Mergelheuvelland 2-daagse (Mh2d - Gravel) 2026

Mergelheuvelland 2-daagse is a two-day cycling and mountain bike event based in Sint Geertruid, in the hilly south of Limburg. It runs in September and offers road-style touring distances such as 60, 90, and 120 km, alongside MTB routes that can start as short as 35 km. The name points to the local chalk hills, and the riding matches it: rolling climbs, deep valleys, rough off-road sections, and up to about 1,200 meters of climbing on the longer options. The organizers use different parts of Limburg and the Belgian Voerstreek on the two days, partly to spread riders out and reduce pressure on local roads and trails. The MTB routes are laid out separately where possible, with 35, 50, and 70 km options designed to avoid too much mixing between groups. One of the special draws is access to areas that are normally closed to mountain bikers, arranged with nature and landscape management groups. Recreational riders can keep it manageable, while stronger cyclists can use the weekend as a two-day test. Practical touches include showers, changing rooms, bike washing, and secured bike parking after the ride.