Recon track 2008 Belgian and Dutch MTB Marathon Championships part 2
Another day where I wanted to do a further recon of the 2008 Belgian and Dutch MTB marathon Championship track. I had 2 bikers accompanying me when I started at the 20K mark near the Manege Varadero in Hamme Mille. I followed a new version of the track with a new loop in the La Baraque area and also an extra downhill and uphill I wanted to try out in Pietrebais. From the reaction of the 2 bikers accompanying me, they liked this little section. The very narrow bridge section in Pietrebais is a bit of a worry. It is a very dangerous passage and we have to fix the entry to the narrow bridge. It is a nice section and it would be a shame to replace it with some extra 500 metres on tarmac. Another point of worry was two cattle gates near Roux Miroir.
But we checked them and they both can be opened on the day of the race. In the Bois de Glabais the tree that was blocking the end of the very sandy downhill has been removed. The track is 4 to 5 K shorter because we had to remove a section in Doin Valmont that went over privatized areas. We now have included a tricky downhill coming out of the Bois des Gotes and head straight towards Doiceau. The track is now a little short of the 90K but we can add an extra climb in Dion if there is that need. We rode with a good pace today and the tracks were ideal, no mud to speak of, dry and hard favoring a full suspension bike. A lot of wind in the open field section, another point to be reckoned with on race day. I include a link to download the complete track as it stands now, and also a view of the rides' profile. The track is now exactly 89.3km long and has almost 1200 heightmeters.
Ride Stats : 89.2K and 1040/1200 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 4h55mins Track Profile: Track Map :
