Cycling & running events in Antwerp, 2026

Antwerp Training Notes

Running: Rivierenhof gives locals easy green laps, and the 130-hectare park keeps base miles simple. Nachtegalen Park adds 90 hectares with Den Brandt, Vogelenzang, and Middelheim Park nearby for longer Z2. Founders Running Club meets weekly at Bar Stark on Saturdays at 9:45 AM CEST, and runners choose a pace or follow a pacer. The Antwerp Marathon gives the city its anchor event, and the course covers 42.195km. WALLS Linker Oevert Half Marathon, Urban Trail Antwerpen, Rivierenhofloop, Reuzenloop, and Antwerp Backyard Ultra keep the calendar busy.

Cycling: Antwerp is a real cycling city, and locals use hundreds of kilometres of safe, comfortable cycle paths for commuting, intervals, and easy spins. Cycle streets show up pink on digital maps, and riders get priority while motor traffic stays at 30 km/hour. Cycle highways show up red, so longer base miles feel natural. Velo club ‘t zuid has A, B, and C tiers, and even the C group rides at least 60km with some stretches up to 40km/h. Antwerp Campine gives gravel riders 10 routes in the Antwerpse Kempen. The climbs are not really the Antwerp story, so locals chase pace, wind, crit legs, and gran fondo fitness instead.

Season: Summer gives Antwerp warm riding and running days, and locals use the lighter evenings for Z2, intervals, and coffee after the run. The river Scheldt keeps the city feeling open, and Linkeroever works well when you want a flatter half-marathon rhythm. Belgian winter stays rainy, not snowy, and riders usually keep going with the right clothing. Winter averages around +6 degrees Celsius with drizzle, and locals watch for early-morning ice. Roads are too slippery to bike about 2 days a year, and snow usually lands for a week or two at most.