The ZLM Tour ends on Sunday in Rijsbergen. The cycling village of Brabant is the finish for the fifth and final stage. In the village they look forward with enthusiasm and pride to what should become a new piece of cycling history in Rijsbergen.
“It is of course very special for us,” says Nico Mathijssen. He is part of the five-member board of Wielerdorp Rijsbergen. About five or six years ago, that group started organizing events, ranging from tours to a cycling theatre. The young board is looking forward to what will be the highlight since their inception. “This is the highest achievable for us.”
In a few months, the Vuelta will pass through many Brabant cities and villages, but the municipality of Zundert will not play a role in the Tour of Spain. “Unfortunately not. The municipality of Zundert has not joined the lobbying process. That is why we are extra happy with this as a nice alternative. And at the Vuelta you serve as a passage, then they will not finish in a small village. That is why this is also very beautiful , we are the finish place of the last stage of the ZLM Tour.”
“Those buses and trucks in the village, it’s a candy store.”
Enthusiasm bursts from Mathijssen’s words. It was the last period counting down to this Sunday. “This is like a boy’s book. We have always been a fanatic group, going once every two years to Alpe d’Huez, to the Tour de France. Then you were always among those teams. It would be cool if that got to your village. Now those buses and trucks are coming, all the trimmings. It’s a candy store.”
After the stage went from Rucphen to Mierlo on Sunday, it will be a stage of more than 160 kilometers on Sunday. The departure is in Made, to eventually arrive in Rijsbergen via places such as Drimmelen, Zevenbergschen Hoek, Etten-Leur and Hoeven. There all riders will cross the finish line a total of five times. The last passage means the end of the ZLM Tour.
“You really dream of this,” says Mathijssen. “See the images in recent days. The helicopter hanging in the air, which you know from professional cycling. Those are beautiful images. We will have them above our own village.” He is busy with the necessary volunteers, Rijsbergen radiates cycling on Sunday. From a supporters square to a large VIP village. “There has been no professional round in the village since the eighties. We are going to write history!”
“It’s a happening, I really think it does something for the youth.”
Rijsbergen has a beautiful cycling history, no fewer than eleven professional cyclists were born in the village. “Those eleven have ensured that this is possible. But I think we will have to wait a little longer for the twelfth. We are busy doing more and more youth promotion in the future. It has to arise somewhere. buses walk around, they see all those riders and cameramen. It’s a happening, I really think that does something.”
“It will be really special. You want to talk about this in ten years’ time. And if we put it away properly, achieve a high level and make an impression, we may be able to bring it to Rijsbergen again in the future,” concludes Mathijssen.
The match can be seen live on Omroep Brabant from 15.35.
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