Ardennes Route

In the Ardennes Cycle Challenge we cycle on three days, Friday to Sunday, 22 – 24 September 2023.

Routes are planned but still subject to our normal detailed safety checks and a full recce planned for April 2023.

The route is for the team of Four cycling in relay.  Teams choose throughout the day which member is cycling which part of the route.

Provisional details are:

Friday

Start/Finish Valenciennes (Novotel Hotel). Route 175 miles approx, c.8,000ft elevations.

The Challenge begins with a circular route, heading south through farmland, a few forests and alongside the Canal Sambre a L’Oise looping around Laon. The route returns us to our hotel, where dinner awaits.

Saturday

Start Valenciennes Novotel/Finish Namur Mercure Circus Casino Resort. Route 170 miles approx, c.10,000ft elevations.

We pack our bags and head east to Namur in Belgium and start our two night stay at our hotel on the banks of the river Meuse. For much of the morning we cycle through the Parc Naturel Régional L’Avesnois and then cross the border into Belgium for the afternoon.

Sunday

Start/Finish Mercure Circus Casino, Namur. Route 160 miles approx, c.11,000ft elevations.

Today is another circular route starting alongside the Meuse and then heading east towards the German border and back through relatively hilly terrain. The challenge finishes with our traditional Gala Dinner celebration at our newly refurbished hotel.