All updates about the FLANDERS FIELDS GRAVEL TOUR can be read on the website: www.flandersfieldsgraveltour.bike 

Powered by LCMT still, but to avoid a double publishing of everything we ask you politely to visit the event-website: www.flandersfieldsgraveltour.bike

You can see a video presentation concerning the 1ste Flanders Fields Gravel Tour by clicking HERE !

FAQ...

1) Can I also participate in the Flanders Fields Gravel Tour with an MTB or cyclocross bike?

Answer: yes, on day 3 the “Roubaix stage” is even possible with a regular racing bike provided that you choose an appropriate (thicker) tire choice. Stage 2 is very suitable on a mountain bike if you do not (yet) have a gravel bike. We are currently investigating whether there are gravel bike manufacturers who would like to rent out some gravel bikes for promotion and testing for these three days. And what are the conditions for using such a bicycle for 3 days? It goes without saying that the bicycle must be returned in the same condition afterwards. The possibility of subsequent purchases must also be included in this rental option.

2) Can I handle those daily distances?

Answer: There are also shorter versions every day with the exception of the opening stage. At 123 km, the 1st ride is also not something for untrained legs. But we assume that anyone who opts for the full 3 days will be able to easily digest those largely flat 123 km. Given the time of year (end of May), anyone who includes this Flanders Fields Gravel Tour in their program should have sufficient preparation time to be able to physically handle this. For comparison: the Ardennes stages in the LCMT mountain bike tour were always around 90 km, unpaved, many elevation meters and even the often rocky descents required effort and energy.

3) What do I get for my registration amount?

Answer: a high-quality Herfenking cycling jersey, retail value €79, is automatically included in the package. Both for those who ride the full 3-day event and those who can only cycle the weekend stages. Furthermore, the goodie bag is not to be missed, €10 goes to the good “make PEACE not war cause" and you will of course enjoy the signposted top course, supplies, technical assistance, etc. We are convinced that you will come for either the 3-day or Only the weekend formula gives you a lot of value for your money.

4) Can I get accommodation through the organization?

Answer: the youth hotel 'De Iep' already makes 60 beds available that can be booked through the organization. The price for this will be very democratic. In any case, with breakfast and the rooms, which usually have 4 beds, can also be filled by 2 or by 3 without additional costs being charged to the participants. We are also looking at 2 or 3 other similar complexes in the nearby area to see if the same is possible. As soon as a concrete quote has been agreed with those accommodations, you will be able to book them directly online with us. If you are interested, please send an email in advance so that we can keep you informed.

5) How is the 'chrono' organized?

Answer: either via Strava (most people already know this principle, the technical explanation is communicated to everyone anyway. Or via a specialized company. However, for the latter - especially because it is the 1st Flanders Fields Gravel Tour - we require a minimum number of participants who are willing to pay an additional amount of EUR 10 for this. Or we must succeed in finding a sponsor for this (currently the plan) so that every participant can participate in that chrono formula at no additional cost. 2 demarcated chrono zones are organized every day. provided for this time recording. The intention is of course that outside those chrono zones you respect the highway code as well as other road users. How long will those 'chrono zones' be? This depends on their selectivity and the permission to work with signalers here (at any crossings or turns). The 'chrono' remains unofficial. The Flanders Fields Gravel Tour is therefore not an official cycling race or 'race'.

The organization of the first Flanders Fields Gravel Tour is taking shape. We have an agreement with KVK Westhoek – the football club from Ypres in the 2nd national amateur division – to organize the reception and the start there every day. There are plenty of showers and changing rooms in the catacombs of this footbal ground. And the cafeteria is also large enough to serve as reception area in the morning. In addition, there is a lockable area where your bicycle can be temporarily stored safely (of course also guarded). There is  ample parking in the area (see plan). Easily accessible via the Zuiderring and yet close to the center of the fortified city of Ypres. The intention is to finish at least the final stage on the Grote Markt (central square) in Ypres, because it feels so much greater after a final passage through the famous Menin Gate. So via the Menin Street (and Biking Box bicycle experience center) you will make a finish in style at the historic and a very impressive Grote Markt. From there you can cycle back to the football stadium within 2 kilometers, if you want to shower and change there afterwards or perhaps take your parked car again.

