Giro d'Italia and Tour de France starting in the Netherlands

Hell for professional cyclist - the Dutch roundabouts

Holland is especially famous for its many cyclists. On any given sunny Saturday parents with yelling kids are crossing the woods, lying down their food in the field for a picnic, and also are an irritation for the racing bikers while they wanna hurry. The Netherlands is a cycling country. To prove that cycling is a Dutch characteristic, the Giro d'Italia has been started in Amsterdam in May, and Rotterdam is preparing the start of the Tour de France next month


By GERBEN SOLLEVELD (gerben.solleveld@wavemagazine.net)
from Rotterdam, the NETHERLANDS


The country where the wind is always impeding riders, and the roundabouts are a horror for professional riders. Rotterdam welcomes El Pistolero, Alberto Contador, the tan coloured Spanish racer, and last winner of the Tour de France. Perhaps Lance Armstrong is starting his last La Grande Boucle of his career in Holland. Current world champion, the Australian Cadel Evans is pondering about his comeback to our country in the Tour, after starting the Giro d'Italia in Holland. On the second stage from Amsterdam to Utrecht he commented: "I've never had such a horrible and dangerous ride," meaning the many falls due to dangerous bumps and curves along the route. What is the magic of the Netherlands having a bike image and having the rights to organize anno 2010 two grand tours?

Organizing the start of both the Giro and the Tour is not a low-budget project. Money cannot be the reason to be so hospitable towards the committees of both cycling tours. About 5.5 million euros are the costs for Amsterdam. The city of Rotterdam asks between 10 and 15 million euro of people's tax money. But still, bringing those big races to Holland is a valuable investment. Local towns are organizing their own cycling tours, energy company Eneco wants to help make the Tour de France as durable as possible. And don't forget that 180 countries are watching the Netherlands on television during the first weekend of the Tour in July. Especially Rotterdam is a sport city. Several world cups took place here, or are scheduled this year.

Well-regulated

Thirty minutes after being back of an hour training, young amateur cycler Judith Bloem (19) says to WAVE magazine: "Holland is a sport nation, it's not especially in the interest of the Tour organization to start in the Netherlands, apart from that everything is well-regulated here." According to her it is also a bit of a proud feeling.

She has already been to Amsterdam last month for the Giro d'Italia, but of course as a cyclist in heart and soul she will also be in the capital of the South Holland province in July to watch the bikers. Fabian Cancellara, the Swiss born cyclist, and three times winner of the World Time Trial Champion is Bloem's magic rider: "He is a time rider, like me."

Bloem doesn't like the mountain stages which are in for instance the Giro and the Tour frequently decisive for the overall standings. She likes the wind, which is a typical Dutch weather condition. To many foreign riders the Dutch wind is a hell of a condition: it splits up the cycling peloton and the risk of losing precious time is high.

20 million bicycles

Nevertheless, Holland is flat, so for many bikers very accessible. All the roads are asphalted, we have separated bicycle paths, safety above everything. For those who really want to hurt their legs the southern province Limburg knows some hills of about 100 meter, that's all. To organize the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France improves the image of a country with about 20 million bicycles cycling 13 billion kilometres a year.

For the international teams in the Netherlands these months, it seems to be more like 'as soon as we can: leave Holland'. The wind is horrible, and also the many roundabouts and bumps are terrific, dangerous. Holland patronises a bit in her relation with everything on the road, which makes it a mess for professional cyclists.

Dutch crowd

The organisation of the Giro d'Italia is satisfied with starting in the Netherlands. Especially because of the Dutch crowd. Rows and rows of people were watching from the sideline. Cycling seems to be alive in the Netherlands. Next month Holland should be prepared for the Tour de France. We have to welcome all the big riders, the top of the world, for the biggest race in the world. Either is it the Giro d'Italia or the Tour de France, Dutch people love to party, and love to be outside on the sideline. The discoverer of the wheel should be satisfied with what he did thousands of years ago.



(Published: 12.06.2010.)