The first edition of this Flanders Fields Gravel Tour (FFGT) is taking concrete shape and aims for excellent basic service and beautiful, historic and scenic rides. Ypres will be the place to be from 24 till 26 May 2024!

The 3-day Gravel Tour offers sophisticated and generous refreshments, exciting routes (via GPS, with partial signage - see below), massage service, breakdown assistance, a nice goodie bag as a souvenir for three-day participants. And all this in a cozy setting to play cards together after the stages.

Start and finish is daily at the Minneplein at GO! (atheneum Ieper). Peace city Ypres is your dream base for 3 days enjoying a maximum of off-road and gravel trails.

Not able to go for the full three days? No worries! It is possible to ride only the weekend stages or to choose a day stage!

Collecting your starter's pack? On Thursday evening between 18h and 20h00 in sports hall Minneplein and on Friday morning from 7h30 to 9h00 (same location).

Newsflash July 25: all permissions are in, including for France!

More than a month before the start, the 1st Flanders Fields Gravel Tour also obtained the last crucial permission to set the course in northern France. The latter is of course very important for the future development of this new multi-day off-road tour. Right from the start, Biking Box/Biking Events wanted to highlight the link between the Westhoek (West Flanders) with 'le Nord' and the cobblestones of Roubaix.

This is 'our' cycling region and that never stops at the national border, on the contrary. Flandres, which is what our French friends call it after all, is culturally traditionally Flemish and exudes this identity more and more clearly. You can see this in the street names (Vlaming Straete near Catsberg). You can also see it in the double names of the municipalities (Bailleul/Belle...).

The fact that we can now give all participants of the Flanders Fields Gravel Tour a taste of these unique cycling sensations gives this new cycling event the cachet it dreams of. Moreover, in 'Flandres' there are still a lot of typical gravel roads, because those rural roads have often not yet been asphalted.

Newsflash 16 August '23

We are forced to reform the upcoming 1st Flanders Fields Gravel Tour into a small-scale pioneer edition with the aspiration to launch a large-scale event in 2024.

There are simply not enough pre-registrations at the moment to successfully and effectively develop the planned large start and arrival site. Of course we regret this, but we are already looking further to 2024...

After all, we knew in advance that the Flanders Fields Gravel Tour came out quite late (only on July 11...) with the formal and official presentation of this 3-day event. Circumstances and unfortunately unavoidable delays during the preparation phase that turned out that way due to a number of external factors. We ourselves feared that it was already (too) late to successfully set up a major promotion and publicity campaign. Also too late to successfully bet on a more international (read: British) field of participants. Nevertheless, we still tried to set up the event. In terms of framework and course permits, everything was completed just in time. But without the assurance of a decent turnout, we are today obliged to reduce the event from August 25-27 to a still very attractive cycling holiday with associated supplies and still all obvious shower plus cloakroom options. This is for all those who have already registered up to today.

Furthermore, it is still possible to register in advance for both Saturday (the Heuvelland stage with foothills over the Catsberg) and Sunday (the Roubaix stage). But in order to be able to estimate everything in terms of supplies, Wednesday 23 August 10:00 PM is the final registration date.

Those who were already registered will now receive the following offer from the organization (in addition to the option to withdraw a paid registration and thus receive a refund):

A sporty, challenging three-day cycling holiday with maximum group experience.
You can cycle in a group or drive on your own and enjoy 2 supplies along the way that are well announced in terms of time and location.
The indicated starting hours remain in effect and are recommended to call at both supply zones within the time margin.
At the start you will receive a daily supply package (sports bar, filled water bottle with sports drink).
You will also receive all GPS tracks by e-mail no later than 4 days before the start (August 21) with both the 'full distance' and a daily short-cut version (shortened stage if you prefer to turn off earlier).
Finally, you will receive a nice goodie bag at the start (including a can of La Chouffe) and the first 10 who confirm to participate in this try-out 'pioneer tour' will receive the highly sought-after Poppy cycling shirt (value 69) as a unique gift. EUR).
Provided that at least 20 participants keep their registration, 1 Compex device (electrostimulation worth +800 EUR) will also be raffled off!
Start and finish will no longer be at Minneplein (too large a location for this small-scale pioneer tour), but at the Biking Box cycling experience center at Menenstraat 15 (center of Ypres) where you will be treated to a delicious 'Coureur coffee' before every start (on the house!).
If you wish, you can get a delicious spaghetti (bolognaise) including a drink in the Biking Bar after every ride for the promo price of only EUR 10! (normally at least 16 EUR if spaghetti and drink).

Newsflash July 25: sponsors & partners and start/finish zone take shape!

At the start/finish on the Minneplein, the big Schwalbe start arch will be set up. Agreement has already been reached with Brewery Vanuxeem to set up a nice outdoor bar.

Breweries De Bie, Vanuxeem, Duvel/La Chouffe and the newest 'Ieper' beer Ypra are also already definitely coming on board for the goodie bag etc...

Moreover, everyone who registers for the full 3-days will have a CHANCE to win a professional and high-quality electro-stimulation device from Compex. (retail value: up to EUR 700)!

Furthermore, 3 Action is the FFGT sports drinks partner and Alpro Soya will also help to provide you with a healthy and nutritious supply along the way. The regular partners of the LCMT (see also www.lcmt.be) all show their enthusiasm.

See also our partners and sponsors.

Biking Events (since 1999 organizer of the LCMT "mountain bike" in Ardennes) launches a new cycling event: the 1st Flanders Fields Graveltour. Also a three-day tour but now from the home base where Biking Box (Bike Experience Center ) is located: YPRES! With this tour we focus on the many cycling trails that Flanders Fields has to offer.

The last few weeks we worked very hard to make this unique gravel three-day event possible. In close cooperation with the Royal Ypres Cycling Club, which itself will host the international UCI junior race "Route des Géants" on 27 August 2023, we now officially present this new top weekend in terms of cycling experience in Ypres and the Westhoek.

The Flanders Fields Gravel Tour incorporates the proven success ingredients of the LCMT. An excellent all-in package, coupled with many lodging options (see 'lodging').

Not in a position to go for the full three days? No worries! It is possible to ride only the weekend stages or to choose a day stage!

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

The three-day Gravel Tour is also included in the cycling calendar of Wielerbond Vlaanderen (who has a permit as a cyclist or rider does not have to pay additional insurance).

More info to follow!