Ride Leuven
24.08.2025
Ride Leuven
Do you have fond memories of the 2021 Road World Championships in Flanders? Would you like to relive that incredible atmosphere again? You can! Sunday 24 August will see “Ride Leuven”, a wonderful cycling event in and around Leuven inviting young & old to join us in cycling and cheering on the cyclists in a summery setting.
For everyone who wants to cycle calmly through the city, we offer a 20 km traffic-free city loop. Everyone is welcome: young and old, beginners and experienced riders, with family or alone… You can enjoy a lively and carefree cycling route.
Are you a trained cyclist looking for something a bit more challenging? We offer a 70 km route that, just like the professional race, takes you into the Hageland region. After that, you finish with the local loop in Leuven.
Finally, you can also choose the 125 km route. After exploring the Hageland and the local loop in Leuven, this route also includes the Flandrien loop from the UCI Road World Championships. It takes you towards Huldenberg and Overijse, and of course, the Smeysberg climb is not to be missed.
Photos
Discover the course
Enjoy a traffic-free and lively 20 km city loop through the center of Leuven. This loop is accessible to both young and old. It will be traffic-free especially for Ride Leuven participants between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM. After that, the route will be reserved for the professional race – the final stage of the Renewi Tour. The Wijnpers, the Keizersberg, and the Karmelietenberg add some steep climbs to the route.
During the 70 km ride, you start at the sports hall in Heverlee, with the Hageland loop first on the program. Head towards Lubbeek and Holsbeek and tackle climbs such as the Chartreuzenberg, just like the pros will do a few hours later. Start early and make sure to complete the final 20 km (the traffic-free city loop) between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM, as the route will close for the pro race afterward. With nearly 500 meters of elevation gain, the 70 km ride is certainly not to be underestimated.
If you’re really looking to test your legs, we recommend the 125 km ride. After the Hageland loop and the local loop in Leuven, the real challenge begins. Hopefully, you’ll be well warmed up by the time you reach Huldenberg. the sign that the climbing is about to start. From here, expect some serious leg-burners like the Smeysberg, Mommaertsstraat, and the S-turn in Overijse. These were the climbs that had everyone on the edge of their seat during the World Championships. You can almost see the thousands of fans lining the road and the Belgian riders flying by in the peloton. After the series of climbs, you’ll get a few calmer kilometers to catch your breath. With around 1,000 meters of elevation, this route has everything you need for a challenging and beautiful ride! Start early and make sure to complete the traffic-free city loop (kilometers 50 to 70) between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM, as it will be closed afterward for the pro race.
20 km
Start & finish: Leuven
 Karmelietenberg |
| Keizersberg |
| Leopold-Decouxlaan |
| Wijnpers |
70 km
Start & finish: Leuven
| Smeysberg |
| Mommaertsstraat |
| Bredestraat |
| P.I. Taymansstraat via S-bocht |
| Kleinwaverstraat |
| Karmelietenberg |
| Keizersberg |
| Leopold-Decouxlaan |
| Wijnpers |
125 km
Start & finish: Leuven
| Smeysberg |
| Mommaertsstraat |
| Bredestraat |
| P.I. Taymansstraat via S-bocht |
| Kleinwaverstraat |
| Lastberg |
| Meiberg |
| Karmelietenberg |
| Keizersberg |
| Leopold-Decouxlaan |
| Wijnpers |
Courses via RouteYou:
Online registrations
Chosen your course? Perfect! Please find all Ride Leuven fees below.
Prices | 20 km | 70 km | 125 km |
Early Bird (until 12/08/25) | Free | €18 | € 23 |
Regular (from 13/08/25) | Free | €21 | € 26 |
Early bird gets the worm!
Be quick and sign up before 13 August, that way you’ll be in the escape pack and enjoy an advantageous rate.
Practical info
The organisers will provide plenty of parking close to the start and finish, allowing you to securely park your car.
The exact parking map will be published here soon.
Sports hall Heverlee
Hertogstraat 182
3001, Leuven
Start times:
- 20 km: 09:30 am – 11 am
- 70 km: 7:30 am – 8:45 am *local loop after 50km
- 125 km: 7:30 am – 8:45 am *local loop after 50km
Please note, the local loop is only open and traffic-free between 09:30 am and 11:00 am. So, calculate beforehand when you should start and avoid reaching the local loop too early or too late.
- Unique re-experience of the 2021 Road World Championships
- Closed and traffic-free city loop in Leuven
- Extensive supplies (1 for 70 km, 2 for 125 km)
- Accident insurance (no helmet = no insurance)
- Technical assistance at the start and supply stations, breakdown assistance along the course
- Medical assistance at the start and supply stations
- Signallers on the course and at the start/finish
- Perfect signposting of the course
- Frame plate
* Supplies only upon presentation of the frame plate! Participants without frame plate will not be allowed to access the course.
