Leaving Bouillon by the Vieille Route de France means climbing away from the Semois on the old road towards Corbion. The lower end lies near the Pont de France, where the river and the compact town give the ascent a clear starting point. The present road is paved, so this is a road climb despite the historical name and its association with older routes across the surrounding hills.
The selected ascent lasts about 2.5 kilometres and gains roughly 200 metres. Its profile keeps rising throughout, making this a sustained departure from the valley rather than a brief ramp followed by rolling ground. Bouillon is quickly left below, and the distance gives the effort time to settle into something more continuous than the town's shorter climbs. The appeal lies in that straightforward change of level: river town below, higher ground ahead.
01 / The ascent
Elevation profile
02 / The crux
Where it gets difficult
Choose a distance to find the steepest continuous section of the climb.
Steepest 500 m average
11.9%
Where to find it
0.50–1.00 km from start
- Net height gained
- 60 m
- Section length
- 500 m
03 / The numbers
Climb statistics
- Distance
- 2.55 km
- Elevation gain
- 197 m
- Average gradient
- 7.7%
- Climb category
- 3
- Start elevation
- 236 m
- Summit elevation
- 433 m
04 / Your effort
How long would it take?
Enter the power you could hold for the whole climb. We calculate a moving time from the elevation profile and the forces you ride against.
Use your intended climbing effort, rather than FTP unless you can hold it for the predicted duration.
Bike + kit includes clothing, bottles and luggage.
Advanced settings
Defaults represent a road-bike scenario. Adjust these settings to match your tyres, drivetrain and riding position.
Modelled moving time
14 min
- Power throughout
- 225 W
- Average speed
- 11.3 km/h
Based on the 2.55 km elevation profile. Assumes steady power, with no stops, braking or drafting. Rounded to the nearest minute.
The science behind the calculation
For each part of the stored profile, we solve the steady-state cycling power equation for speed, then add distance ÷ speed across the climb. Gravity uses rider + equipment weight; available power is W/kg × rider weight. This uses the profile’s distance and elevation together, without mixing in another route’s metrics.
Power × efficiency = gravity + rolling resistance + air resistance + bearing losses
The resistance equations are adapted from Martin et al. (1998), Validation of a Mathematical Model for Road Cycling Power. Air density changes with profile altitude using NASA’s standard-atmosphere model. This calculator’s adaptation has not been independently validated.
It predicts travel at the power you enter, including on descents. It does not model acceleration, cornering, braking, traffic, wind, changing weather or fatigue. At altitude, choose power you can sustain there: thinner air reduces drag, but this model does not predict its effect on your ability to produce power. Profile quality and assumed equipment settings also affect the result.
05 / On the ground
Route map
Route overview
Côte de Vieille Route de France
Bouillon, Wallonie, Belgium
- Route length
- 2.55 km
- Total ascent
- 197 m
- Average gradient
- 7.7%
06 / Take it home
The climb, as artwork
Turn the route into a personalised topographic print. Choose your colours and composition, then download your artwork.
07 / Keep exploring
Nearby climbs
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Côte de Brume-Est
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Trois-Ponts, Wallonie, Belgium
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Thier de Coo
2.5 km · 8.5% · 210 m gain
Stavelot, Walloon Region, Belgium
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Route du Ham
1.4 km · 5.6% · 88 m gain
Esneux, Walloon Region, Belgium
89.9 km away · Explore climb →