“I have always been passionate about cycling and tourism and since adolescence, I cycled through the Ardennes with friendsexplains Vincent Jamoulle. Later, I started to be interested in French passes but I always had a weakness for the Belgian coasts. And in 2020, during Covid, I had free time. I took the opportunity to compete on many Belgian coasts, both in Flanders and Wallonia. I created my own itineraries, via bucolic roads. Then I said to myself that maybe I could share it with others…”
This is where the idea for the book was born. Four years later, it was born. “It took a while because it is a 300-page book, both guide and encyclopedia. Each route (Editor’s note: 46 in total, ranging from 40 to 100 km, with downloadable gpx file) is the subject of a detailed description of around ten pages, which recalls the cycling exploits which took place there and presents tourist information on the regions crossed. Everything is illustrated by maps, graphs and photos, the majority of which were taken by drone for a better rendering of the sites and wider views.
The book is self-published (“in order to minimize intermediaries and offer the highest quality product possible at a reasonable price”) but with the support of certain tourism houses and provinces. “It will, for example, be on sale at the Maison du Cyclisme in Aywaille, at the Tour of Flanders Center in Oudenaarde or at Stavelot Abbey”. At the same time, a collection of exclusive jerseys, in collaboration with Bioraceris also available for those who take up the challenge of reaching the 100 hills.
Among these, which is Vincent Jamoulle’s favorite? “My favorite hills are the most regular, with percentages of around 5 or 6%, like the Rosier or the Vecquée. But the characteristic of the cyclist is also to be masochistic and to love suffering. And then, there is the pleasure of pinning a legendary climb on your list. In this sense, the Redoute and the Mur de Huy are exceptional, but in terms of feeling and personal satisfaction, I have. loved lesser-known coasts like the Triple Wall of Lustin or the Gayolle in the Haute-Meuse”. places to discover after a good warm-up… and a good reading.
Competition: win a copy of the book on DH. be
To celebrate the release of this book, the launch evening of which will take place at Mur Coffee&Cycling (Place Saint-Séverin 3, 4500 Huy), on Saturday November 23 from 7 p.m., La DH/Les Sports + is offering you a copy. . To participate, simply go to our website and answer a question. Good luck !
