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August 31, 2023 By Ben Thomas Leave a Comment

Pauliena Rooijakkers and Wout van Aert win Houffa Gravel

The latest round of the UCI Gravel World Series took place this weekend in Houffalize, Belgium. Houffa Gravel would be the second last qualifier of the season and attracted one of the biggest stars in cycling, the vice world champion in road and cross, Wout van Aert who choose this to be his first UCI […]

Filed Under: Reports Tagged With: Ardennes, belgium, Gravel, gravel racing, UCI gravel world series

May 25, 2023 By Ben Thomas Leave a Comment

BeMC – Beautiful scenery, beer and bike racing

A pilgrimage according to the Cambridge dictionary is a visit to a place is considered special. Since 2010 I’ve visited the Ardennes most years for a bike race! This obsession started when I raced the final ever Houffalize round of the UCI World Cup Cross Country Series, then a few years later in 2014 I […]

Filed Under: Reports Tagged With: Belgian Mountainbike Challenge, belgium, BeMC, MarathonMTB, Stage Race, UCI

September 1, 2022 By Ben Thomas Leave a Comment

Racing Gravel in Belgium, the Heartland of Cycling

The new UCI Gravel Series comes as gravel cycling continues its rise in popularity, gravel is very much the buzz word this year. What better way to experience the growth of gravel than heading to the heartland of cycling, Belgium, for the seventh round of this new headline race series. After a long journey from […]

Filed Under: Reports Tagged With: Ardennes, belgium, Gravel, gravel bike, gravel racing, UCI

June 1, 2022 By Ben Thomas Leave a Comment

Belgian Mountainbike Challenge: 4 Days of Fireworks

The race takes over the town of La Roche en Ardenne which is overlooked by the medieval castle and surrounding Ardenne hills. The spectacular surroundings add to the drama of the race and buzz around the town during race week.

Filed Under: Reports Tagged With: Ardennes, Belgian Mountain Bike Challenge, belgium, BeMC, MTB, Stage Race, Stage Racing, UCI, XCM

May 9, 2022 By Ben Thomas Leave a Comment

Roc d’Ardenne: The return of MTB racing to the beautiful Ardenne hills.

After a two-year absence almost 4,000 mountain bike enthusiasts flocked to Houffalize for the seventh edition of Roc d’Ardenne. Great weather and beautiful courses saw participants crossing the finish line with a big smile. For me it had been 24 months without racing at this level I felt ready to step on the gas again. […]

Filed Under: Reports Tagged With: belgium, Ben Thomas, roc d'ardenne, UCI XCM

October 7, 2020 By Ben Thomas 1 Comment

BeMC Marathon – A yearly pilgrimage

My love affair with the Belgian Ardennes continues, it hasn’t always been a kind relationship, so many times this place has inspired and then demolished dreams. Each May we make our pilgrimage to the area to battle around these beautiful hills, it’s a trip I’ve been making for around six years for marathon races and […]

Filed Under: Reports Tagged With: Belgian Mountain Bike Challenge, belgium, BeMC, marathon mountain bike, Mud, National Championships

May 17, 2018 By Ben Thomas Leave a Comment

Beer and trails at Belgian Mountainbike Challenge

Related Event: Belgian Mountainbike Challenge

With its sawtooth route profile Belgian Mountainbike Challenge (BeMC) is known as one of the toughest events on the calendar. The UCI S1 stage race over 3 days takes place in the beautiful Ardennes region starting in the host town of La Roche en Ardenne. The event attracts many top mountain bike pro’s and lots […]

Filed Under: Reports Tagged With: Ardennes, Belgian Mountain Bike Challenge, belgium, Stage Racing

May 22, 2017 By Ben Thomas Leave a Comment

Belgian Mountainbike Challenge – Lessons Learnt In Battle

Related Event: Belgian Mountainbike Challenge

As a cycling coach I find myself recommending events to clients, one of my coaching riders, Matt, joined me at Belgian Mountainbike Challenge, the event was part of the programme we put together to prepare him for Transalps. So here are his thoughts on the BEMC event and what it’s been like preparing for this […]

Filed Under: Reports Tagged With: Ardennes, Belgian Mountain Bike Challenge, belgium, coaching, marathon, Stage Racing, Transalp

May 19, 2017 By Ben Thomas Leave a Comment

Belgian Mountainbike Challenge – The Battle of La Roche Part 1

Related Event: Belgian Mountainbike Challenge

Belgian Mountainbike Challenge is billed as the toughest bike race in the Benelux but I was left wondering if it’s actually the toughest in the World!? The Ardennes is a famous location for road racing and has a rich history of mountain bike racing with the town of Houffalize hosting the UCI MTB World Cup […]

Filed Under: Reports Tagged With: Ardennes, Belgian Mountain Bike Challenge, belgium, cycling, marathon, MTB, Racing, Stage Racing, UCI, XCO

May 19, 2016 By Ben Thomas Leave a Comment

Belgian Mountain Bike Challenge 2016 – Magic In The Ardennes

Related Event: Belgian Mountain Bike Challenge

The Belgium Mountain Bike Challenge might only be 3 days but it’s impossible not to get wrapped up in it. Eat, race, eat, sleep, repeat. The post race depression quickly kicks in as reality strikes. No sooner had we finished the final 6 hour stage we were on the road driving the 8 hours back […]

Filed Under: Reports Tagged With: Ardennes, Belgian Mountain Bike Challenge, belgium, cycling, marathon, marathon mountain biking, mountain bike, MTB, Racing, Stage Race, UCI, XCM, XCO

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