“I put everything aside for the youth round.” Chairman Tonny Testers of the National Youth Round Foundation has been infected from the ‘virus’ of the bicycle festival in Roosendaal from an early age. From Monday, 450 children from ten to fourteen years old will run through Roosendaal and the surrounding area for the 40th edition of the National Youth Round.
The event is a fixed value during the first week of the summer vacation. It is unique in its kind in the Netherlands. “Of course it is a competition, but the fun is actually even more important. It feels like a real family. Every year again the pleasure of the children is splashing,” says Tonny.
The young riders, spread over 32 teams from Roosendaal, Nispen, Oud-Gastel and Zegge, participate in their own bikes. To achieve as many points as possible, they drive stages, time trials, a cyclo -cross and a skill ride.
Fien van den Biggelaar (12) and Nick Boden (13) are the winners of last year. Both are now promising talents. “I train with the youth of Willebrord wants to go ahead. I hope to end in the top ten this year. But it is also just fun to ride with my friends,” says Nick Die Mathieu van der Poel as his big example.
Fien is a youth member at Wielervereniging Breda. She participated in the youth round for the first time last year and immediately became first with the girls. “A girlfriend asked if I wanted to participate and then it actually went super well. This year I will let it come a bit. I want to have a little fun and still win a little.”
The organization consciously keeps the registration fee low, so that everyone can participate. “Participants pay forty euros for a whole week.” Because we are accessible, you see that there is really a connection between children with different backgrounds. They chat and laugh with each other instead of sitting on their phone. They don’t get a chance, “says Tonny.
Since 1956 there has been the international youth round in Roosendaal for years. Young riders from Belgium, Spain, France or Italy slept with host families. Well -known participants from this period are Bjarne Riis and Jeroen Blijlevens. Both former riders still feel closely involved in the youth round.
In the early 1980s it went downhill with the international youth round. After the curtain finally fell in 1982, a number of local entrepreneurs thought it was time for a new initiative three years later. Tonny: “I think it was Frans Raats from the café of the same name, which gave money with the assignment to a new board to start it again. From then on it became the national youth round for children from Roosendaal and the surrounding area.”
The youth round could later count on an annual subsidy of five thousand euros for years. Calculated in the jubilee year, the grant application was rejected by the municipality this year. “They don’t find us innovative enough. I am actually pretty angry about that. After all, it is a unique event with which Roosendaal puts itself on the map nationwide. Moreover, we do not ask for the main prize either.”
Due to the financial damper, the budget for the event was seriously under pressure this year. The organization was able to take care of the disappointment thanks to the sponsors. Tonny holds his heart for the next year. “Of course we don’t want to be dependent, but we don’t want the children to be the victim in the end. I therefore hope that the municipality will change thought.”
“We all make it a great party again.”
The chairman certainly does not intend to get out of the field by financial troubles. The special anniversary edition from 7 to 13 July takes a day longer than usual. For example, on Thursday there is the ‘bicyclestival’ with games and live music. Tonny: “The children are looking forward to it and we are ready. The weather looks good the coming days, so we all make it a great party again.”
