Route
The LAM 200 is an allroad-event. The route includes 28km of light gravel and 14km of cobbles.
The route i 200km long and contains 1600m of elevation.
Your halfway point is Tienen.
Les Arbres Magiques?
After a flat warm-up, we climb towards Haut-Ittre, quickly followed by the cobbled climb towards Bois-Seigneur-Isaac. After some rolling roads, we arrive in Genappe, where you start your first Ravel-section of the day.
After passing one of Belgium’s highest Yew (Taxus) hedges you will tackle the climb to La Chapelle du Try-au-Chêne before heading for the famous “Arbre de la Justice”-monument. Don’t hesitate to take the cobbled section (right after the monument) as a pro = On Top in the Centre of the Road! After crossing some open field you will find yourself in Gembloux, home to the ‘Centre de Recherches Agronomiques de Gembloux’.
Reaching the highest point of the route at 175 meters, you nearly arrive in Liernu, world-famous in Belgium and beyond for “Le Gros Chêne de Liernu.” This oak tree was planted in 1275 and has a circumference of more than 14meters. Try to find a good angle for a selfie! Your reward is a 15km downhill Ravel-section to Jodoigne.
After a short passage through Hoegaarden you arrive in the historical centre of Tienen. Slow down and enjoy the centre with some remarkable trees around the church.
After 110 km (and 800m of elevation), at Vissenaken, you will find a well-deserved feeding station. There will be hot soup, bread, coffee, cola, water, cookies, salty biscuits,… & you can use the toilets.
If the weather predictions become reality, a nice tailwind will be your partner for the remaining 91km. Leaving the feeding station behind, you ride on rolling roads (on & offroad) towards the Brabantse Wouden National Park, where the Weerste Dreef treats us to a beautiful top quality gravel section.
As kind as we are, you will ride the steep Smeysberg (Huldenberg) downhill before pushing through towards the Park of Tervuren and the Sonian Forest. The Kapucijnendreef, Welriekendedreef & Kapeldreef get you through this amazing forest. Depending on your pace during the previous 150km you might need lights.
The impressive Solvay Regional Domain is hard to describe. Once you ride through the gate, you might feel ‘fairytale-ish’. Enjoy the ride along the ponds & huge trees before heading towards ‘The Lion’s Mound’ & the last cobbled section of this LAM200.
In search for the finish line you’ll encounter some last ‘difficulties’ at km190 & 192. The recently inaugurated Ecoduct in the Hallerbos will bring you (& wildlife) across the highway. It’s all downhill once you tick off the short doubletrack gravel road at km 195.
Start / Finish
FALCO coffee & cycling will be hosting the start & finish of the ‘Les Arbres Magiques’-events.
They are located in the centre of Halle, next to the Basilica. Address: Klinkaert 3, 1500 Halle, Belgium.
Pricing
The registration fee for the LAM100 is € 20.
Including:
- Unique AllRoad-route // Fully checked
- Insurance through our partner FFBC
- LAM200 Stamp Card
- 1 energy bar
- 1 feeding station halfway
- Unique LAM-gadget
- Surprise endurance goodie (chamois, chain lube,…)
- Free coffee at the start
Facilities at the Start
FALCO coffee & cycling is a coffee bar/bike shop by & for cyclists.
They serve free specialty coffee (filter) at the start for all participants.
On the first floor there are toilets and a changing room. You can leave a bag with spare clothes/gear at FALCO, give it to one of the LAM-volunteers.
(No) Rules / Guidelines
It’s not a race, there’s no classification, no prizes,… So no ‘real’ rules but some ‘classic guidelines’ like:
- respect other road users;
- respect the highway code;
- respect the volunteers that make this event possible;
- notify the organizers if you abandon the event without passing the finish line
Timetable
07:30-08:00: Registrations with free coffee
08:00: Go out & enjoy the LAM 100!
22:00: Closing of the Finish Line
Extra info: No stress, starting exactly at 8:00 is not mandatory, take your time to get to the start and enjoy your free coffee.
We Support ‘Plan Boommarter’
We donate € 1 per registered rider to ‘Plan Boommarter’/’Plan Pine Marten’.
‘Plan Pine Marten’ is the collaboration for more nature around the Hallerbos, Lembeekbos and other forests and nature reserves south of Halle. We connect nature with nature, and people with nature. We hope to welcome pine martens again to Halle.
If we collect enough, we might get our own ‘LAM-forest’ somewhere around Halle.
More info: www.planboommarter.be
Frequently
Asked
Questions
What if the weather is bad?
‘There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.’ But we all agree, if things get dangerously bad/risky it’s possible we cancel/postpone an event.
Are the LAM-events ‘races’?
NO, they are not! See them as personal adventures. Maybe it’s your first long-distance so surviving is already an accomplishment? Or are you looking to finetune your long-distance skills?
What about ‘support’?
The LAM-events are built from the perspective of being & staying unsupported. Embrace the challenge of looking after yourself, plan your stops wisely or just look forward to a LAM-organized food-stop.
How do we register as a duo or group?
No problem if you want to ride with a friend or a in a group but each rider has to register individually for 1 or more distances.
Road & Gravel, tire recommentations?
The LAM routes are a mix of road, (light) gravel, cobblestones and asphalt.
A wider tire offers more comfort. Tires under 35 mm are not recommended. Recon-rides are done with 40mm.
Keep in mind that max. 20% of the route is not-road.
What if I have a flat tyre, have shifting issues,… while riding a LAM-event?
Make sure you are able to solve/overcome possible mechanical issues. The LAM-organisation has no ‘pick-up-service’. Make sure to bring a suitable repair kit with you.