The best gravel rides around Bois de Lauzelle

Nice cycling with a good surface and no traffic.

This tour goes for kilometers through the forest. In spring it is beautiful with the hyacinths and wood anemones. In summer nice and cool.

From here you have a good view of the landscape in which the Battle of Waterloo was fought, you can still clearly see the slope in the landscape that allowed the British to take up a good defensive position.

The Groenendaal racecourse was built in 1888-1889 on the initiative of Leopold II in the middle of the Sonian Forest, next to the road to Waterloo, and in 1892, as part of easy access, it received its own railway connection to Groenendaal station. To realize this racecourse, approximately 100 hectares of forest were cleared at the end of the 19th century. King Leopold II had his own box there, located between two metal grandstands for the public. After the First World War, this area was used for the dismantling of weapons and ammunition left behind in the Westhoek. German prisoners of war had to clear mines under the supervision of the Belgian army. During a fire and the subsequent explosions of ammunition on May 6, 1919, the hippodrome's grandstands and buildings were heavily damaged. After another explosion in November, the ammunition depot was completely dismantled in 1920. Two years later, the racecourse was restored and the grandstands were rebuilt. The royal box for Albert I was not rebuilt until 1924. Its appearance was completely different from the pre-war grandstand. When the current appearance came about is not entirely clear, although the current box is attributed to Albert I in the literature, see also monogram. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Royal Box and remains of bookmaker's room, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/302991

The Groenendaal racecourse was built in 1888-1889 on the initiative of Leopold II in the middle of the Sonian Forest, next to the road to Waterloo. In 1892, it was given its own rail connection to Groenendaal station as part of a smooth development. To realize this racecourse, about 100 hectares of forest were cleared at the end of the 19th century. King Leopold II had his own box, located between two metal grandstands for the public. After the First World War, this area was used for the dismantling of weapons and ammunition left behind in the Westhoek. German prisoners of war had to clear mines under the supervision of the Belgian army. A fire and subsequent explosions of ammunition on May 6, 1919, heavily damaged the grandstands and buildings of the hippodrome. After another explosion in November, the ammunition depot was completely dismantled in 1920. Two years later, the racecourse was restored and the grandstands were rebuilt. The royal box for Albert I was only rebuilt in 1924. Its appearance was completely different from the pre-war grandstand. When the current appearance came about is not entirely clear, although the current box is attributed to Albert I in the literature, see also monogram. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Royal Box and remains of bookmaker's office, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/302991

Nice challenge through the glowing landscape.

Here in the courtyard you can get something to drink and eat (be careful, it is only open until 6 p.m.), which is a bit of a shame.

Heverleebos. Forest on the outskirts of the magnificent city of Leuven. Its paths, perfect for gravel riding, hosted the 2023 European Gravel Championships (with victories by Lorena Wiebes and local rider Jasper Stuyven) and the 2024 Gravel World Championships (with victories by Marianne Vos and Mathieu van der Poel).