The race was initiated in 1913 by Karel Van Wijnendaele, a former cyclist. Intially not a big succes, the race was interrupted by World War I, but continued in 1919. In the 1920s and 1930s, the race became more popular, and is currently considered to be the most important race in Flanders, where road cycling is very popular. The nickname of the race is Vlaanderens mooiste, or "Flanders's most beautiful".
The course of the race contains many steep hills, often paved with cobblestones.
| Year | Winner | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Fiorenzi Magni | Italy |
| 1951 | Fiorenzi Magni | Italy |
| 1952 | Roger Decock | Belgium |
| 1953 | Wim van Est | Netherlands |
| 1954 | Raymond Impanis | Belgium |
| 1955 | Louison Bobet | France |
| 1956 | Jean Forestier | France |
| 1957 | Fred De Bruyne | Belgium |
| 1958 | Germain Derycke | Belgium |
| 1959 | Rik Van Looy | Belgium |
| 1960 | Arthur Decabooter | Belgium |
| 1961 | Tom Simpson | United Kingdom |
| 1962 | Rik Van Looy | Belgium |
| 1963 | Noël Foré | Belgium |
| 1964 | Rudi Altig | West Germany |
| 1965 | Jo de Roo | Netherlands |
| 1966 | Edward Sels | Belgium |
| 1967 | Dino Zandegu | Italy |
| 1968 | Walter Godefroot | Belgium |
| 1969 | Eddy Merckx | Belgium |
| 1970 | Eric Leman | Belgium |
| 1971 | Evert Dolman | Netherlands |
| 1972 | Eric Leman | Belgium |
| 1973 | Eric Leman | Belgium |
| 1974 | Cees Bal | Netherlands |
| 1975 | Eddy Merckx | Belgium |
| 1976 | Walter Planckaert | Belgium |
| 1977 | Roger De Vlaeminck | Belgium |
| 1978 | Walter Godefroot | Belgium |
| 1979 | Jan Raas | Netherlands |
| 1980 | Michel Pollentier | Belgium |
| 1981 | Hennie Kuiper | Netherlands |
| 1982 | René Martens | Belgium |
| 1983 | Jan Raas | Netherlands |
| 1984 | Johan Lammerts | Netherlands |
| 1985 | Eric Vanderaerden | Belgium |
| 1986 | Adrie van der Poel | Netherlands |
| 1987 | Claude Criquelion | Belgium |
| 1988 | Eddy Planckaert | Belgium |
| 1989 | Edwig Van Hooydonck | Belgium |
| 1990 | Moreno Argentin | Italy |
| 1991 | Edwig Van Hooydonck | Belgium |
| 1992 | Jacky Durand | France |
| 1993 | Johan Museeuw | Belgium |
| 1994 | Gianni Bugno | Italy |
| 1995 | Johan Museeuw | Belgium |
| 1996 | Michele Bartoli | Italy |
| 1997 | Rolf Sørensen | Denmark |
| 1998 | Johan Museeuw | Belgium |
| 1999 | Peter Van Petegem | Belgium |
| 2000 | Andrei Tchmil | Belgium |
| 2001 | Gianluca Bortolami | Italy |
| 2002 | Andrea Tafi | Italy |
| 2003 | Peter Van Petegem | Belgium |