For the first time in 3 years, a new route has joined the EuroVelo network: EuroVelo 19 - Meuse Cycle Route, launched today at ITB Berlin. We also celebrate the most popular EuroVelo route and cycling tourism country in 2018 with the EuroVelo Awards!

After a three year application period, the Meuse Cycle Route has joined EuroVelo, the European cycle route network. The route, which has become EuroVelo 19, follows the Meuse River from its source in northern France to its mouth on the Dutch North Sea coast crossing 3 countries (France, Belgium and The Netherlands) and connecting over 1,100km of cycle routes. The route officially joined the EuroVelo network at ITB Berlin 2019, the world’s leading travel trade show, during the Cycling Tourism Day on Friday 8^th March.

Joining the EuroVelo network is the reward for the hard work of all our transnational partners in the joint creation of this attractive cycle route.

- Jos Ernenst, coordinator Meuse Cycle Route, Province of Limburg (NL)

The Meuse Cycle Route, following the banks of a major European River, is easy to cycle and well-adapted to families and it is a fantastic addition to the European cycle route network.

EuroVelo 19 – Meuse Cycle Route has become the 16^th route of the EuroVelo network, which employs a numbering system based on the direction of the route: uneven numbers run from south to north, whereas cycle routes directed along the west-east axis have even numbers.

We are delighted to be able to add EuroVelo 19 – Meuse Cycle Route to our network of transnational cycle routes that connect the continent.  In our experience routes along rivers are very popular with cycling tourists and, having visited parts of the EuroVelo 19 personally, I can confirm that it is already a well-developed and attractive tourism product.  It also forms a backbone for national and regional cycle networks in the three countries benefitting local communities too.

- Ádám Bodor, EuroVelo and Advocacy Director, European Cyclists’ Federation

During the Cycling Tourism Day at ITB, France and EuroVelo 6 – Atlantic-Black Sea received the 2018 EuroVelo Awards as the ‘Most popular cycling tourism country in 2018’ in the case of France and the ‘Most popular EuroVelo route in 2018’ in the case of EuroVelo 6.

The Cycling Tourism Day also featured many experts sharing their knowledge in developing cultural cycle routes and successful cycling tourism products. Speakers included Peter DeBrine from UNESCO, Lucijana Natalija Jerković from the Croatian National Tourist Board, Pia Zimmermann from Ruhr Tourismus GmbH in Germany, Marta Chełkowska from Pomorskie Region in Poland, and Leon Hoogsteen from the Dutch Cycling Platform.

There was also a dedicated session recounting the story of EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail to mark the 30^th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain. This featured Michael Cramer MEP, the “father” of the route.

The Cycling Tourism Day is organised by the European Cyclists’ Federation in collaboration with the German Cyclists’ Association (ADFC). For the full programme please visit www.eurovelo.org/home/events/itb-berlin-2019/. EuroVelo had its own booth (no. 256) at the ITB Berlin 2019 in Hall 4.1, at which you are all welcome until 10th March!