Houffa Gravel – Bolero Gravel Series

Houffa Gravel – Gravel tour in Houffalize

On The Houffa Gravel will take place on Saturday, August 24, 2024. The Gravel tour is 68 or 110 km long and part of the Bolero gravel Series and the UCI World Gravel Series. 

Houffa Gravel Course

The course winds around the famous mountainbike town of Houffalize, starting from the central square in the city center. After the start, the steepest climb of the day follows immediately with the famous Rue du Saint Roch, one of the steep climbs during Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The first gravel section follows after 1.6 km. 80% of the route is off-road.

The eastern part of the course is challenging on rolling hills, but with wide gravel roads and the occasional longer climb. The section between km 27 and 33 is tough, with extra difficult parts around km 50 and km 73.

The shorter distance of 68 km follows exactly the same routes, making a shortcut after 66 km to turn left where the 110 km distance begins a second southern loop with less elevation gain.

• 68 km: Official qualifying distance for men 60+ and women 50+
• 110 km: Official qualifying distance for men 19-59 and women 19-49

Profile

The profile of the qualifying event is a route with many rolling hills that are sometimes steep. Both distances start in the city center of Houffalize, located in the valley of the Ourthe river and one of the lowest points of the course. The start has the very steep Rue du Saint Roch immediately after the start. This hill is 1km long and has an average gradient of 10.8, with parts up to 16% in the beginning. Here the peloton will quickly split into several smaller groups.

The highest point is reached in the northernmost part of the trail after 52 km at an altitude of 590 m. The lowest point is after 72 km where the Ourthe river is crossed at an altitude of 309 m. The total altitude difference for the long distance of 110 km is 1560 m, while the shorter route of 68 km has a height difference of 970 m. The finish is back in the city center in the valley after a descent to the finish.

Houffalize

De stad Houffalize in het zuidoosten van België ligt naast Luxemburg. Het wordt beschouwd als de hoofdstad van mountainbiken in België maar heeft ook mooie parcours voor gravelrijden en -racen. Houffalize is de stad, beroemd om UCI Mountain bike World Cups.

The picturesque center is located in a small valley next to the Ourthe River and also hosts the first ascent of the annual Liège-Bastogne-Liège classic with the steep Rue Saint Roch. It also often serves as the finish for the mountain stage in the Benelux World Tour race.

Houffalize is also home to La Chouffe Beer with its brewery in the small neighboring town of Achouffe where the BAMS – 5th round of the Chouffe Marathon continues.

Houffa Gravel – Bolero Gravel Series details

In addition to an impressive course through a beautiful setting, Houffa Gravel also offers:

• Extensive supplies on the way
• Technical assistance at every feeding station and at the start/finish
• Breakdown service en route
• Medical service at start/finish and along the way
• Insurance (no helmet = not insured)
• Signposted trail with perfect signage
• A nice coffee from Il magistrale offered before the start
• Guarded bicycle shed
• Changing rooms & showers
• A nice goodie bag from our partners
• A professional bike wash from Kärcher
• A nice après-bike in a cozy atmosphere

Starting hour Houffa gravel

From 8:30 am: see start time per category in 'Start procedure'.

The official closing of the finish is scheduled for 5:00 PM.

Supplies

Various supplies are provided during the Houffa Gravel. On the 50 kilometer route there is one supply point, for the 68 kilometer route there are two points of supply and the entire 110 kilometer route has three points of supply.

Shower options after the UCI World Gravel tour in Houffalize

Showers after the Houffa Gravel are available in the Center Sportif of Houffalize, at the same location as the registrations.

Center Sportif Houffalize, Cour-de-l'Abbaye 15, 6660 Houffalize

Parking Gravel Tour in Houffalize

There are several parking lots available to park your car or camper before the start of the Houffa Gravel. See the detailed plan with different options and addresses below.

• Parking Sertomont, Rue de Maison de Repos, 6660 Houffalize, 600 places – follow signs
• L'Athénée Royale de Bastogne, Rue du Stoqueux 2, 6660 Houffalize, 150 places – parking only in reserved places
• Football Houffalize, Rue Saint-Roch 106, 6660 Houffalize, 250 places – space provided for campers, no water and electricity facilities.
• Cheras, Route du Vieux Chêne 6, 6660 Houffalize, 200 places – reserve parking if the first three options are not available.

More information about the UCI World Gravel Series

The UCI Gravel World Championships Qualifier Series, originally known as Gravel Grinders, originated in the US Midwest 12-15 years ago and is now a global trend.

The Trek UCI Gravel World Series features UCI sanctioned races worldwide, with 20-30 qualifying events selecting the top 25% in each age group for the UCI Gravel World Championships.

Inspired by the success of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series, the Trek UCI Gravel World Series has quickly developed into an elite gravel competition. The success lies in discovering new, hidden trails for riders of all levels.

This series is aimed at competitive riders, both elite and elderly, and recreational cyclists. In collaboration with Golazo, the Belgian sports marketing agency that also manages the UCI Gran Fondo World Series, the UCI is bringing the Trek UCI Gravel World Series.

Kalender Bolero Gravel Series 2024: De volledige kalender

Hier zijn de data en locaties van de Bolero Gravel Series 2024, zodat je ze alvast in je agenda kunt zetten:

• 13 april 2024 – Maasmechelen – Bolero Nationaal Park Gravel Fondo
• 2 juni 2024 – Diest – Bolero Dwars door het Hageland Gravel Fondo
• 24 augustus 2024 – Houffalize – Bolero Houffa Gravel Fondo
• 14 september 2024 – Sint-Pieters-Leeuw – Bolero Pajot Gravel Fondo

Zorg ervoor dat je deze data vrijhoudt en klaar bent om de uitdaging aan te gaan op de gravelwegen van België tijdens de Bolero Gravel Series 2024!

TIP : Een overzicht van alle gravelritten vind je terug in onze Gravel Toertochten Kalender.