During this Christmas period, many of us are quietly starting to define our cycling dreams and ambitions for next season. The LCMT-new style in 2024 will therefore be a gravel tour: In Flanders Fields and including a portion of historic cobblestone zones from Paris-Roubaix on the final day.

2 daily timed zones will be announced later for those who enjoy a bit of competition. But also and especially the unique and very stylish souvenir shirt, the Poppy Graveltour jersey - included in your registration package! - appeals to the imagination and should convince you to come over for this 3 days Gravel Tour In Flanders Fields? View the preliminary shirt design here and know that you will get your own FIRST NAME + NAME (or 'nickname' if you prefer) printed on the back (shoulder height).

Member of your own cycling club? Maybe you and your club friends can send us your own club logo? This will also be applied to the side panels, so that the shirt will be completely personalized.

We are now busy reconfirming and looking for (new) sponsor partners. The goodie bag will certainly contain a lot of 'delicious' and 'interesting' items. Registering now is worth it, because until mid-January at a discounted rate!

After consultation with the local Ypres hotels and the City of Ypres, the organization date of the first Flanders Fields Gravel Tour has now been definitively determined. The three-day gravel tour will kick off on Friday, May 24. A weekday, we realize that. But a weekend at the end of May in which sufficient accommodation capacity for the participants can be guaranteed. And enough space in the already busy touristy Ypres to neatly plan this Flanders Fields Gravel Tour during that weekend.

Anyone who really gets a kick out of gravel bikes and who wants to fully take on the sporting challenge will hopefully be able to get 1 or 2 days off from work to be there on Friday for the opening stage. For those who are unable or unwilling to do so, we will retain the weekend formula. Both are possible and always including the unique and personalized Poppy-Flanders Fields Gravel cycling jersey retail value 79 EUR). The only difference will be the commemorative medal that can also be obtained. For this you actually have to be at the start for 3 days.

Please note that EUR 10 of your participation will also go to a Make Peace Not War-selected charity. More about that later.

Initially, the registration price (excluding accommodation to be booked separately by you) is EUR 199 for the 3-day event (with goodie bag, commemorative medal, cycling jersey and of course the full package service during and after the stages, in accordance with what was also customary in the LCMT) . Early booking pays off, because after January 24 there will be an additional charge of EUR 10.

Weekend only? Available for only EUR 139, also including the cycling jersey, which already represents a value of EUR 79.

Registrations open on November 11. Use the correct link, either above or via www.flandersfieldsgraveltour.bike

We are still updating www.lcmt.be, but know that all the most up-to-date information can be found on the flandersfieldsgraveltour.bike website.

The new style LCMT (22 editions organized since 1999) will resolutely opt for gravel in 2024 and rename itself for the occasion as “Flanders Fields Gravel Tour powered by LCMT”.