Scan & ride
When signing in online, you will immediately receive an e-ticket from us. You can then collect your frame plate with that e-ticket (printed or on smartphone) on site from the Scan & Ride desks. Thanks to Scan & Ride, you do not even have to get off your bike and lose time at the start of your favourite cycle ride!
Registration on the day
If you’d rather sign in on site, you will receive your frame plate straight after payment.
The registration desk at the Heverlee Sports hall will be open on Sunday 24 August 2025:
- 20 km**: 09:30 am – 11 am
- 70 km: 7:30 am – 8:45 am *local loop after 50km
- 125 km: 7:30 am – 8:45 am *local loop after 50km
*Extra registration desk at Martelarenplein at the start of the local loop for participants 20km!
Enjoy plenty of refrechment points en route, including Etixx sports nutrition and drinks, water and a wide choice of fruit and biscuits.
Number of refrechment points*:
- 110 km: 2
- 75 km: 1
- 20 km: /
* Refrechment points given upon presentation of frame plate only!
There will be shower facilities after the finish in the Heverlee Sports hall.
Breakdown?
Technical assistance will be provided at the start and supply stations. If you can’t get there, ring the emergency number on the back of your frame plate to call on our mobile breakdown service.
Medical assistance is provided at the start and supply stations.
You are on public roads where the highway code applies.
The organisers and the police will monitor compliance with the highway code. Violations will be sanctioned.
Respect the instructions of police and signallers so as not to compromise your own safety, and that of other road users.
Take care when crossing railway tracks on the course! As soon as the lights turn red you must stop immediately, under no circumstances cross the tracks.
The organiser advises everyone to avoid strenuous efforts for which they are not physically well prepared. Make sensible choices regarding the distance you want to cover and/or the pace you want to set for your body.
If you want to perform sports at a high intensity, you should have yourself checked annually by a (sports) doctor. It is not compulsory to submit medical certificates.
It is up to the athlete to decide how to deal with the information provided during a medical check-up.
The organiser bears no responsibility in this respect.
Do you feel sick, have a cough, sneeze, or a fever? Given the current health situation, we advise you to stay at home and not to come to the event.
Teamleader,
proud sponsor of your free time.
At Teamleader, we’re champions for entrepreneurs and cycling. Cyclists and business builders alike push boundaries, ride in formation for success, and boast stamina to spare.
Top-tier health is non-negotiable for entrepreneurs to bring their A-game, and that’s why Teamleader is all about the Teamleader CRM Classics Tour.
We tackle the toughest climbs hand-in-hand with entrepreneurs and patch up any gaps in their journey.
Etixx fuels your goal
Etixx Sports Nutrition offers athletes healthy support for sustainable sport performances. Thanks to our collaboration with Etixx Sports Nutrition, you will be able to enjoy a quality supply of Etixx products (Isotonic, Energy Gel, Energy Sport Bar,…) during your spring classic. In addition, you will also be able to enjoy exclusive promotions and discounts on the Etixx range when you register and after the event. This way we can guide all sportsmen and women with their preparation and in reaching the finish line. 
Health
The organiser advises everyone to avoid strenuous efforts for which they are not physically well prepared. Make sensible choices regarding the distance you want to cover and/or the pace you want to set for your body.
If you want to perform sports at a high intensity, you should have yourself checked annually by a (sports) doctor. It is not compulsory to submit medical certificates.
It is up to the athlete to decide how to deal with the information provided during a medical check-up. The organiser bears no responsibility in this respect.
Do you feel sick, have a cough, sneeze, or a fever? Given the current health situation, we advise you to stay at home and not to come to the event.
Photo service
Sportograf.com is the official photo service of Ride Leuven! Thanks to their many years of experience as photographers, but also as athletes, they always provide the perfect action shots to showcase your top achievement.
Ride with us and support Younited Cycling
Besides being a relaxing activity, cycling is also a powerful tool. Under the flag of ‘My Team, My Home’, Younited Cycling builds cycling teams where everyone is welcome and included.
Their participants are experts in daily survival who fight against vulnerability in housing, mental health, well-being, poverty, migration or addiction.
In their peloton, they find more than just teammates, they find a home. They are coached by social workers who give them a warm welcome and individual attention, to guide them both on and off the bike.
Additional funding is needed to help Younited Cycling grow. Your contribution can also help. When registering online, you have the option to donate 5, 10 or 15€ for Younited Cycling.
The essential guide for cycling in Flanders
Why not stay longer in the vicinity? Go and give it all as a true Flandrien on the famous bergs & cobbles.
Discover imposing routes, cool events, challenging bucket lists and tips for your stay!
Visit the most historic cities of Flanders and quench your thirst with one of our famous beers.
