Amstel in danger?

[houtdffan]

Future of Amstel Gold Race in doubt due to local council

The future of one of the most prestigious one-day races on the yearly programme, the Amstel Gold Race is in doubt due to the decisions of the local council. Last summer, the authorities of the South L...

cyclinguptodate.com

The locals not too fond of having a pro bike race it seems

 

[Izzyeviel]

Right wing nimbys?

 

[Kwaremonster]

I read the article and still having a hard time seeing the actual race in jeopardy.

I do absolutely understand the people that live there though. In general in the Netherlands there are too many cyclists in the countryside and the rise in roadbikes and electric bikes is not helping. Of all the areas, the limburg region is the most popular so that must be way too much at some point.

However I still can see the actual race take place, without the cyclosportive (or However you call it). That is only one day a year afteral.

To me it seems a bit of a alarmist response by a director that fears the cash cow will make less money in the future..

 

[proffate]

Presumably they pay the local government some money for the right to use the roads for the sportif.

Locals just trying to shake down the organizers for more money it seems.

Makes no sense to ban something because it's popular. That's the opposite of how the government should be functioning. It's there to serve the people. In this case the people have spoken and they wish to ride bikes.

 

[search]

However I still can see the actual race take place, without the cyclosportive (or However you call it). That is only one day a year afteral.

what he means is that the amateur race finances the pro race, I guess. It's the same at the Hamburg Cyclassics, for example, where 15000 participants pay sth like 80 Euro each.

 

[Netserk]

If it's only Vaals that says no, they can easily cut that part from the route.

Voortbestaan Amstel Gold Race staat op het spel

Het voortbestaan van de grote wielertoertochten van de Amstel Gold Race, Limburgs Mooiste en de Mergelheuvelland 2Daagse is in gevaar. Als eerste gemeente in Limburg wil Vaals de toertochten weren, zo meldt De Limburger. En daarmee zet de gemeente ook de toekomst van de Amstel Gold Race zelf op...

www.wielerflits.nl

 

[DNP-Old]

Would anyone miss it, honestly? The Gold Race might be the only race on the highest level we have, but I reckon much better races elsewhere can take its place. Be it a new one, be it an existing one. Furthermore, any race more or less hosted by Leo van Vliet deserves to be abolished.

 

[Netserk]

Would anyone miss it, honestly? The Gold Race might be the only race on the highest level we have, but I reckon much better races elsewhere can take its place. Be it a new one, be it an existing one. Furthermore, any race more or less hosted by Leo van Vliet deserves to be abolished.

It has consistently delivered the best racing of the hilly spring classics since Cauberg wasn't the last climb. But it's true that its spot on the calendar would fit Strade Bianche very well too.

 

[sam6]

Worst case scenario would be they do a circuit race like they did in Covid year, which actually worked okay

 

[Berniece]

It has consistently delivered the best racing of the hilly spring classics since Cauberg wasn't the last climb. But it's true that its spot on the calendar would fit Strade Bianche very well too.

I think riders don’t like that they have to travel that much. Is easy that they can do all three in the same region

 

[Netserk]

If it's only Vaals that says no, they can easily cut that part from the route.

Voortbestaan Amstel Gold Race staat op het spel

Het voortbestaan van de grote wielertoertochten van de Amstel Gold Race, Limburgs Mooiste en de Mergelheuvelland 2Daagse is in gevaar. Als eerste gemeente in Limburg wil Vaals de toertochten weren, zo meldt De Limburger. En daarmee zet de gemeente ook de toekomst van de Amstel Gold Race zelf op...

www.wielerflits.nl

https://twitter.com/x/status/1759690879365747029

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1759690879365747029

 

[Keldergoat]

Good old Tom Dumoulin himself came to the municipality meeting of Vaals to convince the local council members that the Amstel should persevere. Tom is an eternal cycling legend.

Dumoulin: 'Amstel Gold Race in gevaar en dat doet me pijn'

Oud-wielrenner Tom Dumoulin wil de gemeente Vaals duidelijk maken dat ze voor een belangrijk besluit staan. Het wel of niet schrappen van toertochten. "Mogelijk stoppen gaat me aan het hart."

nos.nl

 

[Tim Cahill]

Good old Tom Dumoulin himself came to the municipality meeting of Vaals to convince the local council members that the Amstel should persevere. Tom is an eternal cycling legend.

Dumoulin: 'Amstel Gold Race in gevaar en dat doet me pijn'

Oud-wielrenner Tom Dumoulin wil de gemeente Vaals duidelijk maken dat ze voor een belangrijk besluit staan. Het wel of niet schrappen van toertochten. "Mogelijk stoppen gaat me aan het hart."

nos.nl

Imagine thinking it was just going to be some boring old council meeting and you hear a voice of protest from the back.

 

[Sciatic]

Imagine thinking it was just going to be some boring old council meeting and you hear a voice of protest from the back.

“Mr Dumoulin Goes to Washington”

 

[red_flanders]

Good old Tom Dumoulin himself came to the municipality meeting of Vaals to convince the local council members that the Amstel should persevere. Tom is an eternal cycling legend.

I mean, super glad he made the effort and was effective, but let's not lose our minds here...

 

[Keldergoat]

Well, he was already a cycling legend after winning the Giro and simultaneously doing a number two on public Northern Italian roads. Saving Amstel from extinction by visiting a local council meeting on a rainy Monday night and blowing local councilors away with a eloquent and passionate speech just adds to the existing narrative of being an OG.

 

[Rob5091]

Good for Tom Dumoulin and good to hear the races will go ahead.

 

[houtdffan]

2025 version in doubt

Two-day NATO Summit plunges eight months of 2025 Dutch races into doubt due to police motorbike requirements

Amstel Gold Race among the events left searching for alternatives after KNWU's announcement

www.cyclingnews.com

NATO summit

Seems some just do not want cycling to occur in the Netherlands...

 

[Earns1985]

2025 version in doubt

Two-day NATO Summit plunges eight months of 2025 Dutch races into doubt due to police motorbike requirements

Amstel Gold Race among the events left searching for alternatives after KNWU's announcement

www.cyclingnews.com

NATO summit

Seems some just do not want cycling to occur in the Netherlands...

Really don´t understand that. When they do the NATO summit, it´s understandable, that during these two days and perhaps a week before and a few days after that the police capacity is blocked and there can´t be any cycling races, but why on earth, there seems to be not enough police capacity for 8 months?

 

[houtdffan]

Really don´t understand that. When they do the NATO summit, it´s understandable, that during these two days and perhaps a week before and a few days after that the police capacity is blocked and there can´t be any cycling races, but why on earth, there seems to be not enough police capacity for 8 months?

which is why I think some just want to end all cycling in the Netherlands. We had worries about the race this past year as well

 

[Rob5091]

The way things are going in the US, NATO might not exist next year, so let's keep our fingers crossed.

 

[rallybanana]

The way things are going in the US, NATO might not exist next year, so let's keep our fingers crossed.

Petition to rename thread to "NATO in danger?"

 

[Potomac]

June meeting cancels april race...too effing funny.
Sounds like some kind of budget brinksmanship in the netherlands.

 

[Anderis]

The country that stereotypically loves bicycles more than any other nation in the world.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

just no priority for it in NL

the stupidest part is KNWU has a perfect alternative with civilian motards trained specifically for this cause, as many other countries do. But it's not on the agenda of our goverment. Just bureaucracy at its finest.