Belaey soars through epic trail across Lebanon’s mountains

BEIRUT: Kenny Belaey, the Belgianathlete and trail bike champion, recently completed the 470 km Lebanon Mountain Trail, in what was a thrilling journey of exploration and wild earth. Watch the entire video and relive the ride with Kenny Belaey on the LMT on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

He is now the first to ever complete the entire trail by trial bike. “Lebanon is by far one of my favorite countries I ever visited.” Said Kenny Belaey, having just been to 76 unique towns and villages that spanned from the north to the south of Lebanon. “It was an honor to be the first ever to ride over the extreme difficult hiking terrain on a bicycle.” He said.

He was completely taken with every part of the experience. He began at Marjayoun in the south and made his way north from there.

A few of the places that really stuck out for him were the Shouf Biosphere Reserve, the Jezzine Waterfall, Aqoura Lakes, Niha, Hasbaya, Qehmez, the Tannourine Forest Reserve, the Fortress of Niha, Qadisha Valley, Bsharri and the Cedars of God.

Kenny only stayed at locally-owned-and-operated establishments, guesthouses, and bed and breakfasts. Eating what they prepared, and learning about their traditional way of life.

“Its charming people, rich culture and epic landscape made me want to discover the Mountain Trail even more.” Continued Belaey. Among the amazing people he met was one of his trail guides, an 85year-old villager who grew up along the trail, as his ancestors had before him.

This was not Kenny’s first trip to Lebanon, having visited several times before. With each visit he found himself more curious about the country. Finishing the trail, he doesn’t think this will be his last trip either. He considered his experiences of Lebanon, “After crossing this path, I felt like there were different countries in one: different weather, sceneries, mountains, cultures, foods and varying architecture.” He concluded by saying, “I loved it, and most of all, I loved the people I met along the way and how hospitable they were.”

Kenny Belaey is a world champion trial bike athlete: 6 times overall World Cup winner with 4 European titles and 9 World tiles. He is the world record medal holder with 20 medals out of 23 world championship entries. Kenny travels the world with his shows from NBA arenas in the USA to big events all over Europe. He was also the first biker ever to ride over a 16m long slack-line over a 120m gorge at 3500m elevation.