With the demise of the Shimano Cycling Challenge over 10 years ago, the Netherlands no longer had a proper gran fondo, although some organizers do give their event that name. This is now going to change. l'Etape du Tour (ASO) is coming to the Netherlands in 2022 with a real gran fondo: an amateur race with mass start and time registration. The venue: Rotterdam.
Photo: A.S.O. Aurélien Vialatte
The plan is part of Rotterdam's efforts to attract the Grand Départ of 2024. The name of the event is L'Étape Rotterdam by Tour de France. The website states the following: "A cycling event with various rides for young and old and as the main program a gran fondo ride with time registration on a car-free course for the ultimate Tour de France feeling. This year, editions of L'Étape by Tour de France are planned in fourteen countries around the world. Rotterdam will join them next year with the first edition in the summer of 2022, making it the only gran fondo in the Netherlands."
In addition to the gran fondo, there will be a sportive.
Registration: not yet open, pre-registration is already possible.
More info on the official website.
We know from reliable sources that there are currently more attempts to organize a gran fondo in our country. However, the government has very high safety requirements, so whether it succeeds is always the question. We will keep you informed.
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