Relive the 2024 UEC Road European Championships in Limburg

Hasselt
Elite ladies at the Printhagendreef during the 2024 road European Championships in Limburg

After sipping your pre-ride coffee at Fietsbar in Hasselt, you are ready for a perfect cycling day in Limburg. The rolling countryside of South Limburg offers you a stunning landscape, but… you have to earn it. Just like Lorena Wiebes and Tim Merlier did when they became European Champion in 2024. Are you ready to follow in their footsteps? 

You first ride towards Heusden-Zolder, with the famous Circuit Zolder, a cycling temple hosting World Championships in road racing, cyclo cross and BMX since 1963. Next to the circuit a brand-new velodrome has been build. The Sport Vlaanderen Heusden-Zolder Velodroom Limburg opened in 2023 and was the official start location for the 2024 UEC Road European Championships. This could be your alternative starting point as well. When heading back south, the route offers you a classic final, with various cobbled sections and short climbs. This is where you tackle the main segments from the championships, like the cobbles of Manshoven and Op de Kriezel. Or climbs like Kolmont and Zammelenberg. In between, you ride along castles and beautiful orchards. It’s going to be tough, but the more rewarding. Take a well deserved break at Café Coureur, or have that perfectly chilled cycling beer back in Hasselt, where the finish line of the European Championships was drawn. 

The content of this route was created together with our friends at Wielerflits and RIDE Magazine.

 

The route step by step

0KM

Start

Hasselt
Men pr peloton in Hasslet during 2024 European Championships in Limburg

Our route starts at the railway station of the charming city of Hasselt, finish town of the road European Championships. Easy to arrive by train, but you can also park your car here. Don't hesitate to have a pre-ride coffee at Fietsbar. You could also consider to start at the Heusden-Zolder Velodroom, or at Café Coureur hotel, bar and restaurant. 

We first ride north towards Heusden-Zolder, the official starting place of the 2024 Road European Championships.

Sport Vlaanderen Velodroom Limburg (3)
12KM
Heusden-Zolder

Sport Vlaanderen Heusden-Zolder Velodroom Limburg opened in 2023 and welcomed an UCI approved cycling track for championships, a gymnasium, fitness, testing lab, bistronomy, etc. It was the official start location for the UEC Road championships (Limburg 2024). The sports facility will also be the base for several European Championships and World Championships in track cycling in the coming years, organised by Circuit Zolder.

It is said to be one of the fastest tracks in the world, and everyone can ride it on fixed hours. You can rent a (Ridley) track bike as well, to discover it yourself or with an experienced initiator. Facilities like showers, toilets, changing rooms and a parking make it a good base to explore the region as well. Afterwards, you can have a drink or a bite in the bar and eatery Odiel Bistronomy.

Did you know that the adjacent Circuit Zolder has been the home of many cycling championships already? Rik Van Looy, Mario Cippolini, Philippe Gilbert and Tom Boonen are just a few of the names from the Circuit’s glorious past. The first sporting event ever held here was the 1969 Belgian Cycling Championship, followed by many international cycling championships such as the World Championships on the road and in cyclo-cross. 

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. you can test your own limits at Circuit Zolder. Cycle together with many other racers and enthusiasts in the peloton on the legendary asphalt. The track is fully lit, so you can also cycle safely during the winter months. A day ticket costs 4 euros. With a timing chip, subscribers can time and analyze their lap times, as well as compare them with their friends.
 

The first tens of kilometers of the route are not too difficult. We enjoy the well-maintained cycling roads, as is often the case in Limburg, and continue towards the next part of the route. This takes us to the beautiful fruit region of Haspengouw. We also feel this in our legs, because we are presented with more and more altitude meters. After 50 km, we arrive at the Romeinse Kassei.

Cycling in Limburg_Europees Kampioenschap Limburg 2024 (c) wielerflits (2)
51KM

Romeinse Kassei

The Romeinse Kassei ('Roman cobble') is a straight, undulating road that runs through the fruit region. Some parts are quite steep, at one point the road approaches a 10% gradient. Then it levels off and we can enjoy the surroundings a bit more. The Floating Chapel of Helshoven is also located along this road, a nice place to stop and look at the masterpiece of artist Frits Jeuris.

