Monumental Gravel

About the Event

MONUMENTAL is a premier self-supported bikepacking adventure that weaves together Belgium’s storied cycling history and its diverse natural landscapes. The second edition, held from May 23 to 27, 2026, starts and finishes at the MONUMENTAL campsite in Sint-Joris-Weert (Heverlee). By linking the legendary climbs of the Spring Classics with extensive off-road tracks, the event offers a modern, gritty tribute to the "Flandrien" spirit of endurance.

Route Name	Distance / Elevation	Key Terrain / Highlights	Difficulty
Flandrien Tour	300 km / 3,500 hm	Sonian Forest, Pajottenland, Koppenberg, Paterberg	Moderate
Ardennais Tour	500 km / 6,500 hm	Côte de la Redoute, Col de Stockeu, Dinant & Namur Citadels	Demanding
Grand Tour	800 km / 10,000 hm	Combines both loops; requires 160km/day average	Expert

The event is designed by Dries, Leen, and Maxime—three hobby cyclists dedicated to the self-supported bikepacking ethos. Riders must manage their own navigation, repairs, and pace, with the 2026 routes emphasizing a 50/50 split between tarmac and mixed off-road surfaces like hardpack, single trails, and historic cobbles.

Logistics and Route Details:

-- Flandrien Tour Experience: A redesigned journey through the "Tuscany of the North," featuring iconic climbs from the Tour of Flanders linked via quiet backroads. Historical landmarks like the Lion’s Mound are featured on the return leg.
-- Ardennais Tour Experience: A significant step up in difficulty, focusing on the steep, wooded gradients of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. It includes technical forest trails and gradients reaching up to 20%.
-- The Grand Tour Challenge: To finish within the five-day window, riders must sustain a consistent daily effort of roughly 160 km and 2,000 meters of elevation gain across unforgiving terrain.
-- Navigation and Surface: Routes are provided via GPS; participants should prepare for varied conditions, including occasional hike-a-bike sections in the Ardennes.
-- Self-Supported Principle: The event strictly follows a self-supported rulebook, celebrating personal resilience and the connection between the rider and the Belgian landscape.
-- Location and Hub: All routes originate from the MONUMENTAL campsite in Sint-Joris-Weert, which provides a communal base for the start and finish of each tour.

Whether navigating the rolling windmills of Pajottenland or the historic battlefields of the Ardennes, MONUMENTAL 2026 offers an unforgettable celebration of nature, endurance, and cycling culture.

Races Offered

Ardennais Tour

May 22, 2026

straighten

Distance — 500K

terrain

Type — Cycling

timer

08:00

sell

€260.00

Flandrien Tour

May 22, 2026

straighten

Distance — 300K

terrain

Type — Cycling

timer

08:00

sell

€240.00

Grand Tour

May 22, 2026

straighten

Distance — 800K

terrain

Type — Cycling

timer

08:00

sell

€280.00

Weather Overview

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for May in Leuven.

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

thermostat 9.2° / 18.8°

wb_sunny 6.9° / 16.4°

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

air 11.4 /

water_drop 74.0%

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

thermostat 9.2° / 18.8°

wb_sunny 6.9° / 16.4°

air 11.4 km/h

water_drop 74.0%

About Leuven

Learn more about the host city, Leuven.

Leuven is a flourishing and lively city of about 100,000 inhabitants (2018). It is the capital of the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. It's a genuine university city which reflects in the streets. During the academic year the city is full of young people, especially on weekdays. Sometimes it may seem that there are no other people living in the city. Summer in Leuven in general is calmer, although a lot of summer events are organised. The university that was founded in 1425 and has more than 40,000 students is the oldest Catholic university in the world. The historic centre is one of the most beautiful in Belgium.