Couvin to Reims

Route overview

Suited to riders comfortable with a 120 km day, as the 869 m of climbing is modest and concentrated in the first half.

A 120.7 km point-to-point from Couvin in the Belgian Ardennes across the French border to the centre of Reims, with 869 m of climbing.

The ride leaves Couvin past Presgaux and climbs almost immediately: a 2.5 km rise from km 2.8 gains 82 m at 3.3% (5.4% maximum) to 334 m, and the high point of the route, 366 m, comes at km 8.1 shortly after Cul-des-Sarts. The French border falls between L'Escaillère and Regniowez, and the road then rolls through Éteignières, Auvillers-les-Forges and Girondelle, where a café at km 19 and drinking water at km 19.3 are the first supplies. From Liart at km 38.8 the route threads a dense sequence of small hamlets — Les Hénaux, Le Fréty, Solférino, Mainbressy — before Vaux-lès-Rubigny and Fraillicourt. Just over half the day's climbing (52%) is done in the first 60 km, and the terrain eases steadily through Renneville, Hannogne-Saint-Rémy and Banogne-Recouvrance. The closing third is the flattest: Le Thour, Villers-devant-le-Thour and Asfeld, where the route touches its lowest point of 61 m at km 90.8. Poilcourt-Sydney, Saint-Étienne-sur-Suippe and Bourgogne-Fresne lead to Bétheny and the outskirts of Reims, with restaurants and cafés thick on the ground from km 114.6 into the city centre at km 116.4.

Highlights

• High point of 366 m at km 8.1, above Cul-des-Sarts
• Belgium into France between L'Escaillère and Regniowez
• Long flat run from Asfeld at the low point of 61 m
• Finish in central Reims, with cafés from km 114.6

Practical information

Surface

Paved

Route shape

Point to point

Riding time

6–8½ hours riding

Know before you go

• Border crossing from Belgium into France at around km 12
• No café or shop listed between km 38.6 and km 76; water at Banogne-Recouvrance
• 29 °C recorded in September on this route

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.