This year marks the first time the Tour de France passes through the Belgian town of Ypres -- a route chosen to commemorate the millions who died a century ago on nearby World War I battlefields.
WWI battlefields by bicycle —
This year marks the first time the Tour de France passes through the Belgian town of Ypres -- a route chosen to commemorate the millions who died a century ago on nearby World War I battlefields.
Courtesy of Visit Flanders/Westtoer
Ypres was badly damaged in the war and rebuilt in the decades that followed.
Rising from the rubble —
Ypres was badly damaged in the war and rebuilt in the decades that followed.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Tour de France riders will pass though the Menin Gate at Ypres, a stone arch memorializing the thousands killed in battles around this pretty Belgian market town between 1914 and 1918.
Riding in remembrance —
Tour de France riders will pass though the Menin Gate at Ypres, a stone arch memorializing the thousands killed in battles around this pretty Belgian market town between 1914 and 1918.
Courtesy of Visit Flanders/Westtoer APB
Just outside of Ypres, Hill 60 was part of a strategic ridge captured by German troops in November 1914. The following spring it was the scene of fierce fighting. Today it lies on the Peace Route around several local wartime landmarks.
Hill 60 —
Just outside of Ypres, Hill 60 was part of a strategic ridge captured by German troops in November 1914. The following spring it was the scene of fierce fighting. Today it lies on the Peace Route around several local wartime landmarks.
Courtesy Visit Flanders/Westtoer APB
This pretty pond surrounded by trees is just one of a number of craters created after a series of huge explosions under German lines in June 1917.
Pool of Peace —
This pretty pond surrounded by trees is just one of a number of craters created after a series of huge explosions under German lines in June 1917.
Courtesy of Visit Flanders
War graves are part of the scenery around Flanders. Every 10 minutes or so cyclists can see another cemetery or crater, highlighting how small the gains were for both sides in the conflict for such loss of life.
Landscape of loss —
War graves are part of the scenery around Flanders. Every 10 minutes or so cyclists can see another cemetery or crater, highlighting how small the gains were for both sides in the conflict for such loss of life.
Courtesty of Visit Flanders/Westtoer apb
One of four German World War I cemeteries in Flanders, Langemark contains the graves of thousands of unknown soldiers. It was visited by Adolf Hitler in June 1940.
Langemark Cemetery —
One of four German World War I cemeteries in Flanders, Langemark contains the graves of thousands of unknown soldiers. It was visited by Adolf Hitler in June 1940.
Getty Images
Tyne Cot is the world's largest war cemetery containing soldiers from the former British Commonwealth. Almost 12,000 Commonwealth servicemen of World War I are buried or commemorated here.
Tyne Cot, Passchendaele —
Tyne Cot is the world's largest war cemetery containing soldiers from the former British Commonwealth. Almost 12,000 Commonwealth servicemen of World War I are buried or commemorated here.
Getty Images
Cycling is a way of life in Flanders, which hosts regular events that take in routes such as the thigh-stinging cobbled climb up Kemmelberg -- a hill topped by a French war memorial.
Climbing the cobblestones —
Cycling is a way of life in Flanders, which hosts regular events that take in routes such as the thigh-stinging cobbled climb up Kemmelberg -- a hill topped by a French war memorial.
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