolling countryside, exposed roads and a demanding finale through the streets of Binche, where cobbled sections and technical corners frequently influence the outcome.
Around the Peloton explores the race through the cultural landscapes of Hainaut, from the medieval heritage and famous Carnival traditions of Binche to the princely history of Chimay and the forests and villages of southern Belgium. Beyond the racing, the route reveals a region shaped by centuries of political change, industrial development and local traditions, offering a different perspective on Belgian cycling beyond the celebrated cobbled classics of Flanders.
Binche–Chimay–Binche travels through a part of Belgium that looks very different from the country portrayed by the great Flemish spring classics. There are no famous cobbled bergs rising from the fields of East Flanders, no procession of spectators on the…
