The 45th edition of the 24-Hour Louvain-la-Neuve Bike Ride, Belgium’s largest student event, will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday 22-23 October, with around 45,000 attendees expected.
Ninety-six teams will participate in the race across various categories, including approximately forty in the folkloric two-wheel category and thirty in the humanitarian category.
A medical-surgical post will be set up on-site, and 276 police officers will be deployed to ensure the event’s security.
Emphasis will be placed on prevention, with nearly 80 students trained and engaged as stewards, tents distributing water, and two rest zones offering 120 beds for “tired” revellers.
Minors will be barred from the site from 23:00, and backpacks, strong alcohol, and glass containers will be completely banned during the event.
A specific plan against sexist and sexual violence has been arranged, including a Prevention team, a "The Place to Be Safe" village, and the Sacha (Safe Attitude Against Harassment and Assault) plan. Two teams, trained to assist victims, will be on hand, acknowledging that three rapes were reported during the 2023 edition.
Four special trains to Namur and four to Brussels will operate overnight for students from other campuses, and 22 shuttle buses will run between Louvain-la-Neuve and Louvain-en-Woluwé.
The CSE Animations, which organises the 24-hour bike ride, aims to involve students from elsewhere. Some activities will be conducted by students from other universities. Discussions are underway to include students from KU Leuven in 2025, to mark the University of Leuven’s 600th anniversary.
