Bradley Wiggins’ tour of Flanders

‘You couldn’t find a small area with more cycling history or more hospitality.’ Ahead of tomorrow’s big race, Wiggo takes us for a spin around his favourite hills, cafes and villages

An hour into our ride through the Flemish Ardennes, Sir Bradley Wiggins is in his element. In this small corner of Belgium, every hill and cobbled road has a tale to tell from a century of cycling history, and he knows them all. It’s a strange experience to have a Tour de France winner – and a man who has played a significant role in the local culture – as your tour guide, but here I am following in the wheels of not just one legend but the hundreds who have helped to shape a region where cycling is much more than a sport.