Dwars door het Hageland gravelroute

What can one experience here?

Gravel route available on gpx only. This route is not marked on the road with signposts.
This gravel route spans 75 km, with occasional challenging climbs (elevation gain: 500 m).
This route is partly on unpaved roads (28km unpaved).
Depart from Sven Nys Cycling Center in Baal.
Your version of Dwars door het Hageland starts easy through the Meetshovenbos towards Aarschot; however, once the Demer River comes into view, the tricky part begins.
The muddy paths along the Demerbroeken and forest roads of mystical Averbode take you straight to the medieval Maagdentoren in Zichem and then to the Grasbos slopes, also known as the ‘Poggio of Diest’.
After that, you’ll visit Diest’s Citadel and Vlooyberg with its rust-coloured staircase to nowhere, the famous Vlooyberg Tower. When you see the Houwaart vineyards before you, you’ll rub your eyes in disbelief at the mirage of Italian countryside.
Fortunately, when you arrive at the finish back at the Sven Nys Cycling Center, there’s a shower ready for you and your bike and you can take a breath at the Eetcafé Velo.