4 November 2024

Three nominees for the
Cycle Route of the Year 2025

The jury has nominated three routes for the Cycle Route of the Year 2025. The Göta Kanalleden (Sweden), Route der Norddeutschen Romantik (Germany) and La Vélomaritime (France) have a chance to win the coveted trophy.

The Swedish Göta Kanalleden (220 km) runs along a centuries-old canal with 58 locks, where there are plenty of cafes and ice cream parlors. You can cross the lakes with a ferry in the summer. The Route der Norddeutschen Romantik (286 km) winds along the coast of the German Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the island of Rügen, and follows the trail of the famous German painter Caspar David Friedrich. La Vélomaritime is the longest route (1,500 km) and runs from Roscoff in Brittany to Dunkirk on the French-Belgian border. You cycle along the Pink Granite Coast, the landing beaches and the Bay of the Somme.

The election is an initiative of the Fiets en Wandelbeurs, which aims to stimulate the construction of high-quality cycling routes. The three new routes were completely cycled by the jury members Bert Sitters, Mirre Oost and Jessica de Korte. Important points of interest along the way include signage, the road surface, the presence of cycle paths, facilities for cyclists (such as benches and catering), information signs and possible traffic disruption. The jury is extremely satisfied with the quality of the three routes, which all meander through beautiful landscapes, are full of interesting history and have plenty of cycle paths.

Announcement winner

The jury selects the final winner based on a matrix of points. It will be a difficult choice, because all three routes score highly and are very different. The jury will announce the winner on Friday, February 14 during the Fiets en Wandelbeurs in Jaarbeurs Utrecht, the Netherlands.

The three routes

The Göta Kanalleden (Sweden), 220 km

The Göta Kanalleden runs from Sjötorp on Lake Väner to Mem on Lake Slätbaken, which flows into the Baltic Sea. Although you always follow the channel, there is always something new to see. The 58 locks in particular are a huge attraction; sometimes there are several lock doors in a row, causing the boats to be raised and lowered in steps. There are cozy coffee bars along the canal, with homemade cakes, and ice cream parlors. The landscape is beautiful and varied, from long tree-lined avenues and forests to meadows, and of course the wonderfully relaxing water. You can cross some lakes by boat in the summer, and you can also sail through the locks. The villages and towns have interesting museums.
Info: Gotakanal.se.

Route der Norddeutschen Romantik (Germany), 286 km

This cycle route follows the trail of the famous German painter Caspar David Friedrich from the Romantic era at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. You will pass places that inspired the artist, such as Cape Arkona, the King’s Chair and the ruins of the Monastery Church of Eldena. It is a varied route across the island of Rügen, among others, with exuberant seaside resort architecture and beautiful views from the chalk cliffs over the Baltic Sea. Nature and the sea alternate with the historic Hanseatic cities of Stralsund and Greifswald. In addition, there are plenty of memories from the time of the DDR in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Info: Vorpommern.de.

La Vélomaritime (France), 1,500 km

La Vélomaritime is the French part of the EuroVelo 4 (Central Europe route), but separately signposted, with its own logo. The route is extremely versatile. First you climb and descend through the playful landscape of Brittany, with its sandy beaches, charming Breton towns and many wooden fishing boats. The rock formations of the Pink Granite Coast are special. After the abbey of Mont Saint-Michel, the route goes into the interior of Normandy, and you cycle over old railway lines (voies vertes). Back on the coast, the landing beaches follow, with plenty of memorial sites and museums. Later you pedal past chalk cliffs and charming seaside resorts with colorful Belle-Epoque villas. The Bay of the Somme in Hauts-de-France is reminiscent of the Netherlands, with its many dunes and wetlands where Scottish Highlanders graze.
Info: Lavelomaritime.