• In its pioneering years, the Low Countries' Mountain Bike Tour was the first multi-day organizer of MTB events to connect the rolling Dutch Limburg and the Ardennes with the Flemish Ardennes and West Flemish Heuvelland (or Flanders Fields). Afterwards, the LCMT evolved into a pure Ardennes adventure during the Ascension weekend. In addition to new formulas such as the CYLCO, the COMBI tour, a Cross-duathlon and even a real triathlon. After several difficult (covid) years, organizer Biking Events wants to organize a 'powered by LCMT' three-day gravel event starting on Friday 24 May, till Sunday 26 May 2024. With interesting foothills in Northern France and the infamous cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix as a dessert on the final day .
• We choose Ypres for this three-day trip, where Biking Box (Cycling Experience Center) is also located. In the Flanders Fields Gravel Tour we connect two famous cycling classics, gravel-wise: Ghent-Wevelgem (with a start in Ypres since 3 years ago) and Paris-Roubaix. We also cycle past the many sites of the First World War (Battle of Passchendaele) and pass by KOERS! (Roeselare cycling museum). This LCMT new style focuses fully on the many cycling assets that the Westhoek and Northern France (French Flanders) have to offer.
• As a participant you will be able to choose the formula WITH or without accommodation. The fascinating tourist infrastructure in and around Ypres offers something for everyone (budget). In this way, the Flanders Fields Gravel Tour powered by LCMT becomes an all-in happening again. A cycling experience party spread over 3 days (and nights).
• Participation is possible in 3 ways: whether you ride the full 3-day Gravel Tour (incl. a precious souvenir), or you can only ride the 2 weekend rides, or you register for 1 stage on Saturday (stage 2 that is kind of a gravel version of what one can experience when riding Ghent-Wevelgem).
• The proven success ingredients of the LCMT are incorporated into the Flanders Fields Gravel Tour. A beautiful course, excellent supplies, a well-organized all-in package, lots of atmosphere in the après-bike moment afterwards and a well-stocked nice goodie bag. The unique commemorative cycling shirt (linked to the 'Poppy shirt' distributed by Biking Box) is in principle always part of this. You also support a 'Make Peace Not War' charity! And you can have it personalized with your own club logo (detailed information will follow).
• You can ride the Flanders Fields Gravel Tour with a gravel bike, mountain bike or cyclocross bike. Along the way, at least 1 'chronozone' will be indicated every day where anyone who wishes can compete with the others. Not an official cycling race, but a sporting test of strength on a very selective piece of off-road.
• The three-day Gravel Tour will also be included in the cycling calendar of the Flanders Cycling Federation (so anyone who has a permit as a cycling tourist or rider does not have to pay additional insurance).
• Early registration pays off: those who register before January 15 can do so at a favorable rate and also have a chance to win extra rewards.

The upcoming LCMT mountain bike holiday as we will call it in 2023 already offers direct opportunity to register for the MTB experience and to stay overnight. We now have agreements with 3 accommodations.

On the one hand and can be booked directly through us: the Youth Hostel of Bevercé (Malmédy), at 60 EUR per night (2 nights min. Possibly also the night before with dinner each time). Use the registration system that you can also access via our REGISTRATION webpage. And add your requested arrangement in terms of accommodation!

On the other hand, we also offer direct accommodation via 2 nice and high-quality hotels: the Daft Hotel (click on the link!)  for which we will pass on the correct price per person (based on the type of rooms and glampings) during the spring break. Also just agreed: the MY HOTEL, where you can book a double room for 2 nights (currently scheduled from 19 to 21 May) for only EUR 127 per person (2 nights), half board! Strong conditions, given that this is also a brand new accommodation. How to book My Hotel? You send an e-mail to reception@myhotel.be while mentionning the promo code 19-21/05 LCMT. On that moment you 'll get the advantage tariff. Also not forget to say that this a half-pension (breakfast and evening dinner) formula!

Biking Events (since 1999 organizing also the LCMT mountainbike tour  in the Belgian Ardennes) is launching a new cycling event: the 1st Flanders Fields Gravel Tour. Also a three-day tour, but now from the home base where Biking Box Cycling Experience Centre is located: YPRES! With this we are fully committed to the many cycling and historical assets that Flanders Fields offer.

Recently we have been working hard behind the scenes to make this unique gravel three-day event possible in 2023. In close collaboration with the Royal Ypres Cycling Club, which itself will be responsible for the international UCI junior race "Route des Géants" on August 27, we will soon also officially present this new top weekend in terms of cycling experience in Ypres and the Westhoek.

The proven success ingredients of the LCMT are incorporated into the Flanders Fields Gravel Tour. An excellently arranged all-in package, coupled with the option to book accommodation immediately.

A maximum of 550 participants (by analogy with the nearly 55,000 names on the Menin Gate Memorial) can obtain a participation certificate as soon as registrations are opened.

On the final day it will also be possible for 'locals' to register for that one day only (always subject to registration in advance, so no longer the day itself). And there is the option to sign up as a 'gravel' cyclist for 'Coureur & Entrepreneur', a previously successfully proven bicycle concept for cycling entrepreneurs who get to know each other better in a cycling atmosphere. “Coureur & Entrepreneur” was already a direct hit in 2022, then only with a guided tour on the road. Now that the off-road option of the Gravel Tour also becomes possible at the same time, a maximum of 30 Coureur & Entrepreneur tickets for the Gravel portion will be made available.

You can ride the Flanders Fields Gravel Tour with a gravel bike, mountain bike or cyclocross bike.