Cycling in Limburg_Europees Kampioenschap Limburg 2024 (c) wielerflits (8)

After the Romeinse Kassei, Manshoven soon appears. A beautiful rolling cobbled segment of about one kilometer. We turn left from a nice wide road onto the cobblestones. The first 500 meters of the segment are virtually flat, followed by a more difficult section that is introduced by a sharp bend to the right. That part hurts us for a moment, but the views at the top make up for a lot.

Ronde van Limburg Manshoven

The race is on

Cycling in Limburg_Europees Kampioenschap Limburg 2024 (c) wielerflits (5)
65KM
Cycling in Limburg_Europees Kampioenschap Limburg 2024 (c) wielerflits (6)

The cobbles of Manshoven are not to be underestimated, but fortunately there is a nice stretch to recover afterwards. Via undulating and descending roads we arrive at the foot of Op de Kriezel. This cobbled climb is quite long, but is never really steep. You ride up between the fields on rather easy to ride cobblestones. Towards the end the climb becomes a bit tougher, but all in all it's not too bad. It is mainly a climb where you can enjoy the surroundings.

Cycling in Limburg_Europees Kampioenschap Limburg 2024 (c) wielerflits (4)
69KM

The route leads us further towards the south of Limburg and for a moment we even cross the Walloon border. In this section it goes up and down continuously. For the real climbing, we have to wait until the Kolmont. That's a nice climb on a well-maintained road. There is also a beautiful S-bend, which really invites you to stand on the pedals and test your legs.

Cycling in Limburg_Europees Kampioenschap Limburg 2024 (c) wielerflits (10)
84KM
Cycling in Limburg_Europees Kampioenschap Limburg 2024 (c) wielerflits (3)

The Zammelenberg appears soon after the climb of Kolmont. We climb via the Jesserweg and immediately find ourselves between the fields. The great thing about this climb is that you see the village of Jesseren disappear behind you. It is a steady climb, which allows us to organize the climb well. After a few bends we suddenly find ourselves back among the orchards, a nice surprise. The Zammelenberg was the last climb of the final lap of the European Championships. We did that lap once, the pros did it no fewer than three times.

Cycling in Limburg_Europees Kampioenschap Limburg 2024 (c) wielerflits (7)
86KM
Racing up Zammelenberg during 2024 European Championships in Limburg

We have already covered many kilometers and the many climbs and cobbles are getting to us. Time for a well deserved pitstop at the Café Coureur bar.

Café Coureur
91KM
Borgloon

Café Coureur is a cycling hotspot where cycling is king and the cyclist emperor! They combine a top-notch shop, where you can find the best cycling stuff, combined with a true kick-ass bicycle café. In the café you can find everything a true cyclist needs. They have many cycling beers perfectly chilled for the awesome après bike camaraderie.

Café Coureur is the all in one cycling experience, as they also organize social rides, cycling events and cycling holidays in the region.

After this there is another 20 kilometers on the menu. In this part we have to brave the Printhagendreef, a short cobblestone strip. Fortunately, our pit stop gave us some energy again. The real climbs are already over.

Peloton at Printhagendreef during2024 Road European Championships in Limburg
98KM

The last tens of kilometers are a bit less difficult. This way we arrive in Hasselt fairly quickly. We have already cycled more than 100 kilometers, but still find the energy to do a final sprint. We didn't earn a European jersey, but it was cool!

The succession of different climbs, with or without cobblestones, hurt even the best riders in the world at the European Championships in 2024. We have earned our final stop at the cozy Fietsbar in Hasselt.

Tim Merlier winning the 2024 road European Championships in Limburg
111KM

Finish


READY TO GO?

So you’re taking on the route of the 2024 road European championships in Limburg? Get ready here!

Cycling in Limburg_Europees Kampioenschap Limburg 2024 (c) wielerflits (1)

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While you're here: discover hasselt!

A friendly city in an friendly province; Limburg’s beating heart. Hasselt welcomes you with open arms. Indulge in jenever and speculaas, Europe’s largest Japanese garden, pleasant squares, heritage buildings such as St. Quentin Cathedral and Herkenrode Abbey, contemporary art and above all, a wealth of food and drink. Hasselt features many excellent culinary options. Its honorary title of “Capital of Taste” is well-earned.

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