February 3rd 2019

Lively edition ‘Fiets en Wandelbeurs’,
E-bike Challenge and Mount Expo

The combination of the ‘Fiets en Wandelbeurs’, E-bike Challenge and Mount Expo drew 15,218 visitors on the weekend of 3 February 2019. For two whole days, Flanders Expo was home to a huge offering of products and services for cycling, walking, e-bikes and mountain sports.

A single ticket for one of the events, allowed outdoor enthusiasts to visit the other two. This ensured a lively circulation of visitors between the Fairs, which have been operating since 2017 under the ‘Hicle Outdoor’ banner. Visitors to the Fiets en Wandelbeurs took a curious look at Mount Expo, the event hosted by the Mountain-sport federation of Flanders (KBF), and vice versa. While visitors to the E-bike Challenge were able to check out the many splendid routes and cycling holiday destinations at the neighbouring Fiets en Wandelbeurs.

Five test tracks

In Hall 1 there were no fewer than five test tracks - unique in Belgium – set out for all kinds of cyclists: for trekking bikes, e-bikes, speed pedelecs, mountain bikes, children’s mountain bikes and regular children’s bikes. Thousands took a close look at the electric showpieces of more than 25 brands and whizzed on and off the cycling bridges that had been put in place.

Trick cyclist

The antics of the Polish trick cyclist Krystian Herba certainly drew the attention of the crowds at the Fiets en Wandelbeurs. The workshop for the holiday cyclists ‘Vakantiefietser vzw’ and the walking info-market of major route trails ‘Grote Routepaden’ was once again a source of cycling and walking inspiration, as was the lecture programme with about 50 presentations per day. Wouter Deboot’s reportage of the Trans America Bicycle Trail and Christophe Deblaere’s lecture about walking on Iceland were among the most popular presentations.

Hicle Family Route

The Hicle Family Route was specially designed for children. This ran along a variety of fun activities and stands to amuse young families. The boulder wall, an adventurous rope trail, the children’s bike track, bike painting and other activities all contributed to varied package of entertainment, that hundreds of children made use of.

The cycling and walking spectacle moved on next to the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, where the Fiets en Wandelbeurs, E-bike Xperience and Bike MOTION Benelux took place from March 1-3.