Centre of excellence for extreme sports
With its World Cup elements, the Bikepark is an important training facility for cross-country mountain biking – an Olympic discipline. What’s more, the asphalted pump track and the beginners’ course are also unique for Flanders.
High-level training park
We built this high-level training park in close consultation with Cycling Vlaanderen and with OMC, the local mountain-biking club. OMC even provided 15 volunteers for preparing the single-track. Thanks to the know-how of top athletes like Kevin Panhuyzen and Jens Schuermans and with trainers Rudy de Bie and Werner Hilven, we were able to re-create various technical elements from World Cup competitions. The result is a top sports facility where mountain bikers can prepare for competitions under optimal conditions.
On three former sports fields, using 3000m³ of sand and 200 tons of boulders, we constructed a hilly terrain with a wide variety of ‘rock gardens’ and ‘north shore’. We connected the technical elements with a single track approximately 4 km long. The tallest ascent is the mountain for snowboarders, with a difference in elevation of about 20 m. Our aim is to organise competitive events at this location.
The asphalted pump track
With a length of 240 m, the asphalted pump track is one of the longest in Europe. Uniquely, the pump track can be put to various uses. You can ride it with skateboards, steps, BMX bikes and mountain bikes. It grades from easy (outside track) to very difficult and even top level. The purpose of a ‘pump track’ is explained by its name: you move forward by making a pumping motion with arms and legs. You don't need to pedal.
The beginners’ course
The beginners’ course may look less impressive, but it’s ideal for initiations into the beautiful sport that is mountain biking. We will use it intensively all year round for school sports courses, sports days, sports camps and classes. It consists of a semi-paved single track and wooden obstacles to learn basic techniques such as balance, turns and small jumps.
Address
Kattevennen 15
3600 Genk