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Cycling and mountain biking in the Ardennes
Cycling and mountain biking in the Ardennes
Nothing is more fun than exploring the Ardennes by bicycle. Get out and about with a well-equipped bicycle, mountain bike or - why not - electric bicycle. Enjoy the rolling green landscapes and breathe in the healthy outdoor air! As a cycling enthusiast, countless beautiful climbs along picturesque villages await you. Our holiday house for groups "Sol Croupet" is an ideal starting point for cycling tours. Follow in the footsteps (or is it cycling tracks?) of Eddymerckx, Jellevanendert or Eddyplanckaert and climb these Ardennes hills from your residence, holiday home Sol Croupet! We are happy to share our cycling routes with you! Click here to choose a cycling route network in the Ardennes! Have fun cycling and... Vive le vélo!
Tip #1: Col de la Roche à Frêne (Manhay)
Do you like real climbing as a cycling group? Then the climb of the Col de la Roche à Frêne in Manhay (Roche-à-Frêne - village of the same name) just 6 kilometers by bike from our chalet is something for you! A real calf biter!
What makes this cycling route special?
This cycle route along paved roads is quite tough but a real winner! The Côte de la Roche à Frêne is the highlight of the ride with its 361 vertical meters. The ascent starts quietly along old Ardennes houses. But then the difficult slope begins with a gradient of almost 10% over 2 kilometers. You quickly overcome a height difference of 190 meters. This makes the climb one of the toughest in Belgium: the col is in 33rd place according to the COTACOL standard. In the meantime, enjoy the beautiful surroundings! Departure from Chalet "Sol Croupet" (Harre) by bike to the Col: follow the signs to the village of Roche-à-Frêne between Bomal and Manhay. Or choose Villers-Sainte-Gertrude as a starting point with ample parking around the village square. The complete route of about 30 km along the Roche à Freine can be found here. This Climb is known from cycling classics such as the "Waalse Pijl".
Tip #2: La Redoute (Aywaille)
Yet another well-known Ardennes slope or hill is the Redoute located in Aywaille (Remouchamps) in the province of Liège and best known for the cycling classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
What makes the cycling tour special?
The côte de la Redoute is without doubt the climb with the most history. This climb became legendary since a blood-curdling duel between Franck Vandenbroucke and Bartoli in 1998. A monument located at the top of the climb, at 292 meters, commemorates the victory of the French troops during the Battle of Sprimont against the Austrians in 1794. During the During the entire climb of 1.7 kilometers you can enjoy the most beautiful green landscapes that are characteristic of the region. Don't let the length fool you though, because the average gradient of 9% promises an intense climb with up to 160 meters of altitude difference. Does the challenge beckon? Jelle Vanendert advises not to start the climb too quickly, because the last part is very steep. Grease those race legs!
Tip #3: Curtain Glue (Fanzel)
From Holiday Home Sol Croupet you cycle to the village of Fanzel. From there runs the south side of the Col de Rideux.
What makes the cycling tour special?
Col de Rideux is a tough slope that takes you to the top in two stages. The slope starts with 800 heavy meters, where the gradient even increases to 14%. This is followed by a simple strip, with even a few hundred meters of flat terrain. Here you can relax for the last part, or just speed up to have a good time cycling. After this flat part, the gradient slowly increases again to about 10%, but then the top is also nearby. The Col de Rideux is one of the Belgian BIGs.
Tip #4: Coast of Roche-aux-Faucons (Esneux)
The côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons is located about 15 km south of Liège, about 30 kilometers from our chalet.
What makes the cycling tour special?
This climb, which starts on the banks of the Ourthe in Méry, in the region of Esneux, is the shortest of our selection at only 1.5 kilometers. However, don't expect this to be a piece of cake, because the rather steep climb with 143 meters of height difference promises to be a short but intense climb. Once at the top you will be richly rewarded for your effort, with a beautiful view over the valley of the Ourthe. The site is recognized as a Large Landscape Site of the Exceptional Heritage of Wallonia.
