This year, I set myself the goal of riding one gravel fondo, just to see if I would enjoy it. After completing the Heathland Gravel, I came home so enthusiastic (read the report here) that my family said, "Wouldn't it be fun to try qualifying for the World Championships in Leuven?"

There was no need to think twice about that. The Houffa Gravel on August 24 proved to be the perfect opportunity. With my gravel bike loaded onto the car, I set off early on Saturday morning for Houffalize. And it turned out to be another fantastic day!

Wild stories about the course

The gravel fondo around the Ardennes MTB hotspot Houffalize is now in its third edition and is slowly emerging as a true Ardennes classic. Since this is also the only Belgian and one of the last opportunities to qualify for the Gravel World Championships in Leuven, more than 1,500 gravel riders were understandably nervous at the start in Houffalize. That nervousness was fueled in part by wild stories circulating on various social media platforms about the course being in poor condition due to recent heavy rainfall. There was also talk of lots of mud, technical challenges, and possibly even dangerous descents. So, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect as I stood at the start line at 8:30 a.m., at the foot of the Côte de Saint-Roch.

Perfectly organized

All those wild stories can be dismissed as pure fiction. What a fantastic course! In the heart of the Ardennes, you can expect to encounter everything: forest paths, large roots, loose rocks, rocky trails, windy plains, steep and long climbs, and equally demanding descents. A challenging and technical course, as befits a true gravel event. It’s meant to be somewhat adventurous, which only reinforces that it’s not “just” riding in the woods.

Was it dangerous? Personally, I didn’t find it all that dangerous. We know by now that Golazo is great at organizing events, and this certainly includes building routes and ensuring participant safety. The route was perfectly marked, both via GPS and with bright pink signs. All dangerous spots were well indicated, rocks were marked with paint, steep descents were clearly announced with signs, and crossings were well secured.

With 20°C at the start, the weather was perfect. The sun quickly burned away the last clouds, and under a clear blue sky, the temperature soon climbed towards 30 degrees. The combination of the tropical heat, the rising winds, and the challenging course turned Houffa Gravel into a real test of endurance for many.

Next stop: Leuven

My goal for the day was to qualify for the Gravel World Championships in Leuven. The challenging 110-kilometer course with nearly 2,000 meters of elevation demanded a sensible race strategy. With the start on the Côte de Saint-Roch and the first seventy very tough kilometers, I resolved to ensure that I had plenty of energy left for the final forty kilometers. After all, that’s where many would likely hit the wall, I suspected. So, I focused on eating and drinking well, and above all, maintaining my own pace.

This strategy paid off. I never found myself at my limit, and in the last forty kilometers, I was able to accelerate. I passed 15 to 20 riders in my age group and crossed the finish line in Houffalize after 4 hours and 18 minutes. The results process is incredibly efficient these days. Within seconds of crossing the line, I knew: qualification for the WK Leuven was secured! Mission accomplished, day succeeded. So, what began with an enthusiastic suggestion from my wife has now led to a trip to Leuven in early October.

Austrian national gravel champion Sebastian Schonberger won the overall race, finishing ahead of Alexys Brunel (France) and Belgium’s Arne Baers. In the women’s race, Germany’s Romy Kasper crossed the line first, ahead of Australians Frain Nicole and Tiffany Cromwell. Belgium’s Marjolein Truyers won the women’s medio gravel fondo, while victory in the men’s event went to Lars Van Der Sloot (Germany). Full results can be found here.