In the Netherlands, it is often a struggle to find enough slopes to get in a few climbing kilometers. Of course, you can do it in Valkenburg It’s a good start, and if you ride the Amstel Gold Race routes you’ll definitely get a good result. For the better training work (and also the slightly longer climbs so you can really work on your VO2max), you need to head to our southern neighbors. Enjoy cycling in the The Ardennes. Who doesn’t want that? But where is the best place to go? A spoiler alert: you won’t find the Stockeu and La Redoute on this list. They’re nice for the bucket list, but as a workout they’re just too extreme.
By: Sander Kolsloot
Cycling in the Ardennes at a glance
- Le Rosier from Spa: 6.8 kilometres at an average of 4.8%, with hairpins. An ideal training climb.
- Côte d’Hives from La Roche: 4 kilometres at 4.8%.
- Côte de Samrée: a long drag of about 14 kilometres from La Roche, though with traffic.
- Base: Spa, Stavelot or La Roche-en-Ardenne, two to three hours’ drive from the centre of the Netherlands.
- Best time: April to October.
Updated in October 2026 with the key facts and practical tips. The story below is our original article.
Le Rosier – Spa/Coo
This is perhaps the most beautiful climb in the Ardennes. It’s certainly not difficult, but you can climb for 8 kilometers here (with a bit of planning), including hairpin turns! Unbelievable, you might say. The ideal training climb starts from Spa, is 6.8 kilometers long and is very gradual in terms of elevation gain (average 4.8% with a maximum of 7.1%). It’s a good opportunity to test yourself, and with this length, as an amateur you can be on the road for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. The advantage is that if you take the route from Spa and descend towards Coo, you can make a nice stop to come and visit the magnificent Le Coffee Ride
Rosier, Spa, Belgium
• Distance: 6 km, Elevation difference: 305 m, Average gradient: 5.1 %
Cote d’Hives – La Roche
If you want to have a nice selection of routes and different elevation profiles, then La Roche-en-Ardenne is a recommended choice. Here you can climb Le Haussire in various variants, all of which are actually quite painful. Fortunately, there are also some more friendly alternatives, such as the Cote d’Hives.
This 4-kilometer stretch of road with a gradient of 4.8 percent is a good climb to drive on. The climb starts from La Roche and you can really call this climb a nice hike. At a speed of 15 kilometers per hour, you’re still on the road for about a quarter of an hour. And that’s just fine.
Cote de Samree – La Roche
Another beautiful climb in La Roche. Yes, we’re including this climb on this list, despite the fact that there is a lot of traffic. The climb is actually a nice long one, at 14 kilometers. It actually starts with the first 7.5 kilometers, which are on average about 5-6% kilometers. After that, it flattens out quite a bit and you have a long stretch of basically flat ground. That’s nice to keep your legs tense, we might say. From La Roche you almost climb all the way to Baraque Fraiture. This climb is also often included in Sean Kelly Classic and sometimes you catch a piece in the Velomediane Criquelion
La Vecquee – Stoumont
The main reason we included this climb on the list is actually not the climb itself, but the descent! It is clear-cut, wide, and you can really work on your skills. If you want to cycle the entire climb, it’s a good idea to start at Restaurant Port de la Lienne. From there, it runs nicely up, although it is a bit busier here. After all, it’s the main road. In Stoumont, you take the final climb and that’s where the most difficult part is. You can best combine this climb with a climb of the Rosier, for example if you take the variant from Spa. That way, you combine the best of two worlds: beautiful climb, beautiful descent, bucket list check, and also a nice cup of coffee at a cool tent.
Want to know more?
Do you also want to enjoy cycling in the Ardennes? Soon we will be publishing an overview of the toughest climbs in the Ardennes. So if you really miss the Stockeu, you can definitely find it there. Meanwhile, more information is available on the website of the tourism office Wallonia and on us komoot account.
Overnight in the Ardennes – bike-friendly hotels and accommodations
Questions about cycling in the Ardennes
Are the Ardennes good preparation for the Alps?
Yes. The climbs are shorter, but by stringing them together you easily get 1,500 to 2,000 metres of climbing in a day.
Is it good for gravel too?
Definitely. The Ardennes are full of forest and gravel roads, and there are many gravel events, for example around Houffalize, La Roche and Bouillon.
More routes, climbs and hotels are on our destination page: Wallonia.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.