Cycling route of the year 2023 – 3 beautiful routes in Europe

At the time of writing, it is only a week until the election of the best cycling route of the year. Every year, the best cycling route of the year is chosen at the Fiets- en Wandelbeurs. To be honest: these routes aren’t always the most fun ones on a race bike or gravel bike. In fact, most of the time, the routes aren’t designed for off-road riding.

However, we would like to highlight the routes a bit, because this year there are actually three beautiful routes selected. You can find your heart’s delight in both Sweden and Belgium as well as in Denmark. We will briefly describe the routes. Once the voting is over, we will show you a little more about the winning route. In random order, here are the cycling routes of 2023.

Vänerleden – Sweden

On the website of this route, Around the Vänermeer, you immediately see what it’s all about. This 640-kilometer-long cycling route takes you around Sweden’s largest lake. What Sweden is known for are its extensive green forests, lakes, and also the crackly paths. That’s gravel biking, of course. Incidentally, you’ll find quite a few beautiful gravel sections in this route. The Vänermeer is located just northeast of Gothenburg, so you can easily get there by various means of transport.

To make it easier, the local tourism and route organization has divided the entire route into 12 stages. For the more experienced cyclist, you can connect these stages, some of which are only 40 kilometers long. The official route starts in Karlstad, on the north side of Lake Vänermeer. Of course, you can start wherever you want. Please note that you have arrived in the somewhat more remote part of Sweden. There are not many coffee shops or restaurants around every corner here. Therefore, plan your adventure along the Vänerleden carefully and always bring enough food and drink with you.

More content about Sweden? Check out our articles about the Sydkustleden – South Sweden Trails.

Eurovelo 5 – Belgium – Via Francigena

The Eurovelo network is a chain of highlights, all on well-paved routes in Europe. Although the aim is to serve all cyclists, you can see beautiful stretches on these routes that are specifically suited to race and gravel cyclists. This year, the nomination for Eurovelo 5 falls to the Belgian section. Eurovelo 5 runs all the way from the coast near Calais, via Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and ends in Italy. In the heel of the boot, in Puglia, You find the finish at Brindisi.

Belgium

The Belgian part of this route is beautiful. In early 2022 we were on part of this route, from the Flandrien Hotel. Geraardsbergen, where the route runs and where you can of course climb the ‘wall’, is a stone’s throw away. However, the route actually starts right at the border with Luxembourg. In Wallonia you find parts of the classic Liège – Bastogne – Liège route. Of course, there is also a lot of military history, both 14-18 and 40-45. You pass by the Citadel of Namur. So, for the cycling cross enthusiasts, this is a well-known place.

You’ll ride on old railway tracks, gravel routes, through Brussels and eventually into France. This is a route that many people enjoy riding. With only 407 kilometers in length (note: with some elevation changes), this route will sound pleasant for a long weekend on a bike. At the start and finish, however, a Belgian pint will taste delicious.

Castles route – Funen / Fyn

This route on the beautiful island of Funen (Fyn in Danish) has our special attention. In September we already visited the region, where explorer Dennis got to try this ‘gentleman’s route’, as it is officially called. Don’t be surprised by the undulations on this island. It might look like the Wadden Islands, but you’ll have to climb a lot more than that. A cycling route for the racing cyclist, with occasional stretches of gravel.

You’ll come across beautiful castles or old fortresses quite often. Often you’ll be driving near the water, which adds that little extra. The cycling city of Odense is the starting and finishing point for this route, but you can of course also start from Nyborg, or Faalborg, Svendborg or wherever you like. The 14 stages (you can combine them again here) can be found on the website Visit Fyn.