The opening of the new 400 meter long bicycle cross track in Velsen-Noord seemed to fall into (frozen) water yesterday, but the weather gods had a nice surprise in store for all volunteers of Fietscrossclub Wijkeroog today. A soft sun shines and the snow along the sloping track gives the whole an even more idyllic appearance.
A group of volunteers was still busy this morning clearing the snow from the track after yesterday’s dramatic cycling weather, says club president Ron Dijkman, while his son crosses off the starting hill. “Look, there he goes, the second one in a yellow Wijkeroog shirt.” He is relieved: “I sent out another app last night, because I thought ‘this might not be it.’ But look now.” He gestures around.
A club of ‘at least 25 men’ has helped to renovate the track, which has been given an extra corner and is now 400 meters instead of ‘barely 300’. The hope is that the club will soon be able to hold national competitions. “But we’ve never done that,” admits Dijkman. “So I’m not sure how they select the locations. Well, they will.”
Text continues after the photos.
Opening of the Wijkeroog bicycle cross track
Opening of the Wijkeroog bicycle cross track
Opening of the Wijkeroog bicycle cross track
Opening of the Wijkeroog bicycle cross track
Opening of the Wijkeroog bicycle cross track
Opening of the Wijkeroog bicycle cross track
Opening of the Wijkeroog bicycle cross track
Opening of the Wijkeroog bicycle cross track
Opening of the Wijkeroog bicycle cross track
Opening of the Wijkeroog bicycle cross track
Opening of the Wijkeroog bicycle cross track
Those volunteers are in a great mood and the children are flying over the track on this festive opening day. Hamburgers are baked and the friendly ladies in the canteen provide everyone with coffee and a smile.
Dennis Kooijman, father of one of the crossing children, is at the bottom of the starting hill. He lets the children go upstairs in groups, so it doesn’t get too busy there. “If there’s something to do here, like shoveling snow, some chores, or this, you do it.” He is startled by a girl who gently jabs his legs with her front wheel and shouts ‘go ahead!’
See drone footage of the new runway here. Text continues after the video.
Niels Kreuger (23), a tall young man wearing a white cap, throws his bag on the table in the canteen and bites into an apple relaxed. He also likes to go for a spin. “I looked outside, saw the sun and thought: let me see my face.”
He has been with the club since he was ten years old. “When I started, the starting hill was three meters and the course is much flatter, so to speak. Now the starting hill is five and a half meters high and the track has gotten better and better. Not many clubs have that, so we are quite a bit ahead.”
Neighborhood eye 2.0
The new job no longer holds any secrets for him, because he has been able to train on it recently. “We had already gone over it quite often, so the track gets nice and hard. Now with yesterday’s snow, it’s a bit softer, I heard. Well, if it’s nothing, I’ll throw my stuff back in the car and I’ll be back next time.”
When the first crossers again leave the track with red cheeks, alderman Marianne Steijn opens ‘Wijkeroog 2.0’, as Dijkman calls it. Steijn through the microphone: “Look at this beautiful job. And they have done that here in Velsen-Noord, as I know them, with their own hands, great.”
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