Any café on the Markt in Oudenaarde serves as a de facto cycling bar during the Tour of Flanders weekend, but in the weeks around the race the whole square takes on a particular atmosphere. The local Liefmans beers — oud bruin on tap, Goudenband from the bottle — are available everywhere, and the conversation at any table is likely to involve cobblestones, gradients, and who is riding well this season.
Outside race season, the cafes on the Markt are pleasant and unhurried, with good views of the Stadhuis. The traditional Flemish estaminet — dark wood, local beer, a straightforward menu — is the model here, not the tourist-polished bar. Come in cycling kit and no one will look twice.