2026-09-05 | 2 PM
73 / 109.5 kilometers, 900 / 1,350 meters of elevation, 2 / 3 laps
THE SECOND STAGE OF 3RIDES GRAVEL EAST BELGIUM IS THE FITNESS-FOCUSED HEART OF THE GRAVEL WEEKEND AROUND EUPEN. HIGH FENS, HILL, HERTZOGENWALD – WITH GREAT VIEWS, THE FIELD BATTLES FOR THE STAGE WIN AND A STRONG POSITION IN THE OVERALL CLASSIFICATION.
04.-06. SEPTEMBER 2026 IN EUPEN
The second stage (36.5 km / approx. 450 m of climbing per lap) is the fitness-focused centerpiece of the 3RIDES Gravel Stage Race and takes you deep into the heart of the Hertogenwald south of Eupen. With an off-road share of 60%, the focus is clearly on unpaved forestry tracks that reflect the typical character of East Belgium’s low mountain landscape.
The start is at an altitude of 362 m and leads straight into the dense forest of the High Fens–Eifel Nature Park. After a short roll-out on compact gravel, the route drops into the valley of the Hill, with the first kilometers shaped by a rhythmic up and down.
Between km 7 and km 17 comes the decisive section of the stage: a continuous climb of around 10 kilometers that takes the field from 380 m to the highest point of the lap at 570 m. This sector runs on grippy forest tracks and, thanks to the steady gradient, is ideal for an early selection in the field.
On the following plateau (km 18 to km 25), the profile shows its changeable side. A rolling terrain with short, punchy rises demands constant changes of rhythm, while the exposed position on the plateau increases susceptibility to wind.
The final third of the stage is defined by a fast run back toward Eupen. From km 26, the route trends downhill, interrupted by technical direction changes and narrower forest sections that require a clean line choice at high speed. The last kilometers roll back to the start with a rolling profile. Without a final steep ramp, the stage relies on a steady, draining finish, where above all the cumulative load over multiple laps (up to 109.5 km / 1,350 m of climbing) decides the stage win.
THE ROUTE:
