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Home , Hoegaarden Brewery, Mechelen, Oude Kwaremont, Ourthe

BIKE ACROSS CLASSICO Ability Level: Intermediate / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION

Bike Across Belgium ITINERARY OUTLINE / Page 3 Bikes and Trip Essence Daily Itinerary / Page 3-5 Belgium’s own history with cycling is almost as long as the history of / Page 6 cycling itself. Before the turn of the twentieth century, Belgium had Arrival & Departure already established the Royal Belgian Cycling Association. Cycling became Bike Information / Page 6 the national sport not long after. For pedaling aficionados, Belgium is a bicycling mecca to include on your bike vacation bucket list. Terms & Conditions / Page 7

There are more than 1,130 brewed in Belgium. In addition to six Reserve Your Space! / Page 7 Trappist ales and other abbey beers, it churns out lagers such as and . Tipplers can also choose from an array of wheat beers, brown ales, red beers, golden ales, saison beers based on old farmhouse recipes, and any number of regional brews. Our Belgium bike tour gives you access to more boutique than ANY other European bicycle tour. For travelers who love to bike and beer, this is a dream tour!

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 1 BIKE ACROSS BELGIUM CLASSICO Ability Level: Intermediate / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION

TRIP ESSENCE TRIP DETAILS Ability Level • Visit , Belgium and the • Intermediate

• Ride through renowned sites, such as Achouffe, , Summary of Daily Distances Hoegaarden, and discover and taste a legendary brewing tradition • Day 1: 13 miles • Day 2: 48/55 miles • Visit the old historical Het Anker, complete with tasting • Day 3: 41/52 miles • Day 4: 56 miles • Visit Mechelen and climb his monumental gothic St.Rumbold’s Tower • Day 5: 23/46 miles • Day 6: 58/60 miles • Visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites of with its stunning • Day 7: 50/56 miles gothic city hall, and , often compared to Venice for its • Day 8: 37 miles • Day 9: Tot Ziens! and Florentine touch Optional extra loops available • Pedal some of the muren (walls) featured on the Tour of , one of the most charming pro-cycling races in the world, and visit its cycling museum in Oudenaarde

Have something else in mind? WHAT’S INCLUDED • Itinerary available as a private tour or... • Use of a carbon road bike (see page 6 for details) • Create a custom itinerary with help from our experienced • Service of local, professional guides throughout the program travel consultants!

• Ciclismo jersey and water bottle Contact Us 1-800-866-7314 • All accommodations [email protected]

• Guided tour of the oldest brewery still active in Mechelen, complete with tasting

• Trappist beer and cheese tasting

• Guided visits in Leuven and Bruges

• Entrance to the Museum in Oudenaarde

• Entrance to St. Rumbold’s Tower in Mechelen

• All breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 6 dinners

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 2 BIKE ACROSS BELGIUM CLASSICO Ability Level: Intermediate / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 1 Highlights Welcome! Our meeting will be at 12:45 pm at the hotel restaurant for a CLERVAUX, welcome toast and intro lunch. After lunch we’ll meet again for our first LUXEMBOURG short ride in the Ardenne hills around town. Clervaux, Luxembourg is a nice old village dominated by his monastery and castle. The castle hosts 13 miles Daily Mileage - some permanent exhibitions: “The Family of Man”, a collection of 503 photographs by 273 artists from 68 countries created by Edward Steichen Riding Terrain - Hilly; elevation gain 1,176 ft. for the New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA); and a museum about the local events involving the in 1944. Hotel - Hotel Le Clervaux • Location: Clervaux Hotel Le Clervaux is a 5-star hotel located in the heart of the Luxembourg • Duration: 1 Night . It features individually-decorated suites, an exquisite restaurant, • www.le-clervaux.com spacious spa, indoor pool, and a wide range of cultural events that are sure to create an unforgettable experience for you. Meals - L, D

