After the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in 'being outdoors' increased considerably. What's hot, there was a veritable cycling boom, with every form of two-wheeler unstoppable. Gravel bikes had a big share and this affected the range of gravel routes, bikepacking and more. Although long-distance routes have been around for some time, long-distance bikepacking routes are increasingly popular. One of the forms in this is the 'divide'. There is an Iceland Divide, a GB Divide, a European Divide Trail and in the Netherlands, too, divides seem to become more and more common. We picked a few, for inspiration. Most of these routes can also be ridden in parts, although the real stickers are handed out to those who complete them in one long stage.
READ ALSO: Everything you want to know about bikepacking!
European Divide Trail
One route has to be the longest. That must also have been singing around in Andy Cox's head when he set out to find 'another view of Europe'. All the way from the northern tip at Grense Jakobselv in Norway to Cabo St Vincent in Portugal. To quote creator Andy: 'The idea came to me when I rode some of the more established bikepacking routes and found them too technically and physically challenging for long journeys over long distances. The route (EDT, ed.) was conceived in the same spirit as the Great Divide MTB route in the US, a relatively non-technical traverse of this diverse and fascinating continent.' 'Essentially an unpaved touring route that approaches some of the already existing, technical routes along the way.'
That the European Divide Trail is no 'cat's meow' is evident from its length, because at 7600 kilometres it is a huge challenge. On your adventure, you will cross 10 European countries.In the 7600 kilometres, you also have to climb quite a few altimeters. Then you also have to consider the weather. Because if you start in Norway, it's really only possible in summer/spring, but which month will you end up in? Well, time will tell. Want to know more about this route? Then check out the podcast of the Pedaleurs with Joren Kruit, one of the few finishers. By the way, he rode it in the opposite direction (i.e. south-north).
Green Divide trail
We switch a bit between little projects you have to plan months in advance and some more manageable challenges. The Green Divide Trail, devised by professional adventurer Erwin Sikkens, is a 300-kilometre nature ride, through all the beauty the Netherlands has to offer. At 300 kilometres long, the GREEN DIVIDE is the longest green off-road bikepacking route in the Netherlands. Once started as an idea to cycle unpaved from Zwolle to Arnhem, this has now become a multi-day nature traverse. The Green Divide consists of two parts; the HEUVELRUG DIVIDE and the VELUWE DIVIDE.
Erwin's komoot collection contains lots of tips and tricks for this adventure. Among the most important:
- This route crosses the crown estate the Loo and is therefore not rideable for parts of the year (September-December). Then there is the possibility of doing the 'brown divide'.
- You do not need MTB vignettes for this route
- Always make sure you have enough water, especially in summer. On the Veluwe, there are fewer water points than in Utrecht.
Also share your experiences of the trail with Erwin himself, via insta!
The Veneto Divide
How beautiful it can be? Cycling in Italy and then also through the beautiful Veneto region. This region was already the setting for the Gravel World Cup, although back then it was mainly on asphalt roads. This Veneto Divide offers you a truly unique experience, as it does have a serious number of altimeters (over 13,000) in a relatively short distance (400 kilometres). You start at Lake Garda and eventually make your way eastwards. You will encounter really beautiful roads, but also challenging gravel routes. Edge-hunting is the credo here. But you will be rewarded with beautiful views over the plains
Great Britain Divide
Many of you will be thinking: surely this is just LEJOG? Yes, somewhere yes, but the variation on this theme is that you really do take in more green stretches than in a regular LEJOG challenge. Because most cyclists cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats (LEJOG) go for a more direct, read shorter route. That's because this route picks up the following national parks and 'areas of oustanding natural beauty (AONB along).: Exmoor NP, Quantock Hills AONB, Mendip Hills AONB, Brecon Beacons NP, Cambrian Mountains (aka the Desert of Wales), Snowdonia NP, Yorkshire Dales NP, North Pennines AONB, Kielder Forest Park, Scottish Borders, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs NP, Cairngorm NP and the Scottish Highlands. Then if you really want to do something cool, do this almost 2000km DIVIDE.
Expect everything here, from beautiful gravel paths, a bit of tarmac, singletracks and everything within that spectrum. It's an ode to Britain. Lachlan Morton rode it recently, which made for brilliant pictures of Dan Moghan. The 2000km with 30,000 altimeters is a multi-day affair, though. Plan well in advance and take the British weather into account.
Altravesur - South Spain Divide
To round off this article, we have found another great route for you. The South Spain Divide is almost 1350 kilometres long and goes from Cadiz eastwards to the coast near Valencia. Right across Andalusia, in other words, which is a beautiful cycling region. You pass through the beautiful Natural Park near Granada. When you say Granada, you immediately say 'Alhambra'. You also pop en passant through the Sierra de Cazorla in the province of Jaen. Not enough nature yet? The Park with the ringing name: Parque Natural de Los Calares del Mundo y de la Sima is on the list. With a finish in cycling city Valencia, on the Mediterranean, you won't be wrong anytime soon. Although, sitting wrong is, of course, a broad term: after 1,300 kilometres and almost 25,500 altitude metres, you'll want some rest for your tender behind.
On this route, you will pick up parts of the Transandalus and Transgranada bike trails. Do bear in mind that there is a fair amount of hike-a-bike where you will have to get off your bike.
