FAQ

No. It is a self-supported bikepacking adventure. There is a fixed route and a finish line, but no ranking, prizes or classification.

There is no single right bike for this. Roughly 55% of the route is on tarmac (quality can vary), while the rest is off-road: cobbles, forest paths, gravel roads and the occasional single-track. Road bikes are not permitted, the terrain simply is not suitable, but both gravel bikes and mountain bikes handle it well, our main advice is to bring the bike you are used to. For the Flandrien Tour a gravel bike is definitely the best choice. For the Ardennais or Grand Tour a mountain bike will be more comfortable on the technical sections, though a gravel bike is still fully capable and will be faster. We scouted every route on gravel bikes ourselves, so rest assured: it works.

Go for tyres of at least 40 mm. Wider tyres give extra comfort and confidence on the rougher terrain. And make sure your gearing has enough climbing range, expect some steep climbs, and it makes a big difference over multiple days.

Yes. You can ride in pairs or small groups as long as every rider is registered and each one remains self-supported.

Wherever you like. MONUMENTAL is a bikepacking event, so you are free to plan your own adventure, including where and how (and if) you sleep: a bivvy in a forest, a campsite, a hotel you book en route, or a petrol-station bench.

Officially, wild camping is not allowed in Belgium, but enforcing that is not our job. Check welcometomygarden.org, find a campground, book a hotel, or skip sleep altogether and ride through the night, the choice is yours. We've also dropped a few camping suggestions into the route description, notable sections and resupply points for each route.

The event runs Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May 2027, and that is when camp and the finish are alive. On the Grand Tour there is no specific cut-off — we would rather you enjoy it than rush it, so if you come home later, just post the tracker back to us.

Camping at HQ before and after, the GPX files, tracker, rider manual, briefing and a finisher welcome. There is no after-party, instead we kick things off with an opening party on Friday, the day of accreditation.

Yes, but only to a shorter route. You can downgrade to a shorter route at any point along the way, just tell us when you do. You cannot switch to a longer route once you have started.