Saturday August 23 saw the eighth and final stage of Beau Vélo de RAVeL 2025. The event, hosted for the first time on the Sart Tilman Campus, brought together over 1,700 amateur cyclists in a festive, family atmosphere.
D
s early as 8 a.m., teams from RTBF, in collaboration with ULiège (ARI, SUPHT and Service de Communication) and CHU de Liège, were hard at work putting the finishing touches to the emblematic RAVeL Beau Vélo village. A dozen caravans and motorhomes had already been set up the day before, occupied by loyal families who follow each stage of the summer tour.
De gauche à droite : Rudi Cloots, Lionel Hougardy (ARI), Catherine Noel (SUPHT), Pierre Duysinx et Roger le Toré.
At 9:30 am, the first visitors arrived to enjoy the many activities and to meet up with their fellow travellers from previous editions. Neither the morning's rain nor the predicted climb dampened the participants' spirits. It's also worth noting that, while electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular, many remain attached to the sensations of the good old "muscle" bike.
Pr Pierre Duysinx, Vice-Rector for Mobility and International Affairs, was on hand to encourage the cyclists and remind them of the importance of sustainable mobility. A survey carried out in 2024 enabled us to gain a better understanding of the habits of students and staff, and to define priorities in terms of actions and pedestrian-cycling infrastructures to get to campus.
On the starting line at 1pm were the show's host, Adrien Joveneau, in tandem with Denis Van Weynbergh, the first Belgian sailor to complete the Vendée Globe 2024-2025, accompanied by Pr Rudi Cloots, the Rector's Infrastructure Advisor, and comedian Cécile Djunga.
Adrien Joveneau, en tandem avec Denis Van Weynberg.
After a few kilometers on campus and through the woods of Sart Tilman, the peloton headed for CHU de Liège before plunging into the Ourthe valley and its RAVeL towards Tilff. A welcome refreshment awaited participants in the heart of the Bellum Fagetum vineyards, with a breathtaking view over the Vesdre valley. The stop was organized by volunteers from " En mouvement pour ma santé ", a joint project of the CHU and ULiège to encourage regular physical activity close to home.
The cyclists then crossed the valley to reach the brand-newcyclostrade at the foot of Château de Colonster, taking them back to the start village, where a concert and showcase by Christophe Mali (Tryo) and FM Air awaited them.
Thanks to electric bikes and new facilities (bike paths, secure parking, showers), cycling is becoming a credible solution for more and more members of the university community. Try it out as a group for a month.
Major disruptions are expected on the TEC and SNCB networks following industrial action.
Avec les B8 LIVE Sessions, l’ULiège propose au printemps une série de rendez-vous culturels en fin de journée dans la salle de spectacle du B8.
L'occasion de s'accorder une petite pause bien méritée après les cours.