DAY 2 Highlights After breakfast we begin our first ride across the border into Belgium. CLERVAUX TO LA We ride across the Ardennes—where the landscape alternates between ROCHE EN ARDENNE forests and lush farmlands—see several WWII memorials and tiny villages, such as Achouffe, the site of the renowned La Chouffe brewery. La Roche 48/55 miles Daily Mileage - en Ardenne is a nice tiny village with an impressive medieval fortress, war museum, and many shops and bars for a tasty libation. Riding Terrain - Hilly; elevation gain 3,552/4,340 ft. Hotel Les Tilleuls stands in a beautiful country setting with a fine view Hotel - Hotel Les Tilleuls overlooking the valley of the river Ourthe. Built in 1926, Les Tilleuls is the • Location: La Roche en perfect place for relaxing in the full benefits of nature. Ardenne • Duration: 1 Night • http://www.les-tilleuls.be/en

Meals - B, D DAY 3 Highlights Today we ride further into the Belgian countryside. The mountains become LA ROCHE EN more round and the creeks become smaller. The roads are quiet as we pass ARDENNE TO DINANT through many historical WWII sites. The village of Celles is considered one of the most charming villages. Our destination for the day is Dinant, a town 41/52 miles Daily Mileage - between the river and cliffs, features a magnificent overhanging citadel and is the home to the Leffe Abbey and birthplace of Adolphe Sax, Riding Terrain - Hilly; elevation gain 2,623/3,232 ft. inventor of the saxophone. La Merveilleuse is an old convent on the left side of the Meuse river which Hotel - La Merveilleuse • Location: Dinant has been transformed into a hotel. It offers a unique view of the Meuse • Duration: 1 Night river and over the city of Dinant with its impressive citadel and Bayard rock. • www.lamerveilleuse.be/en Breakfast and restaurant room is in the old cloister, and the old church hosts now the Leffe beer museum. Meals - B, D

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 3 BIKE ACROSS BELGIUM CLASSICO Ability Level: Intermediate / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 4 Highlights Today you will notice the road signs change from French to Dutch as we DINANT TO LEUVEN cross into Flanders, the of Belgium. You’ll also notice that the Daily Mileage - 56 miles landscape becomes flatter. More than half of today’s ride is on a bike path built on an ancient railway, or along Meuse river. Riding Terrain - Mostly flat, many bike paths; elevation gain 1,843 ft. Along the way we will pass Namur, with its Citadel and historic town center. Hoegaarden is a small village that has always been an important brewing center Hotel - Martin’s Klooster Hotel famous for its “wit” beer, where we will stop for tasting and lunch. After lunch • Location: Leuven we will end our ride to the center of Leuven, a prominent historical and cultural • Duration: 1 Night Flemish center with a visit to its amazing gothic city hall. Lunch is on your own at • www.martinshotels.com/en/hotel/ the Hoegaarden brewery and dinner is also on your own in Leuven. A “DOYO” klooster-hotel map will be available.

Meals - B The 4-star Martin’s Klooster is a charming hotel in town built on site of an ancient monastery and with plenty of outdoor cafes, perfect for a relaxing evening after another long ride. DAY 5 Highlights This is a mostly flat ride on bike paths along canals and riversides, a relaxing LEUVEN TO MECHELEN ride after more challenging days. We’ll ride along the Dijle river to the charming Mechelen, a gem of a city that blends Flemish character and unique architecture Daily Mileage - 23/46 miles represented by his stunning bell tower, which we will visit and climb inside, and enjoy its spectacular view from the top. An optional extra loop adds 23 more Riding Terrain - Flat on bike paths; miles to the Flemish town of Lier, which is known for its astronomical clock tower. elevation gain 417/1,000 ft. Tonight we will walk along the city to the ancient brewery Het Anker for a guided visit, a beer tasting, and dinner inside the brewery. Hotel - Martin’s Patershof Hotel

• Location: Mechelen th • Duration: 1 Night Martin’s Patershof is a 4-star hotel built inside a 19 -century gothic church. • www.martinshotels.com/en/hotel/ Blending fantasy and creativity, this hotel is set right in the town center, making martins-patershof it a really unique place to stay.

