Belgian Championship Gravel comes to Grobbendonk: 'An honor for our municipality'

Grobbendonk is set to host the Belgian Championship Gravel on Sunday, August 16, a significant event for the municipality that Mayor Marianne Verhaert calls "an honor."

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Grobbendonk has a strong cycling tradition. It is an honor to be allowed to host the championship here. We will be able to show our municipality to many people.

This marks the first time the national gravel cycling championship will take place in Grobbendonk, a town with a "strong cycling tradition," according to Verhaert. She believes hosting the event will showcase the municipality to a wider audience and provide a boost to local commerce. "There will be a lot of people coming during the competition. That means only good things for our local traders and hospitality sector," she stated.

The championship is an open race, welcoming both professional cyclists and amateur enthusiasts. While anyone can participate, only those with a Belgian competition license can claim the national title. Niels Vandeputte and Marthe Truyen, the winners from last year's event in Westerlo, will be defending their titles.

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There will be a lot of people coming during the competition. That means only good things for our local traders and hospitality sector.

The 50-kilometer course will wind through gravel and sand roads in and around Grobbendonk, featuring a mix of fast sections and technical challenges. Cyclists will pass through the Lovenhoek nature reserve and the Den Troon military domain, with the route also passing through Grobbendonk's town center, allowing spectators multiple viewing opportunities.

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The course combines fast sections with more technical stretches. It is a beautiful mix of what we have already used in previous editions.