Cyclocross trip between Christmas and New Year
Discussion
I've not been for the CX but went over this year for Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
We sailed P&O Hull > Rotterdam which is an overnight crossing. It saved the long slog down to Kent for a ferry or Le Shuttle from either Shropshire (me) or Yorkshire (brother-in-law). When you added in extra fuel and a cheap Premier Inn (so you can pick an early channel crossing), there wasn't much difference in the cost so less driving won easily.
Sailing into Rotterdam also means you will be passing De Caigny which is an essential stop if you or somebody you know likes Belgium beer - an amazing place to fill the car.
https://share.google/zXpCUfM8He3aztYGH
We sailed P&O Hull > Rotterdam which is an overnight crossing. It saved the long slog down to Kent for a ferry or Le Shuttle from either Shropshire (me) or Yorkshire (brother-in-law). When you added in extra fuel and a cheap Premier Inn (so you can pick an early channel crossing), there wasn't much difference in the cost so less driving won easily.
Sailing into Rotterdam also means you will be passing De Caigny which is an essential stop if you or somebody you know likes Belgium beer - an amazing place to fill the car.
https://share.google/zXpCUfM8He3aztYGH
Harpoon said:
I've not been for the CX but went over this year for Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
We sailed P&O Hull > Rotterdam which is an overnight crossing. It saved the long slog down to Kent for a ferry or Le Shuttle from either Shropshire (me) or Yorkshire (brother-in-law). When you added in extra fuel and a cheap Premier Inn (so you can pick an early channel crossing), there wasn't much difference in the cost so less driving won easily.
Sailing into Rotterdam also means you will be passing De Caigny which is an essential stop if you or somebody you know likes Belgium beer - an amazing place to fill the car.
https://share.google/zXpCUfM8He3aztYGH
Thanks I'm in Shropshire as well.We sailed P&O Hull > Rotterdam which is an overnight crossing. It saved the long slog down to Kent for a ferry or Le Shuttle from either Shropshire (me) or Yorkshire (brother-in-law). When you added in extra fuel and a cheap Premier Inn (so you can pick an early channel crossing), there wasn't much difference in the cost so less driving won easily.
Sailing into Rotterdam also means you will be passing De Caigny which is an essential stop if you or somebody you know likes Belgium beer - an amazing place to fill the car.
https://share.google/zXpCUfM8He3aztYGH
Sorry can't really add much apart from do it,crazy atmosphere
Was going to Dendermonde last weekend but gf not into crowds,fields, cycling lol
Thinking about weekend in December but we live ten minutes away from st pancras so get Eurostar tickets on sale
Wout Van Aert back so that puts a bit extra into the day
Was going to Dendermonde last weekend but gf not into crowds,fields, cycling lol
Thinking about weekend in December but we live ten minutes away from st pancras so get Eurostar tickets on sale
Wout Van Aert back so that puts a bit extra into the day
Went with mates in 2024, great fun.
We went to a smaller scale one at Gullegem, as a taster, which seemed to attract a younger crowd and there was pounding tecno music at places around the course. Lots of beer and chips and other snacks all round too. There was a large tent with decks and a lighting rig, I think they planned a party on into the night after the racing was done.
The next day we went to the world champs at Zonhoven. MvdP hung around the top 3 for a couple of laps and then just blew the rest of the field away.
You can spectate almost anywhere on the course, some of it was across fields and open heathland and then one big section in a disused sand quarry which they really looped the course through as much as possible to get everything they could out of the pit. 13,000 people there!
We live near Brighton, so we went in one car and stayed in an air BNB somewhere between the two locations. If you like cycling and are even vaguely up to speed on cyclocross it's brilliant. Football levels of spectators, but friendly and knowledgable. It's physically hard, anywhere near the course will be muddy and hard going, the car parks are not always that close and you are on your feet all day. It's also likely to be cold and rainy, but still, fantastic.
We went to a smaller scale one at Gullegem, as a taster, which seemed to attract a younger crowd and there was pounding tecno music at places around the course. Lots of beer and chips and other snacks all round too. There was a large tent with decks and a lighting rig, I think they planned a party on into the night after the racing was done.
The next day we went to the world champs at Zonhoven. MvdP hung around the top 3 for a couple of laps and then just blew the rest of the field away.
You can spectate almost anywhere on the course, some of it was across fields and open heathland and then one big section in a disused sand quarry which they really looped the course through as much as possible to get everything they could out of the pit. 13,000 people there!
We live near Brighton, so we went in one car and stayed in an air BNB somewhere between the two locations. If you like cycling and are even vaguely up to speed on cyclocross it's brilliant. Football levels of spectators, but friendly and knowledgable. It's physically hard, anywhere near the course will be muddy and hard going, the car parks are not always that close and you are on your feet all day. It's also likely to be cold and rainy, but still, fantastic.
We go to the world champs every year and I was contemplating going out for Kerstperiode this year but my long standing yearly trip to Alexandra Palace took precedent.
For worlds we've always gone over on the Eurotunnel as we head over Thursday after work and head back the Monday after, and have always stayed in airbnbs as there is 5 of us, i'm going to assume you're willing to drive to the venue as Namur is quite a way out of everywhere. Diegem is easy to get to as it's right by the airport so could get public transport there. Be careful if booking hotels nearby as I know a few people on seperate occasions who have booked a place nearby turned up and it doesn't exist any more.
Namur will be nuts being over Christmas week and Diegem is always just insane.
Tips, bring proper boots as you will be walking around a lot and wrap up warm, especially Namur the weather there is a microclimate a bit like Spa and can turn very quickly. I always bring salopettes and my dryrobe as worst case scenario! Would rather look stupid than be cold and miserable all day. Also apart from the Frites the food isn't great, and usually huge queues so might be worth bringing your own.
Get there early and work out where you want to be during the mens race and aim to get there before the womens race starts, and don't miss the amateur race at Diegem!
For worlds we've always gone over on the Eurotunnel as we head over Thursday after work and head back the Monday after, and have always stayed in airbnbs as there is 5 of us, i'm going to assume you're willing to drive to the venue as Namur is quite a way out of everywhere. Diegem is easy to get to as it's right by the airport so could get public transport there. Be careful if booking hotels nearby as I know a few people on seperate occasions who have booked a place nearby turned up and it doesn't exist any more.
Namur will be nuts being over Christmas week and Diegem is always just insane.
Tips, bring proper boots as you will be walking around a lot and wrap up warm, especially Namur the weather there is a microclimate a bit like Spa and can turn very quickly. I always bring salopettes and my dryrobe as worst case scenario! Would rather look stupid than be cold and miserable all day. Also apart from the Frites the food isn't great, and usually huge queues so might be worth bringing your own.
Get there early and work out where you want to be during the mens race and aim to get there before the womens race starts, and don't miss the amateur race at Diegem!
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