Practical info

The practical information for Roc d’Ardenne 2023 will be systematically added.

Roc d’Ardenne is the biggest mountain bike festival in the Benelux and will once again pitch its tents in Houffalize during the weekend from Friday 28 April to Sunday 30 April 2023 for a weekend full of mountain bike fun.

Our ingredients? Varied and challenging courses in and around MTB mecca Houffalize. It is challenging you read? Yes, but accessible to all because that too is Roc d’Ardenne.

And we…we promise you not only fantastic tracks to enjoy your mountain bike riding, but also a cosy and unforgettable après-bike with DJ set and delicious catering facilities in the centre of Houffalize so that you and your bike buddies or family will have a great weekend on and off the bike.

It pays to register quickly. The sooner you register, the cheaper the rate. You can find the rates here. Get your friends or family together for a fun and sporty weekend in one of the most beautiful regions of the Ardennes.

How do I get there and where do I park?

Leave early to have enough time to park your car, pick-up your race number and prepare yourself for the start.

We invite you to park your car on one of the three parking area near the motorway exit. These parkings are indicated and stewards are present to help you further.

These parkings are indicated and stewards are present to help you further.

Sertomont (coming from the E25), Rue Maison de Repos, 6660 Houffalize (follow the signs from exit 51 – highway E25 coming from Liège or Luxembourg)
Lycée (coming from the N4), Rue du Stoqueux, 6660 Houffalize (accessible from the rue de La Roche N860 and the rue de Libramont N826)
Football (coming from Bastogne), Rue Saint Roch, 6660 Houffalize (accessible from the rue de Bastogne N30 & rue Saint-Roch)

It is a festive weekend so the mobility in the center of Houffalize will be restricted. We advise not to drive to town where it will be impossible to park.

Overnight

Accomodation Keen to make Roc d’Ardenne a proper outing, with or without friends?

TOURISME HOUFFALIZE

You can browse through the other available options via the Houffalize Tourism Service. Click here.

Participants with camper vans can use the car park at the football ground from Thursday evening, April 27.
Address: Rue Saint-Roch 106, 6660 Houffalize (at the top of Saint-Roch, at the football square).

Collection participation kit Roc d’Ardenne

Anyone who is individually registered before April 5 and whose e-mail address is provided correctly at registration will receive a personal e-mail with his bib one week before the event. Bring this e-mail along to Roc d’Ardenne to collect your ID plate in person. This e-mail will include additional information about their participation.

If you registered after April 5, you have not yet received your race number by e-mail. However, you have received an e-mail with an e-ticket after your registration. Please print it and bring it to Houffalize. Your number will be assigned on site.

Participants in the UCI race will be assigned their numbers only on site.

Bring this e-mail along to Roc d’Ardenne to collect your ID plate in person at the registration stand at the Place de l’Eglise, 17 (esplanade in front of Houtopia)

Friday 28 April: 16.00 – 21.00
Saturday 29 April: 7.00– 21.00
Sunday 30 April: 6.30 – 13.35

Important:

The control of the licences for participants at the UCI Mountainbike series race will take place on Saturday from 16:00 pm to 20:00 pm.

There will be no license control on Sunday morning.

Belgians without yearly license who wish to participate in the official UCI Mountainbike Series competition and want to purchase a daily license, can do so under the following conditions:

The UCI marathon is not complete yet.
Only on Saturday during the opening hours of the license check (4 PM – 8 PM). Registering for the UCI MTB Marathon Series is not possible on the day of the Marathon itself.

Non-Belgians without a license have to buy their daily license in advance at their national federation. They cannot buy a daily license at the event.

Showers

Showers and changing rooms for riders are available in the Hall Omnisport, Cours de L’Abbaye in Houffalize (200 meter before the finish line).

Food stations

Click here to see the overview of the food stations >>

Camping

The Municipality of Houffalize places the “Camping du Viaduc” in Houffalize exceptionally at the disposal of the participants who wish to camp (water, electricity and showers available).

For all questions and to book, please contact Florence Caprasse at florence.caprasse@houffalize.be

Technical assistance

Mavic

The organisation will provide technical support at the MAVIC stand at the Place de l’Eglise and technical support on the course. The latter will consist of standard assistance such as adjusting gears, installing a gear cable, supplying chain oil, …

Fox

Also this year, technicians from Fox will be present at the Roc d’Ardenne (Place de l’Eglise) to provide technical assistance to the suspension of participants in the different races. Fox’s technical assistance mainly consists of updating and adjusting mountain bike suspensions and they will provide personalized advice to optimize suspension performance and improve your riding experience.

Thorough check beforehand

We advise all participants to have their bikes thoroughly checked by their bicycle mechanic before participating at the Roc d’Ardenne. Be sure to take a spare set of brake pads with you and possibly a new derailleur hanger (a pad on which the rear derailleur is mounted). Our technicians know from experience that in the event of a breakage, this part will probably no longer be available in the local bicycle shop. Moreover, there are hundreds of versions of these parts and they do not have each of them available.

In the centre of Houffalize the shop ” Houffa Bike ” (Avenue de la Gare 23, 6660 Houffalize / 0498 36 34 14) will also be open during the 3 days of Roc d’Ardenne from 8:00 to 18:00. Here you can buy small equipment or have your bike repaired.

One mountain biker is worth two…

App 112

We advise all participants to download the app 112 on their mobile phone before the start of Roc d’Ardenne, ánd to register within the app. That way you can be located more easily in case of a breakdown or accident.

You can download the app through Google Play on the App Store.

Food stations Roc Gourmand

Those who chose to participate at the Roc Gourmand made a very good choice! During this 27 km tour, we offer the most delicious local specialties at the 4 food stations.

With thanks to Coeur de l’Ardenne.

The specialties >>

Ceremony

A first draft for the ceremonies has been made. Unfortunately, these are highly dependent on factors such as weather. So the timing below may still change significantly.

If you think you can qualify for the ceremony, please keep yourself available until +- 45 min after arrival and above all: listen carefully to the speakers who will communicate the exact hour:

Friday 28/04