Cycling in Waterloo

Cycling guide to Waterloo

Waterloo sits at the head of a 70.7 km point-to-point route south towards Anderlues, and the shape of the riding is set early: local hamlets such as Chenois, Champ de Mai and Mont-Saint-Jean give way to Braine-l'Alleud, then Plancenoit, Glabais and Genappe as the road works its way through Walloon farmland. Vieux-Genappe, Baisy-Thy and Quatre-Bras de Baisy-Thy follow, then Frasnes-lez-Gosselies, R\u00e8ves, Luttre and Viesville lead into the built-up valley around Roux, Dampremy and Charleroi. South of Charleroi the route touches Marcinelle, Loverval and Couillet before turning back west through Montignies-sur-Sambre, Marchienne-au-Pont, Monceau-sur-Sambre and Goutroux, finishing by way of Leernes and Fontaine-l'\u00c9v\u00eaque. Total climbing is 361 m, so the gradients are modest for the distance, and the high point of the day is only 187 m. The single sustained climb comes late, around the 50 km mark.

Best time to ride

The route has been recorded in September, with temperatures around 22\u00b0C.

Terrain

Rolling to gently undulating throughout, with 361 m of gain over 70.7 km and no ground above 187 m. The main climb, starting at 50 km, runs 1.5 km for 51 m at 3.5% average and 5.9% at its steepest.