Eddy Merckx Cycling Route has been extended

No one could have missed Eddy's 80th birthday celebrations. This prompted Visit Flemish Brabant to extend the existing Eddy Merckx Cycling Route with an extra-long 150 km version. The signposted route takes you to all corners of the Hageland. Cycle along the same roads where the young Eddy had his first cycling experiences.

Through the heart of the fruit-growing region and across the Brabant clay plateaus. Past stately square farms and the winding Gete river. No super steep climbs, but always up and down. This ride with 1,000 meters of elevation gain will get under your skin. A route befitting the Cannibal.

You start at Café Boerenhof in Meensel-Kiezegem. For the first 60 km, the new route follows the same route as the original route, including a passage past Eddy Merckx’s birthplace and street art. After that, you can choose to take the long route or the short route. The new route mainly follows car-free, rolling roads; it is never really flat. Around km 125, there are a number of challenging climbs in the Pellenberg region.

Of course, Eddy gave his blessing to the route: “I am delighted that the route has been extended to 150 km,” says Eddy Merckx. “I rode my first races in this region and I still think it’s a wonderful area for cycling. You’ll find an ideal mix of short, challenging climbs and endless rolling roads. All this combined with beautiful views. Perfect training, right?”

All information can be found at www.visitvlaamsbrabant.be/fietsen/vind-een-fietsroute/eddy-merckx-cycling-route-150km. You can also download the GPS tracks there.

Text: Rens Klaasse

Photo: © Lander Loeckx

More news

  • Eddy Merckx Cycling Route has been extendedEddy Merckx Cycling Route has been extended
    No one could have missed Eddy's 80th birthday celebrations. This prompted Visit Flemish Brabant to extend the existing Eddy Merckx Cycling Route with an extra-long 150 km version. The signposted route takes you to all corners of the Hageland. Cycle along the same roads where the young Eddy had his first cycling experiences.
    Read more…
  • Velofollies 2026 with free Cyclelive MagazineVelofollies 2026 with free Cyclelive Magazine
    From January 16 to 18, 2026, Kortrijk Xpo will host the 18th edition of Velofollies, the meeting place for active cyclists and cycling enthusiasts. With over 300 exhibitors and twice as many brands, the fair once again offers a comprehensive range of both recreational and functional bikes such as e-bikes, urban bikes, cargo bikes, folding bikes, etc., as well as sporty gravel, BMX, MTB, and road bikes.
    Read more…
  • MALLORCA AND COMPETITIVE CYCLINGMALLORCA AND COMPETITIVE CYCLING
    We joined Marga Lopez, a cyclist born in Campos, Mallorca, who has been riding for Belgian cycling teams since 2019, to explore the causes and remedies for the future of cycling in Mallorca. At the beginning of May, we visited her at home and spent a pleasant evening with her parents, discussing all aspects of cycling in Mallorca.
    Read more…
More Articles