GravelMan Series Wallonie 2027

Up north, it used to be the corons Gravel Man! Yes indeed, times are changing, disciplines are diversifying, and the GravelMan Series Wallonie is arriving in the Hauts-de-France. Just a few pedal strokes from Maubeuge, in Solre-le-Château, where winter ❄️ will freeze your calves 🦵, you’ll be launched into a great epic. Well, winter and Walloon weather can’t really be controlled: “It’s the north,” as Michel Galabru said. You get used to it, but that’s also what the GravelMan Series is about: dealing with the elements 🍃. In the first half of February, take out your road bike or your gravel bike—a great challenge awaits you on the Belgian border! 🇧🇪

In the land of Maroilles 🧀 (the only PDO/AOC cheese from the Nord, let’s remember 😎), we’re always in search of something big 🤓. And here, you’re going to be served: hills, cobbles that will shake your arms to the bone 🦴, unlimited fries, stunning scenery 🏞️, and moments of sharing between cycling enthusiasts. That said, you’ll understand why people say the north builds character 😅. You’ll cross winding valleys, endless plateaus, and authentic rural landscapes that make you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere—but in the best possible way. A bit like Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring 💍 in the Shire, but on a bike! The routes pass through emblematic regions, with technical sections where you’ll be swallowing gravel if you’re on a gravel bike, forest tracks 🌲, all mixed with road segments 🛣️ to pace the effort ⭐️.

The GravelMan Series Wallonie offers ten different formats, enough to satisfy everyone—from the beginner who wants to sample gravel without wrecking their legs 😏 to the psychopath who wants to string together 500 km in the middle of February in the rain 🌧️. The craziest and most motivated will therefore go for the 500 km with 5,000 m of elevation gain. If you finish that one, you’ll have the right to brag about it for the next 15 years... at least! 🙃 The 350 km with 3,500 m of elevation gain is announced as accessible to everyone, but very playful with the classic hills and vibe of the Nord. If you’re one of those who wants to challenge yourself without going overboard, there’s the 200 km with a little over 3,000 m of elevation gain, as well as the 120 km with 2,500 m of elevation gain. Finally, the 60 km with less than 500 m of elevation gain is the initiation version, which will let you test the concept without leaving an organ behind 🤪. And as usual with the GravelMan Series, each format exists in a Gravel version (60% gravel, 40% road) or Road (99.9% road). Don’t have a gravel bike? Come with your road bike. GravelMan Wallonie is truly everyone at their own pace, everyone with their own pleasure 🚴.

In terms of discovery, the Nord is the ultimate natural playground. In just a few kilometers, you’ll find an incredible density of nature and an astonishing diversity of activities. On the French side, you can take a trip to Lille, Valenciennes or Arras and visit the sublime squares so characteristic of the region. On the other side of the Belgian border, just a few km away, the Citadel of Dinant perched on its rock offers a panoramic view you’ll remember for a long time. You can even visit this military fortification and learn more about the region’s turbulent life in the 19th century. On the food front, after carbonnade and welsh, there’s waterzooi, a creamy Flemish soup made with fish 🐟 or chicken 🍗 with a cream broth, vegetables 🥕 and potatoes 🥔—perfect after an icy day on the bike 😉. And of course, fries, the real ones, cooked twice in beef fat, crispy on the outside and melting on the inside, served with Andalouse, Samurai, or American sauce 🍟. Liège waffles are just as unmissable: thick, sweet, caramelized thanks to the pearl sugar that melts as they cook, to be eaten plain or with chocolate 🍫, whipped cream, fruit 🍌. If you’re the greedy type, do all three at once 😜. When it comes to cheeses, Maroilles is THE cheese of the North, strong in taste and smell, perfect in a Maroilles tart or a flamiche 🥧. You can’t miss it!

So, warrior, ready to face the winter of the ch’nord? ⚔️