Roll out of Auby and follow the Canal Dunkerque-Escaut before the road slips into the Forêt Domaniale de Phalempin. Next comes the Parc naturel régional Scarpe-Escaut, then a stretch beside La Scarpe Canalisée. Two castles follow — Lallaing and Montmonrency — before the windmill at Courcelles-lès-Lens turns you for home. All 84.5 km are paved, with 348 m of climbing along the way.
