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Introduction

Vëlosummer is a summer event in Luxembourg that promotes cycling by creating temporary, marked bike routes. The first edition launched in 2020, as many people rediscovered the joys of cycling, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

In 2024, we celebrated the fifth edition, featuring 13 routes and introducing a fun challenge! Participants could check in at various points of interest using the VisitLuxembourg mobile app. Those who checked in at all points had a chance to win a beautiful Yellow Vëlosummer Jersey!

Highlights

If I had to share three memorable rides during the events, I would highlight those:

• Vëlosummer B+A & links (☀️) – 166 km; 1,932m elevation gain: for the misadventure between the two Vëlosummer routes. I wrote a summary of it in the notes section.
• Vëlo via Norden and trip to its starting point (🌞💨) – 185 km; 2,137m elevation gain: for bumping into some friends on the way and being the longest.
• Dräi+ Däller-Tour (🌞→”🌩️”; 💨; 18,000 km ✔) – 125 km; 1,133m elevation gain: for the real tropical-like summer weather before the storm and the improvised great cycling company.

Numbers

Here’s a summary of my rides that followed at least a part of the Vëlosummer routes while they were open:

• I completed 18 rides between July 27th and August 25th that followed the Vëlosummer 2024 routes.
• The rides varied in length from 28.7 kilometres to 185.2 kilometres.
• I cycled a total distance of 1610.2 kilometres.
• The total uphill climbing (elevation gain) was 16,665 meters.
• My average heart rate during the rides was 111 beats per minute.
• I estimate I burned 34,800 calories in total.
• The hottest day was August 24th, with an average temperature of 31 degrees Celsius.
• The coldest day was August 21st, with an average temperature of 18 degrees Celsius.
• I used two gravel bikes: my “Citrus” bike 3 times and my “Sequoia” bike 15 times.

Notes and experience

Not in any particular order of time or importance:

• On the first day, the weather was awful, so I chose a nearby permanent route (K) and encountered some flooded roads. I considered putting it into the highlights! Watch the media at the bottom of this page to see for yourself without getting wet.
• On the second day, I rode the two Vëlosummer routes that were only open that weekend and cycled the way between them. The first was between Goebelsmühle and Lultzhausen, and the second was between Bour and Steinfort. At the Stauséi (lake), police were checking cars and motorcycles. This was different from the previous year when I saw cars racing on the closed road. And I met 💚 at the lake! When I left to join the second route, I followed a forest track between Lultzhausen and Moulin d’Arsdorf, and it was a misery. The path was wet, muddy, and slippery, with many fallen trees, probably from a recent storm. I could neither go below nor above the collapsed trees. I was only 20 meters from another path, but I had to carry the bike on a steep off-road slope. This was very challenging and took me 1 hour and 53 minutes to cycle just 7.4 kilometres. 
• I was very glad and amused to see the nomadic sheep near Rumelange.
• During the “Vëlo Via Norden” tour, I cycled from Luxembourg City to the starting point in Kautenbach, passing through Ettelbruck, Vianden and Hosingen. In the far north, I made a short trip to Kneiff, the highest point in Luxembourg. I discovered that it has become a tourist attraction. It was a coincidence that I was there on the same date a year ago when I cycled to the highest points of the three Benelux countries.
• During the “Dräi Däller-Tour” ride, I attempted to make it “9 Valleys Tour“, I followed some more: Pétrusse, Mamer, Eisch, and Attert. However, when I reached the Ourdall valley, I received a severe weather warning. I quickly found a bridge to return to the main route and skipped the Waarkdall part, so I “only” managed to visit eight. This was a good decision, as it started to rain heavily when I was on the train back to the city.
• I also took advantage of the temporary bike routes to explore new places and revisit familiar ones.
• I enjoyed meeting other cyclists on my rides who were also part of the Vëlosummer experience. I even rode with some people I met along the way. It was nice to see the same people again on different parts of the routes. Even when we didn’t talk, we exchanged friendly smiles.
• I generated a map of the rides taken during the Vëlosummer action, but note that each activity line corresponds to all my active transportation on the corresponding day, not only the Vëlosummer part. On the map, the locations of the photos I took are displayed in red along the Vëlosummer itinerary and in green when on the way to those routes (if you are colour-blind, you can toggle the photo layers). The photos are also available on the photo page, which they are free to use as long as there are no recognisable people in them; ask me otherwise.
• I rode on all the Vëlosummer routes, except for the section between Steinheim and Echternach. I skipped this part because it was getting late.
• I have my favourite spots and environment preferences, but I enjoyed how the routes highlighted the different regions of the country.
• And I got qualified and selected for the Vëlosummer Challenge!

Critics

I didn’t come across any major issues during the Vëlosummer edition, just a few minor technical hiccups, like a traffic light sensor in Bascharage that seemed to miss detecting bicycles.

Some people expressed frustration over the inadequate bicycle space in trains during events, but it’s important to recognise that train arrangements are complex, especially given the multiple lines. However, the CFL staff (Luxembourg railway operator) were helpful and accommodating to the crowd of cyclists seeking to board at once, while they could have just refused them on board. I had a smooth experience on my later train rides.

Achievements and room for improvement

Some variants of the “Dräi Däller-Tour” are now part of a regional bike route network through collaboration with ProVelo, facilitating access to other villages and bicycle routes in the area. In 2020, one of the Vëlosummer routes was also converted into a permanent bike route.

As a nature lover, I prefer to avoid the noise and fumes of motorised traffic. Numerous high-quality trails and quiet roads offer fantastic routes, combined with some highlights, and the rising popularity of Gravel Riding presents an opportunity to attract international visitors with limited disturbance to motorists. Additionally, there is significant potential for pop-up mountain bike routes.

I had the opportunity to attend the “Ardéchoise” cycling event once, and it showed me how we could do something similar to attract active tourists. I think it could be a great opportunity for the Greater Region —Ardennes, Eifel, Hunsrück, High Fens, and Vosges—especially considering the many valleys, hills, and unique cultures that are so close yet distinct, with everything from old industrial sites to extinct volcanoes, along with some lovely nature reserves.

Vëlosummer Challenge and ceremony