Road · Belgium
Anderlues to Couvin via Chimay
A rolling 76 km road cycling route from Anderlues, Wallonia to Couvin via Chimay through Au Roi des Belges, Lobbes and Reumont, with 458 m of climbing. 58% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 75.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 458 m
- Riding time
- 4–5½ hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly cycle paths
- Food & water
- Longest gap 17 km
- Best months
- May to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Anderlues → Couvin via Chimay
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 458 m
- 76 km
Route description
- Anderlues
- Au Roi des Belges
- Lobbes
- Reumont
- Donstiennes
- Solre-Saint-Géry
- Sautin
- Saint-Remy
- Baileux
- Couvin via Chimay
Starting near Fontaine-l'Évêque and Anderlues, the route heads through several towns including Lobbes and Thuin, making its way east towards Couvin. The road surfaces are mostly paved (89%) with some gravel or unpaved sections (9%) and a small portion unmapped (2%). The ride features a mix of cycle paths (43.1 km), quiet streets (9.1 km), minor roads (8.2 km), and shorter stretches on main roads (4.1 km) including 1.6 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. Most main roads lack cycle lanes.
There is a steady climb towards the end from km 72.4 to 73.7, gaining 57 m at an average gradient of 4.3%, peaking at 299 m altitude. The profile is mostly flat (76%) with 13% climbing and 11% descending. The longest descent is 3 km starting from around km 9.4 dropping 80 m. Riders pass through towns like Chimay at km 61.4, and several places with cafés, shops and water early and mid-route, but face a longest stretch without café, shop or water of 16.5 km between km 40.2 and 56.7.
Food and drink options are plentiful near the start with cafés and bakeries in Anderlues and nearby. Notable stops include Le Beauchamp restaurant at km 56.7 and Taverne Le Galion café at km 61. Shops and supermarkets are available in several towns including Lidl at km 29.6 and Tournesol supermarket near Chimay. Toilets are located at km 12.3, 30.5 and 62.3. Two bailout points exist at Coron du Berger station (2.3 km) and the halt at Lobbes (12.2 km).
Why ride this route?
- 58% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Chimay at 61 km
- Climb near Presgaux at 73 km, 57 m gain
- Longest descent: 3 km from 9.4 km
- Ravel cycle paths for over 11 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 72.4 km | 1.3 km · 57 m · 4.3 % · max 7.6 % | 299 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 58% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 58% cycle path · 12% quiet street · 11% minor road · 8% track · 11% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 4.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 1.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 44 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Ravel (9 km), Ravel 109/2 (3 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 89% is mapped as paved, 9% as unpaved or gravel and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 13% climbing · 11% descending · 76% flat
- Steep sections
- 0.7 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 10.8% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 3 km from 9.4 km, dropping 80 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 17 km, from km 40 to 57. Along the route: 49 cafés and restaurants, 23 shops, 1 water point, 7 petrol stations, 3 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.5 kmMulti-Pharma · pharmacy · on the route
- 0.6 kmCafé du Congo · café · on the route
- 0.8 kmIntermarché · supermarket · on the route
- 4.7 kmLe Quai · restaurant · 260 m off route
- 12.3 kmToilets · 100 m off route
- 12.4 kmBENU · pharmacy · 130 m off route
- 13.8 kmLe Mousse-Tier · bar · on the route
- 13.8 kmAssociation pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal · bike rental · 100 m off route
- 19.8 kmBoulangerie Briclet · bakery · 230 m off route
- 29.6 kmLidl · supermarket · 110 m off route
- 30.5 kmLe Commerce · café · 40 m off route
- 30.5 kmToilets · on the route
- 38.6 kmFriterie du Court-Tournant · fast food · 100 m off route
- 38.9 kmPetrol station · 30 m off route
- 56.7 kmLe Beauchamp · restaurant · 390 m off route
- 60.7 kmTotal · petrol station · 120 m off route
- 62.3 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 63.2 kmTournesol · supermarket · 80 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 2.3 km — Coron du Berger (station), 50 m off route
- 12.2 km — Lobbes (halt), 70 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Château de Fontaine-l'Évêque (castle)
- 13.7 km — Château Beauregard (castle)
- 62.3 km — Château de Chimay (castle)
Stay after this ride
- Martin Pêcheur · campsite · 2.3 km from the finish
- Les Sittelles · guest house · 3.9 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Bellino II (120 m), Café du Congo (500 m), Boulangerie Michelle (550 m)
- Shops
- Intermarché (450 m), Comarché (580 m)
Know before you go
- 16.5 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 40.2 to 56.7 km
- 4.1 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 1.6 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limits
- 9% gravel or unpaved sections
