Women’s and Men’s Veenendaal-Veenendaal both cancelled for 2025 due to lack of police escorts

Riejanne-Markus-2024-Veenendaal-Veenendaal

The Dutch one-day cycling race Veenendaal-Veenendaal will not take place in 2025 due to the unavailability of police escorts during the NATO summit in June. Race organisers confirmed the cancellation after exhaustive attempts to find alternatives to police support proved unfeasible.

The event, traditionally held in May, was set to feature the womenโ€™s race in the UCI ProSeries for the first time this year, with the menโ€™s race aspiring to reach the same level in the future. However, the absence of police coverage has made the event’s safety measures impossible to guarantee. Race organiser Andrรฉ Homma shared his disappointment: โ€œIt is extremely disappointing that we cannot race due to the absence of police. We had secured a strong position on the international cycling calendar.โ€

Riejanne Markus and Tord Gudmestad won the 2024 editions of the race.

Impact on the Dutch cycling calendar

This cancellation is the latest in a series of challenges for Dutch cycling events. Other races, such as the Ster van Zwolle, have also been affected by police shortages, although the Ster will be incorporated into Olympiaโ€™s Tour, which still has police support.

The Koninklijke Nederlandse Wielren Unie (KNWU) has recently revealed that only Dutch races will likely receive police assistance this year. These are expected to include the Amstel Gold Race, the Simac Ladies Tour, and the Renewi Tourโ€™s Dutch stages.

Organisers explored alternatives

Race director Bart Voskamp explained that efforts to bypass the need for police escorts included considering alternative routes, the use of private motor teams, and additional traffic controllers. Unfortunately, these options were deemed unworkable. โ€œWe explored multiple possibilities, but none were viable for ensuring the safety of riders and spectators,โ€ Voskamp stated.

He also warned of long-term consequences for Dutch cycling, adding, โ€œWhen a race is cancelled for one year, it becomes even harder to engage sponsors, volunteers, and other stakeholders the following year. The decisions by the National Police will significantly affect the future of Dutch road cycling for years to come.โ€

The loss of Veenendaal-Veenendaal extends beyond just the menโ€™s and womenโ€™s races. The event typically includes youth races, community celebrations, and โ€˜dikke bandenโ€™ competitions, all of which have also been cancelled. The absence of this prominent event underscores the challenges of hosting cycling races on public roads, which require extensive coordination with police and local authorities to ensure safety.