Road · Belgium
Cycling in Couvin
Riding from Couvin means heading south across the French border, with a 120.7 km point-to-point to Reims that climbs 869 m over Ardennes hills before flattening onto the plains.
The ride in Couvin
Cycling guide to Couvin
Couvin sits in the south of Wallonia, close enough to the French border that a ride out of town crosses it within the first 20 km. The main route from here is a 120.7 km point-to-point to Reims, gathering 869 m of climbing. It leaves through Gonrieux, Presgaux, Br\u00fbly-De-Pesche and Cul-des-Sarts, then enters France at L'Escaill\u00e8re and Regniowez, working through \u00c9teigni\u00e8res, Auvillers-les-Forges, Girondelle and Liart. Beyond La F\u00e9r\u00e9e and Le Fr\u00e9ty the road drops towards Ribeauville, Mainbresson and Vaux-l\u00e8s-Rubigny, then Fraillicourt, Renneville and Hannogne-Saint-R\u00e9my. From Le Thour and Asfeld onwards the country opens out through Avaux, Poilcourt-Sydney, Saint-\u00c9tienne-sur-Suippe and Bourgogne-Fresne, finishing via B\u00e9theny and Le Petit B\u00e9theny into Reims. The climbing is concentrated in the Belgian and Ardennes section near the start, so the second half is markedly easier going.
- The route here is recorded in September, at around 29\u00b0C \u2013 warm for the season, and a reminder that the flat, exposed second half offers little relief in heat.
- Rolling rather than mountainous: the biggest climb starts at 2.8 km and runs 2.5 km for 82 m at 3.3% average and 5.4% maximum, topping out at 334 m. The route's high point is 366 m, and gradients ease steadily as the road descends towards the plains around Asfeld and Reims.