The three-day Gravel Tour is also included in the cycling calendar of Cycling Flanders (those who have a license as a cycling tourist or cyclist do not have to pay any additional insurance).

Pending the official press presentation, as well as the new specific website, we as an organization will now first strive for all necessary permissions, in particular for the course section that we would love to run partly on northern French roads. To be continued.

Biking Events is launching a new cycling event: the 1st Flanders Fields Gravel Tour, from the home base where the Biking Box Cycling Experience Center is located: YPRES! With this we are fully committed to the many cycling assets that the Westhoek has to offer. Will this work in 2023? It indeed looks that way. From Friday 25 to Sunday 27 August we hope to be able to set out 3 challenging gravel rides. This will be done in close cooperation with the Royal Yperse Cycling Club (also organizer of the Kattekoers and La Route des Géants). Currently, a lot of work is still going on behind the scenes. But we hope to be able to announce this officially and with complete information as soon as possible. The tried and tested principles of the LCMT will in any case also be incorporated, being an all-in arrangement linked to the option to book accommodation directly. The latter partly due to our new booking module, which we have been working on for some time. That module is now complete and it is only a matter of entering all the input (read: finding accommodation providers willing to also offer overnight arrangements via the registration module).

Of course you will find all about this new Graveltour on a brand new website, which now to be developped. All will be announced smoothly from half January!

Enjoy again this 2022 edition of LCMT, for the first time with start/finish in Stavelot, raising cycling star in the Belgian Ardennes!

Click here for the aftermovie

Interested in participating edition 2023? Keep on following the story on this website. From September 1, you  will discover all the news and ideas about 2023! Save the date: once again Ascencion Weekend, mid-May 2023 ! 

Classement final MTB xl

1. Thomas SPRENGERS (total time 12.20.37)

2. Kenneth Coomans  at 20'16

3. Lander Sels             at 53'41

Masters 1: Jo Vertongen

Masters 2: Tom Struyven

Ladies:  Karen Steurs

Large-distance: 1. Mario Kaulard - 2. Kenny Roelandt - 3. Ruben Verhees

COMBI-TOUR

1. Patrick DE LAAT (total time 15.24.13)

2. Jonas Quartier at 9'25

3. Stijn Deruyter at 1h07'47

CROSS-DUATHLON:

1. Steven DICK (total time 16.25.48)

2.Kris Jennes at 1h38'22

3. Johan De Bent at 1h54'45

CYCLO (non-official, only time registration): Tom Swartelé (total time: 11.20.40);  Lion Trommer (total time: 11.32.21); Dominiek Meurisse (total time: 11.48.07)

We publish daily all results of this LCMT with time registration: see webpage results

Dear rider, with this LINK you can find the ROADBOOK of LCMT 2022!

Anyone who has booked a stay in La Fraineuse (ADEPS center, Avenue Amédée Hesse in Spa) will find an overview of all allocated rooms or chalets under this LINK. Practical information (such as key pick-up) is also explained there.

In this news item we also provide a lot of practical information about the start of the first LCMT in 3 years, for the first time in Stavelot.

* collection of starter packs in the STAVELOT sports hall: for CYCLO, TRIATHLON and COMBI only on Thursday morning (1st stage start) between 7:45 am and 9:45 am - for MTB and CROSS-DUATHLON it is also possible to pick up on Thursday afternoon between 4 and 6 pm in the same Stavelot sports hall to pick up your package. The pick-up time there is also planned on the morning of the first stage, so Friday 27 May from 07:45.

* parking in and around Stavelot is very accessible. Most parking zones are free. Here's a brief overview:

- near the sports hall and at the football stadium of RCS Stavelot (in front of the football stadium, however NOT on Thursday morning because there is also a tourist bike ride there)

- along the Route de Challes

- at the abbey (drive up to the back)

- Stavelot market square (but bumpy cobblestones there)

- near the shopping center (e.g. at Okay...)

- Spa Racing: corner of Rue St.-Laurent and Route de Malmédy

If you don't mind a little warm-up: 5 km from the start in Malmédy, there are also a lot of car parks, including at the local football stadium of RFC Malmundaria.

* GPS files will be delivered to all participants via DIRECT E-MAIL and this at the latest 3 days before the start. Why not sooner? To accommodate late course changes if they still need to be implemented.

