Date	18 June 2011
Course	Eddy Merckx Granfondo, Huy, Belgium
Distances	175 km/109 miles (climbing 5,400ft/1,650m)
Website	www.granfondoeddymerckx.be
Email	info@golazo.com

The Granfondo Eddy Merckx is a 175km long tourist classical ride, hosted by the cannibal Eddy Merckx himself in a beautiful scenery of the Ardennes, where the professionals have their Liège-Bastogne-Liège and La Flêche Wallonne. The grandfondo starts in Huy and ends in the same city on the monument of La Flêche Wallonne : Le Mur de Huy, a 1,3km 10% climb with a maximum ascent of 19%.

The terrain of the course will challenge participants' condition with 19 climbs in total. The event starts with a steep 1,8 km Long Thier, which is the main road next to the famous Mur de Huy. The pack will already spread open quickly here. The rest are a few of the famous hills of the Flêche Wallonne. The region where the event is held is the beautiful Walloon Region with a lot of hilly up and down roads in the Condroz.

The race starts with the steep 1.8 km Long Thier, a 8,2% climb. What will follow is a course where riders always go up and down. The 1,5 km Chambralle is a famous hill of Liège Bastogne Liège. It is a 9,5% average climb with peaks up to 20%. Most of the 19 climbs are 1 to 2 km long and have a average ascent of 3 to 10%. The most famous climbs appear in the final with the Ben-Ahin, 2,5km 9% and the finish on top of the Mur de Huy, 1,3 km 9,8% with a peak halfway of 19% Detailed information on the climbs can be found on http://sport.be.msn.com/cyclingtour/granfondo/2012/nl/hellingen/



The finish hill : Mur de Huy

Riders start in a massive start at the beginning of the Long Thier at 8.30h. Everyone has a timekeeping chip and has his own individual result. The official timekeeping closes at 17.30h. Riders arriving after this time will not be ranked. Age groups: 18-29 (Challenger Class), 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65+ Riders will be placed in the first startbox if they have achieved a top 100 ranking in one of the following granfondo's : Gran Fondo Eddy Merckx 2010, Gran Fondo Ardennaise 2010, La Velomédiane Criquielion 2010, Shimano Fiets Challenge 2010. This starting position can be achieved by proving your result via mail on info@golazo.com

The winners of all categories will be awarded with beautiful prizes in nature.

4 feeding zones will be available for the participants : the zones are after 50km, 103km, 124 km and 146km

The entry fee for each participant who are pre-registered is €30 (+5€ guaranty for the chip) and €35 (+5€ guaranty for the chip) on the day before the race or the day of the race. Included in the entry fee is

• a free insurance (no helmet = no assurance)
• a broad range of food and drinks in the different feed zones
• timekeeping with chip
• technical assistance
• an itinerary
• medical service
• massage
• beautiful package of gifts