Tour of Holland returns with versatile course and gravel stage, eight WorldTour teams at the start
Cycling
Erik Dekker was the last winner of the Tour of Holland in 2004, and now the race is finally returning. At a time when Dutch cycling is under pressure and many races are disappearing, especially now that police escorts will hardly be available in 2025, the return of the Tour of Holland after 21 years is undoubtedly a glimmer of hope.
The race will be from Tuesday, October 14, to Sunday, October 19. The route, which has now been presented, contains a mix of time trials, potential echelons, climbs, and gravel strips. In other words, a very complete race will return to the calendar and all without the use of a single policeman.
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A course with everything from a time trial to VAM hill and gravel
The race, an event agency TIG Sports initiative, will have UCI 2.1 status. The ambition is to eventually grow it into a WorldTour race, making it an attractive conclusion to the European cycling season.
The 'Dutch Depart' will take place in The Hague. Among other things, a team presentation, cycling festival, and other activities will be organized. Then, the first stage will be a spectacular evening prologue around the Zuiderpark in The Hague.
The first stage will start from Dordrecht on Wednesday, October 15. The riders will cross the Drechtsteden and then reach the open terrain of the Alblasserwaard. The wind may be a decisive factor, ensuring a spectacular stage.
On day three, the program includes an individual time trial around Etten-Leur, a tribute to Vincent van Gogh, who started his career as an artist here. The fourth stage takes the peloton to Limburg. The exact route is still being developed, but the arrival is known: the riders will finish at Watersley Sport & Talentpark, a well-known breeding ground for cycling talent.
On day five, in Drenthe, one of the most famous climbs in the Netherlands awaits: the VAM hill. This steep climb has repeatedly proven decisive during the National Championships, European Championships, and the Ronde van Drenthe. The grand finale takes place in Gelderland, where Arnhem is the setting for a unique final stage with gravel sections.
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Lots of interest from WorldTour teams
From the cycling teams, there is a lot of interest in the new old Dutch cycling race. Eight WorldTour teams will appear at the start: Visma-Lease a Bike, Picnic-PostNL, Alpecin-Deceuninck, XDS Astana Team, Lidl-Trek, Soudal Quick-Step, RedBull-BORA-hansgrohe and Intermarché-Wanty. In addition, Unibet Tietema Rockets and Lotto are also at the start. Plus, of course, the Dutch continental teams. NOS and Eurosport will broadcast it.
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Latest Comments
- Remco is still very young. And injuries can absolutely keep you from overdoing it and getting worse. The recent Remco accident didn't keep him from being able to ride a recumbent inside. Wout's knee is a different story thoughVeganpotter23-01-2025
- Van der Poel style is winning by a half a lap and leading the race from the end of the second lap.
Barnes127420-01-2025 - If she thinks talent alone will put her there she will not see many podium finishes much less a GC finish.....work as a team utilizing tactics to consistently be at the top.Germanrazor10-01-2025
- This was very informative! Luiz Antonio Duarte Ferreiraluizantonioduarteferreira02-01-2025
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024