Follow-up insured

• Youth seizes power
• Fiercely won
• The four seasons according to JF Devillers
• The 20ste will be spectacular

“This edition was very difficult for all teams. In two days we were presented with all possible circumstances. Sun, drizzle, rain, gusts and hail. The participants were not spoiled ”, said Jean-François Devillers after the 18 edition of the ING Ardennes Roads. “But we are very happy that we only see smiling faces, even though a few of them have disappeared into the scenery. And we are also pleased with the congratulations of the police force, because despite the difficult circumstances, all participants have behaved in an exemplary way ”, added the Trajectoire CEO.

Generation Y

It is a growing trend: more and more family teams are starting up. Before the start of the competition, father and son De Jaeger provided text and explanation: “We started this a few years ago to have a good time together. We were not at the front at all, but every year we got better and now we want to do really well. ” A motivation that worked, because 48 hours later the duo was allowed to climb on the highest stage step. “It was a difficult final day. We were second yesterday. But we wanted it so badly. We were really stressed, the atmosphere in the car was strange. But now we are over the moon, especially when we look at the level of the teams that finish in the top 10 ”,  Papa De Jaeger let out a sigh of relief. With 106,3 penalty points, the Porschists had a comfortable lead over Frank and Emiel De Poorter's Austin Healey, second with 147,1 penalty points. On the third stage, a third family duo, consisting of Joris and Hendrik Kegels, of which the Triumph TR4 160,1 points increased. And to emphasize the level of the starting field even more: the next four teams were only separated by ten points!

Ladies First

The ING Ardennes Roads is particularly appreciated for its cozy atmosphere and was able to convince a large number of female participants. They share the cockpit of an old car, sometimes older than themselves, as friends, mother and daughter, wives of other participants. The female presence provides a pleasant and somewhat lighter atmosphere, but also surprises some participants. Because some of the female participants don't take this competition lightly. That was proved by the first female duo: Sandra Hermsen Kowalski and Ingrid Peeters rode with their Austin Healey with the song 77 to a beautiful 33th place. The first female navigator on the line, Amy Vandeputte, did even better, because he rode the Lancia Fulvia from dad to fourth overall!

The Pre-War category was won by the impressive Bentley of David and Odrick Costermans, again a father who was accompanied by his son, barely 15 years this time. In the bad weather conditions, these are not the easiest machines to control, so only a handful were on the line.

Everything from the cupboard

The diligent Trajectoire team will now first prepare the balance of this 18th edition of the ING Ardennes Roads, but is already working on the next issue. Just like the 20ste is already in the pipeline, because a few surprises are in store for that anniversary edition. “We cannot reveal anything yet, but although that edition is not for tomorrow, we have been thinking about it for a long time. In addition, we will be launching the Marathon of the Road in six weeks, a sportier competition based on Liège-Rome-Liège, with a more compact format, concentration stages and a common section on most legendary French roads. ”