Meals - B, D

DAY 6 Highlights Today’s ride once again makes use of beautiful bike paths. The short extra loop MECHELEN TO starts from the Flemish market square in Geraardsbergen to the most iconic OUDENAARDE “muur” (wall) made important by the road cycling race Tour of Flanders: the Kapelmuur. Our destination town of Oudenaarde has a traditional Flemish main Daily Mileage - 58/60 miles square with several monumental buildings and cycling museums about Tour of Riding Terrain - Mostly flat on bike Flanders, which we will visit. paths in the morning, more hilly in the afternoon, optional short extra Tonight is Belgian Speciality ‘mussels and fries night’ for dinner, in town. loop with steep cobbled ramps; elevation gain 1,650/1,860 ft. The 4-star Hotel Leopold is a modern hotel set by the River . The stylish rooms have a relaxed, contemporary feel and feature the best comforts in order Hotel - Hotel Leopold to make your staying in Oudenaarde unique. • Location: Oudenaarde • Duration: 1 Night • leopoldhoteloudenaarde.com

Meals - B, D

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 4 BIKE ACROSS BELGIUM CLASSICO Ability Level: Intermediate / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 7 Highlights The first part of our ride today offers an optional loop on the final circuit OUDENAARDE TO of Tour of Flanders, featuring more iconic cobblestone climbs such as BRUGES Oude Kwaremont and . The rest of the day is a quiet ride along channels, bike paths and Flemish countryside ending in Belgium’s most 50/56 miles Daily Mileage - popular UNESCO World Heritage site, the historic center of Bruges where we’ll meet a local guide for a tour. Riding Terrain - Mostly flat, several bike paths. Steep Hotel De Tuilerieen is an elegant patrician house from the 15th century cobbled climbs on optional that has been transformed into a luxurious, contemporary hotel. All rooms extra loop; elevation gain combine modern comfort with authentic charm. 1,113/1,585 ft.

Hotel - Hotel De Tuilerieen • Location: Bruges • Duration: 2 Nights • www.hoteltuilerieen.com

Meals - B, L

DAY 8 Highlights On our final day of riding we cycle along the ancient canals that connect BRUGES LOOP TO THE Bruges with the North Sea. Around midway through we enter the NETHERLANDS AND Netherlands through the town of Sluis in an area known for its dunes, NORTH SEA windmills and polders, riding along the sea. We will visit the historical village of Damme (optional lunch), his windmill, and ride along the picturesque Daily Mileage - 37 miles canals surrounding Bruges. Faster riders can opt to ride back to Bruges and have a late lunch there. There will be a special final toast tonight in one of Flat; elevation Riding Terrain - the best-kept secrets in Bruges! gain 574 ft.

Hotel - See Day 7

Meals - B, D

DAY 9 Highlights After breakfast we part ways. From our hotel, taxis are available to Bruges TOT ZIENS train station, or within a reasonable walking distance. Why not stay in Bruges for another night, or stop for one more visit to the cities of or along your way back?

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 5 BIKE ACROSS BELGIUM CLASSICO Ability Level: Intermediate / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE OTHER INFORMATION For Flight Reservations GETTING TO CLERVAUX Valerie Wilson Travel Fly to Brussels (BRU). From the airport, take the train to Clervaux train station Call: 1-855-780-2022 or (http://www.belgianrail.be/en/Default.aspx). It should take approximately three E-mail: [email protected] hours. Contact Hotel Le Clervaux to arrange a shuttle from Clervaux train station, approximately half a mile away. Travel Insurance World Nomads Call: 1-816-905-3963 (Direct/ DEPARTING FROM BRUGES Collect) 1-844-207-1930 (Toll-Free Take a taxi from Hotel De Tuilerieën to Bruges train station, approximately five/ within USA) ten minutes and 10 euro. Take the train from Bruges train station (BRUGGE) https://www.worldnomads.com/ to (BRU) train station (BRUSSELS AIRPORT-ZAVENTEM). This travel-insurance/ train takes around 1.5 hours. You might have to change train in Bruxelles-Midi. Transportation Rome2rio BIKE INFORMATION http://www.rome2rio.com Bianchi Intenso and Vertigo • The carbon frame guarantees maximum performance with ON THE BIKE minimum stress for the riders, thanks to Bianchi’s special C2C (Coast to Coast) frame design/geometry and different material Included: • Ciclismo Classico water bottle combination. Carbon bikes are equipped with compact crank and • Two water bottle holders 11/32 cassette. • Map holder on handlebars and a Garmin Edge • Bianchi Vertigo included on all Easy and Athletic Beginner free GPS tours. • Handlebar bag • Bianchi Intenso included on all Intermediate and Advanced tours. • Tire pump • Combination bike lock Bianchi C-Sport 2.5 • Gel-padded saddle • More relaxed riding at a look-around-you pace, this is a high- • Choice of pedals performance aluminum hybrid bicycle with straight handlebars. • Card with your tour leaders’ mobile phone It has a sloping design for superior comfort and bigger tires and numbers hydraulic disc brakes. Included on all tours.