* Interested in sports massage after the ride(s): reserve your place already on this phone number: +32 485 94 50 45 Massages will take place both at the arrival area (football stadium RCS Stavelot) and in the ADEPS center of La Fraineuse, but this last only in the evenings. The COMPEX electrostimulation devices will also be available to recover the tired muscles as quickly as possible.

* finish of each chrono stage: under the finish arc, only the start mat will only be passed after a run-up phase, this to avoid 'traffic jams' and drumming.

* roadbook with all further practical information will be emailed to every participant in the weekend before the start. However, most information about the course and starting times can already be found on this website.

* yes, there's filming again! Our video team will try to portray the event nicely with daily videos and impressions.

* from now on no more cancellations possible, unless you introduce a replacement yourself (on May 18, 1 week before the start), so no more free transfers. Thank you for understanding.

Now it is time to order your ICONIC jersey of LCMT: CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO!

Link to the webshop!

No better souvenir to bring home after your Ardennes cycling adventure in LCMT! Our LCMT-webshop under Bio-Racer is open till 7 March! Same shirts will be the leader jerseys in different competitive formats. But even as a fun-biker/rider you will be pride to wear it an bring it home. Also available: winter-vests or sleeveless summer shirts! All orders and payments are done straight between you and our manufacturer, Bio-Racer. They will provide all products in time, so we can give you what you ordered on Day 1 of the LCMT.

Have a look at this video (link) to study maps, profiles and lots of other technical information! 

The LCMT is tailor-made for everyone, provided that the necessary physical preparations are taken into account. Not everyone has the capacity to cover the full distances for 3 or 4 days. Age, or available training time for those who have other, e.g. professional obligations, largely determines your cycling pleasure. Is the XL distance that is presented perhaps a bit too much? For that reason, the LCMT also offers shorter variants, referred to here as 'large' and 'medium'. On the racing bike, the 'medium' can only be obtained in advance and you will therefore only find the shortcut on GPS. For mountainbikers, all intermediate sections are again separately signposted. You will also receive a confirmation sign after each past turn with reference to the LARGE or MEDIUM choice you just made. Especially for those who cycle with time registration, it is important to take a good look there!

From now on you can pass on your choice of distance. Use this LINK and indicate which distances you will cycle daily. A second - not obligatory - question gives you the opportunity to revoke a previous formula choice with your registration. Suppose you had chosen MTB XL competition but you don't think you will get 'top' enough in May, then you can always pass on an adjustment with this link. The reverse is also possible, of course: upgrading from 'large' or 'fun rider' to XL and/or competition...

Is it important that you do this NOW? (message publication on January 26 = 4 months before the start) NO, take your time, there will be a reminder via newsletter mail anyway. At the latest 6 weeks before the start, around mid-April, you are expected to stick to your choice. Because around that time, the starting numbers will be ordered by name and the assigned numbers are of course linked to the formula you have chosen.

What if you cycle along purely recreationally, so without a chrono? Mandatory answers are then not necessary, but it does provide direction for our supply calculations to be able to estimate how many people will now cycle on the XL distance on the basis of all the information obtained? And how many opt for shorter variants. On the XL you visit 3 supply zones every day. If you drive Large or Medium, you will usually encounter less supplies along the way.

What about Combi, triathlon and duathlon? They don't have to do ANYTHING, because the distance formulas are fixed here: COMBI drivers always do the XL if they want to appear in the final classification. Triathletes also cycle the full XL distance, except for the ladies who are expected to ride the 'large' cycling distance. Duathletes always 'bike' the 'large' or therefore slightly shorter distance, since they also have to run before and after.

