"Stoneman going Belgium" - after Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, the Stoneman, the mountain bike challenge organised by former MTB marathon world champion Roland Stauder, is coming to East Belgium. "Stoneman Arduenna" is the name of the new MTB tour, which is set to attract both performance-oriented mountain bikers and recreational athletes to East Belgium from early summer 2020. On a 176 km circuit with around 3,400 metres of elevation gain through the Belgian Eifel-Ardennes region, Stoneman starters can decide for themselves whether they want to complete the tour in one, two or three daily stages.
The Stoneman Arduenna in East Belgium starts on 3 July 2020 into its first season. Biking in unspoilt forests, to the highest point in Belgium, in the largest original moor and three countries (Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany). Secure an exclusive starter pack now and conquer the BIKE Stoneman Grand Tour 2020. Go straight to your Stoneman adventure here Stoneman Grand Tour starter packs
"It is an absolute premium offer, because this offer will only exist once and uniquely in Belgium," said the Minister of Tourism after the signing. As far as the route is concerned, the existing MTB trails in the south of East Belgium will be utilised and supplemented by some challenging and scenic sections. "Mountain bikers are primarily looking for the experience of nature and physical exertion, i.e. as many metres in altitude as possible. With the route of the Stoneman Arduenna, we can offer athletes both," said the Belgian route planner.
BIKE was already out and about on the still virgin Stoneman Arduenna route in autumn 2019. And with 12-year-old Anton, who was with our BIKE reader campaign "Make a wish!" had applied to rock a Stoneman with his idol Steffi Marth. No sooner said than done. The report on the three-day tour on the Belgian Stoneman was published in BIKE 1/20.
Info about the Stoneman Arduenna
The precinct
The "new kid on the block": With the Arduenna, Stoneman inventor Roland Stauder is expanding his project into a fifth country. After the Stoneman Challenges in Germany, Austria, South Tyrol and Switzerland, the new addition can be found in the east of Belgium, close to the German and Luxembourg borders. Arduenna comes from the Celtic language and means "highland". As a triple loop, the route winds between the small towns of St. Vith, Malmédy, Bütgenbach and Herresbach through countless villages, over hills, through densely overgrown forests and along rivers, streams and reservoirs. The Ardennes are well known as a mountain bike region, thanks in part to the cross-country World Cup classic in Houffalize.
The route
The trail section on the new Stoneman is officially around 45 kilometres out of 176 kilometres, making up a quarter of the total route. The trails are narrow, the climbs are often short and crisp and the paths are mostly deserted. At 694 metres, the highest point of the route is also the highest point in Belgium: the Signal de Botrange is located in the High Fens, a high moorland landscape.
The stages
Those aiming for the Stoneman Arduenna Gold can complete 176 kilometres with a total of 3400 metres of elevation gain in one day. Those who complete the route in two days have earned the silver award, and bronze is awarded to those who complete it in three stages. For the bronze variant, it is advisable to divide the route into sections of 73 kilometres once and around 52 kilometres twice. This results in approximately 1450, 950 and 1000 metres in altitude per stage. For silver, we recommend splitting the routes with a start in Bütgenbach or Burg Reuland. Alternatively, either Malmédy in the north of the route or Schönberg are possible starting points.
Arrival
From southern Germany via the A8/A1 motorway - distance Munich-St.Vith: 600 km. From central Germany via the A3/A1 - Frankfurt-St.Vith: 250 km. From Cologne via the A1 motorway - distance: 120 km.
Travelling by train is a little more complicated: an IC train runs to Verviers, then you take a regional train to Malmédy. Journey time Cologne-Malmédy: around 3 hours.
