Houffalize Bike Festival 2012

4X Pro Tour:

On April 14th the opening round of the first edition of the 4X Pro Tour 2012 is held in Houffalize (Be).

In the evening, another frenzied crowd will be expected to attend the spectacular finals of the first European round of this 4X Pro Tour.

Houffalize Open Tour (HOT):

This year, the marathon lovers can have all the fun they want during the Easter weekend - a week before the the XCO World Cup - in the Belgian capital of the HOT.

On Saturday, April 7, the HOT starts:

- Prologue of 26km over 2 laps of the former World Cup circuit.

- Sunday 8 and Monday, April 9: two marathon stages of 80km each.

This year again, the HOT course is a sequence of unreleased single tracks and steep slopes at the Ourthe valley.

World Cup XCO:

It will take place on april 14th and 15th, and this for the 19th time.

This year, Houffalize, offers a highly modified circuit to meet the demanding needs of the UCI, but also to offer spectators the most intensive experience and spectacle given by the world cross-country elite.

Four months before the Olympics, the Houffalize race is one of the last opportunities for athletes to get qualified.

Results men elites (April 15th) :

1. Julien Absalon (Fra) 1u30'22"
2. Nino Schurter (Ch) 38"
3. Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) 1'03"
4. Burry Stander (SAf) 1'20"
5. Manuel Fumic (De) 1'34"
6. Florian Vogel (CH) 2'17"
7. Stéphane Tempier (Fra) 2'23"
8. Jean-Christophe Péraud (Fra) 2'34"
9. Jose Antonio Hermida (Es) 2'38"
10. Fabian Giger (Ch) 2'47"

Results Women elites (15th of April) :

1. Catharine PENDREL (Can) in 1:31:15
2. Julie BRESSET (Fra) +0:48
3. Maja WLOSZCZOWSKA (Pol) +1:24
4. Pauline FERRAND PREVOT (Fra) +1:30
5. Blaza KLEMENCIC (Slo) +1:50
6. Irina KALENTIEVA (Rus) +2:11
7. Emily BATTY (Can) +2:17
8. Gunn Rita DAHLE (Nw) +2:45
9. Adelheid MORATH (De) +2:45
10. Eva LECHNER (Ita) +3:02

X-Country eliminator:

The two test matches herefore got place in 2011 : in Dalby Forest and Nove Mesto. In 2012, three XCE races are included in the calendar of the World Cup : Houffalize, Nove Mesto na Morave and La Bresse.

At these three races, UCI ranking points can be won : the winner gets 60 points.

The first World Cup XCE is organized in Saalfelden, Austria, on Sunday, September 9th, 2012.

Open Competition:

MTB enthusiasts can participate in open competition on Saturday April 14th from 16.30.
The race covers a circuit of 13 kilometers and includes some of the most famous passages of the historic circuit of the World Cup:

- Climb to Fin de Ville
- The descent of the Fosse d'Outh
- The Côte St-Roc
- The côte du Thier des Nutons
- The descent of the Pierreuse

There are seven categories in function of age :

- Men Elites / U23
- Masters 1
- Masters 2
- U17
- Juniors
- Women U23
- Women Elites / Masters.

Number of rounds:

- Men Elites / Promises, Masters 1, 2 Masters, Juniors and Women Elites / Masters: Start loop + 2 laps
- Novices, Women Youth: Start loop + 1 lap

Departure and arrival:

- Start: in front of the town hall in the direction of the rue St-Roch, starting at 4:30 p.m. per category with 1 to 2' difference between the different categories.

- Arrival: in front of the sports center.