Winner LCMT 2019 - Jurgen VAN DEN BON (BEL)
2nd: Bart Van Driessche

3rd: Maxime Gosseries

Dames: Veronique FLORIZOONE (BEL)

Masters (40+): Jurgen Van den Bon

Masters (50 +): Kevin Holloway (ENG)

Youngsters (<23): Wout Roggeman
Best climber: Robin Schuermans wins the Poppyshirt
Stage winners LCMT (xl): Maxime Gosseries (stage 1), Jurgen Van Den Bon (stage 2), Kris Vanden Bulcke (stage 3) 

COMBI-tour: 
1. Peter VAN LEUFFELEN (incl. 4 X stage-winner also)
2. Lieven Schroyen
3. Dirk Buellens

TRIATHLON
1. Kris JENNES
2. Steven Dick
3. Bernd Vandenberghe
Triathlon-shorter version: 1. Steven Ooms

Triathlon-Ladies: 1. Emilie Vandevoorde, 2. Astrid De Baat

CROSS-DUATHLON
1. Pieter OOMS
2. Marnick Dresen
3. Stijn Deruyter

stage-winners cross-duathlon: Manuel Dreser (st.1), Pieter Ooms (st. 2 en 3)

CYCLO: toptime by Maxime PIRARD

Fun and exciting survey film after edition 2017! A free ticket for Stijn Dekeyser
in addition. In addition, vouchers for Berry Oomen and Dean Mertens. Plus, 9
LCMT sweaters are divided. As long as stocks last and we will find your size in
the remaining stock. It may also be an LCMT sweater from earlier editions. But
therefore no less new and still quality! So respond quickly if your name
appears here. In the meanwhile, already 150 participants (up to 12 days open).
Oh soon, we will also name this new chronometer company soon (choice is made!).

LINK TO VIDEO

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1. MOUNTAINBIKE: 3-daagse 31/5 - 2/6 keuzes uit COMPETITIE XL-afstand, COMPETITIE 'large-afstand' en RECREATIEF (XL, Large of Medium-afstand)
2. CYCLO: weg-3-daagse 30/5 - 1/6 keuze uit CHRONO (goud - zilver - brons) XL-afstand of Large-afstand en RECREATIEF (XL, Large of Medium-afstand)
3. COMBI-TOUR: vierdaagse 30/5 - 2/6 enkel COMPETITIEF XL-afstand (dag 1 en 3 op de koersfiets, dag 2 en 4 op de mountainbike, laatste dag wel slechts de 'large'-mtb)
4. TRIATHLON: vierdaagse 30/5 - 2/6 enkel  COMPETITIEF maar 2 afstandkeuzes zijnde XL-triathlon en 'Large'-triathlon (bij dit laatste fiets je 3 dagen 'Large'-cyclo). 3 dagen op de koersfiets, laatste dag 'Large'-MTB, aangevuld met loop- en zwemproeven (details onder triathlon-pagina).
5. CROSS-DUATHLON: 3-daagse 31/5 - 2/6 enkel COMPETITIEF, dagelijks eerst 6 km lopen, dan de 'Large-MTB-etappe' en finaal nog eens 6 km lopen.

• Competitive cyclist and having a good basic condition & well trained? --> choose XL-rides with or without time registration
• Recreative biker but pretty well trained and you are kicking on climbings (and downhills)? --> choose the XL or why not someday a Large-track >
• You kick on competition but on shorter distances? --> from now on also the 'large'-distance in our mountainbike tour will result in a seperate ranking. Same story for our triathlon!

• Recreative biker with busy job and sometimes a lack of training time? --> use the LCMT tour to get in your best shape again! --> go for  ‘medium’-distances or perhaps the 'large'-stages!

Important announcement: the LCMT mountain bike & cross-duathlon 2023 will move 1 week to the Pentecost weekend: Saturday 27, Sunday 28 and Monday 29 May 2023 will therefore be the 3 stage days. Reason: totally unexpected and unintentionally overlooked by the municipal government of Malmedy (excuse me, sic!) There are too many one-off other manifestations during the Ascension weekend. As a result, neither the sports hall nor the surrounding area is available to the LCMT. This was only communicated to us at the beginning of this week.

We immediately searched together for an alternative, as close as possible date. The Pentecost weekend – only 7 days later – was and is the most obvious solution. Of course we hope that you are not put off by this. An extra week of training may not even hurt that much? However, it should be clear that a month ago when the LCMT was approved in Malmedy, no one thought about the additional and one-off event crowds in Malmedy. As it is claimed there, this only applies to 2023. In 2024, the Ascension weekend would offer room for a 3-day event like the LCMT. Who knows, in the future it may sometimes be useful that we can choose between the two long weekends.