Belgian Ardennes Marathon Series: summing up the 2024 Chouffe Marathon

Chouffe Marathon 2024: Mud, Sweat, and Belgian Beer

The summer break is over, and what better way to dive back into the Belgian Ardennes Marathon Series (BAMS) than with the Chouffe Marathon? This event once again took over the quaint village of Achouffe, known for its famous brewery, and as expected, the weather turned the race into a muddy adventure.

Achouffe: Where Beer Meets Bikes

Every August, Achouffe transforms from a quiet village into a mountain biker’s playground—or a mud pit, depending on your perspective. The 2024 edition stuck to tradition, with heavy rain the night before turning the 65 and 95 km courses into slippery challenges. Despite the sunshine, the terrain told a different story.

Chaos at the Start Line

In typical BAMS fashion, the start line was a bit chaotic, with riders squeezing into position on the narrow village streets. Among the top contenders were Simon Grégoire, Joris Massaer, Dutch riders Erwin Bakker and Bas Peters, and Wout Janssen, fresh off a strong finish at the Ardennes Trophy. In the women’s race, Joyce Vanderbeken was the rider to beat, having dominated the series so far.

Technical Terrains and Traffic Jams

At 9:30 a.m., the 95 km race kicked off, and riders quickly hit the route. It didn’t take long for the race leaders, including Simon Grégoire, Erwin Bakker, and Wout Janssen, to navigate through tricky singletracks and deal with occasional traffic jams at technical spots.

A Battle to the Finish

Simon Grégoire and Wout Janssen separate themselves before the finish line, with Janssen pulling ahead to take the win in 4 hours 19 minutes.  

Joyce Vanderbeken: Untouchable

In the women’s race, Joyce Vanderbeken was unstoppable, finishing 45 minutes ahead of Karen Steurs and 50 minutes ahead of Cindy Volkerink. Her performance not only secured the win but also reinforced her dominance in the Elite Women’s category.

What’s Next in the BAMS?

With only two rounds left in the BAMS season, the competition is heating up. The current leaders are Joris Massaer (Master 1), Joyce Vanderbeken (Elite Women), Karen Steurs (Master Women), Robin Ferket (Espoirs), and Simon Grégoire (Elites). The next races are the Grand Raid Godefroy on September 8th and the Raid Bocq on September 15th.

No Chafing, No Problem

Despite the mud, sweat, and challenges of the Chouffe Marathon, one thing’s for sure—those who packed ASS MAGIC had one less thing to worry about.

Cheers to all the riders who braved the Chouffe Marathon. Until next time, keep the rubber side down and the chafing at bay with ASS MAGIC!

Photos by: Christophe Bortels