After the revamped route used for 2012 and 2013 was met with widespread criticism, race organisers Flanders Classics unveiled a new parcours for 2014.

The Muur and the Bosberg are still absent from the 259km route, but the riders still face 17 climbs and 16 sections of pavè – almost all in the latter part of the race.

Rolling out of Brugge, there is little climbing of note for more than 100km until the Oude Kwaremont features for the first time, it’s generous average gradient nullified by the 1.5km stretch of cobbles.

Four further climbs in the next 30 kilometres, alongside stretches of pavè such as Kerkgate, which is 2.65km long.

After tackling the Haaghoek cobbles there is a slight reprieve for the peloton as far as pavè go, but the punchy circuit also includes the Valkenberg before returning to the Oude Kwaremont.

The cobbled ascent of Paterberg is crested for the first time immediately afterwards before the gruelling climb of the Koppenberg – less than a kilometre in length but including ramps of up to 19 per cent, with an average gradient of ten per cent overall.

A large cobbled section on the Mariaborrestraat follows before the Steenbeekdries and the Taaienberg.

The circuit is completed by the Kruisberg before the riders return to the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg.

Last time out, Fabian Cancellara obliterated his rivals on his former before ridding himself of the one rider who could keep up – Peter Sagan – on the Paterberg.

After missing out at E3 Harelbeke however, Spartacus will need be on his guard on the narrow roads approaching the climb if he is to repeat the feat this year.

The technical descent of the Paterberg is then followed by the reduced-length flat run-in to the finish, with 13km from the top of the Paterberg to the Oudenaarde finish line.