Pedal Options: Tandems • Flat pedals Racing position with 700 c wheels. Available • Cannondale RT 2: • Half-toe pedals (without straps) for $400, limited availability. • Toe cage pedals • Honey bicycles: Racing position with 700 c wheels. Available for $400, limited availability. Things to Bring: • Co-motion Periscope: Racing position with 700 c wheels. • Helmet Accommodates smaller team or even children. Available for $400. • Optional: clipless pedals with shoes • Cannondale Hybrid MT800: Upright position with 26 c wheels • Optional: your own saddle and straight handlebars. Available for $400.

E-Bike: Bianchi Manhattan • Available on all Easy and Athletic Beginner tours, and some Intermediate and Advanced tours. Please contact us for more information. Available for $400.

Bike type outside of Europe may vary, please contact us at 800-866-7314 for more information.

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 6 BIKE ACROSS BELGIUM CLASSICO Ability Level: Intermediate / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION INSURANCE, TERMS & CONDITIONS

Insurance Ciclismo Classico will not assume responsibility or liability for any loss or damage of personal effects or for any injury or loss during the duration of the tour. Therefore, we highly recommend that you obtain travel insurance. Information on travel insurance will be sent to you via email once trip deposit is received. We recommend MH Ross, but travelers may choose the insurance carrier of their choice.

Cancellations and Refunds All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing as soon as possible to Ciclismo Classico. Exceptions to their cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather or personal emergencies. There is no refund for unexpectedly leaving a trip early or arriving late. The purchase of short-term travel insurance policy is strongly recommended. Cancellation fees are determined as follows:

Days before departure – Cancellation fee 121+ days - 50% of the deposit* 91-120 days - 100% of the deposit* 61-90 days - 30% of the trip price 31-60 days - 60% of the trip price 0-30 days - 100% of the trip price

*You may transfer your trip deposit to another departure in the same tour season up to 90 days before your original departure with payment of a $100 per person transfer fee. Prices quoted are subject to adjustment without prior notification. OR your deposit (currently $600) may be carried to the following year as a credit toward the final balance of a tour. At the time of booking, we will ask for another $600 deposit to secure your spot. Carried-forward credits expire at the end of the year to which they are applied.

Alterations to the tour itinerary Sometimes modifications may be made to the itinerary. We will notify you of any changes that may affect your arrival, departure or lodging. Any changes to the program are made in the best interest and safety of the group.

To review our policies, please visit http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/plan-your-trip/policies/

RESERVE YOUR SPACE!

To reserve a space, call Ciclismo Classico at 800-866-7314. Or, mail your deposit and contact information to:

Ciclismo Classico 30 Marathon St Arlington, MA 02474

At the time of registration, a deposit of $600 per person is due, payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or check, made payable to Ciclismo Classico, along with your full name, mailing address, phone number(s) and email address. We cannot confirm reservations without a deposit. Final payment is due 90 days before departure payable by check, credit card, wire transfer or money order. All travelers must review and sign a terms and conditions statement and a waiver form.

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 7