“So much more than gravel” is the strapline, on the Flanders Gravel 2022 website but it should probably say, so much more than cobbles, as for 2022, the organisers of the Flanders Gravel series are branching out beyond their core event, based around the infamous cobbled bergs around Oudenaarde and are heading north-west to the region of Diksmuide and due east to the region of Limburg, close to the German border.
Why change something that works so well already, you may be thinking and the answer is to add in some diversity and to help showcase other regions of Belgium. The Diksmuide event, which takes place on Saturday 11th June is all about history and promises “a unique combination of historical places, the most beautiful gravel paths, nature in the Yser Plain and a cosy festival atmosphere to create an unforgettable experience!” The Saturday Trooper ticket, which costs €54.95 gets you a choice of 60kms, 100kms or 140kms route, a pre-ride coffee, two feed zones on the route, a post ride beer and burger and a finish line festival.
The Limburg event on the other hand, which takes place on Saturday 6th August and promises to “combine beautiful views and unknown places along a sloping South Limburg course. A route along castles and fruit orchards in combination with a unique festival atmosphere at the arrival.” The Saturday Trooper ticket, which costs from €44.95 for early bird entries, gets you a choice of 60kms, 100kms or 140kms route, a pre-ride coffee, two feed zones on the route, a post ride beer and burger and a finish line festival.
Of course, for anyone hankering for a fix of the cobbles, the Koppenberg event is still on and this year takes place over the weekend of 1-3rd July. The Flanders Gravel Koppenberg is a full on gravel festival, with route choices of 80kms, 120kms and 160kms, a pre-ride coffee, two feed zones on the route, a post ride beer and burger and a finish line festival. Tickets are from €64.95 for the Saturday Trooper version of €174.95 if you want to make a full weekend of it and have camping, extra food, self-guided ride on Friday and choice of a guided or self-guided ride on the Sunday.
If this has inspired you, you can find out more details of all three events on the official website, you can check out the write-up that Henna and Erwin put together from their ride in the Koppenberg event last summer or you can check out the promo film that the event organisers have put together.
Do you fancy winning a pair of Saturday Trooper tickets for one of the Flanders Gravel events? We've got three pairs to give away to three different Gravel Union members - one for each event. To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is the following:
We will pick the winner's names out of the hat at 13.00 CEST on Wednesday 27th April, so don't delay if you'd like to enter the competition.
The competition is open to Gravel Union members only. The prize is a pair of tickets for the Saturday Trooper entry. No cash alternative will be offered.