This weekend, thousands of athletes will once again battle the elements. Wind with you, wind against you, over the beach and through the dunes. The 49th edition of the Egmond half marathon will take place on Sunday. Tomorrow is the Egmond-Pier-Egmond beach race. Both mountain bikers and runners expect a fast and hard race due to the expected north to northwest wind.
In a fairly full press room, the main characters look ahead to the two sporting events this weekend. Behind the table is Tessa Neefjes, among others. The successful mountain bike star from Wervershoof is one of the big favorites, but comes from a difficult private situation. “I have lost some loved ones and that is why I now like to make it a great match.”
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Mountain bike star Tessa Neefjes wants to win in front of her own audience – NH Sport/Erik-Jan Brinkman
Perhaps the most striking face at the press conference is Thijs Zonneveld. In recent years, the former rider has been best known as a sports journalist, but recently took up cycling again with a passion. The 43-year-old Zonneveld has been at the start before, but has never won. “With one leg I belong to the riders and with the other leg I am a journalist. But I simply want to win this beach race.”
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Journalist and mountain biker Thijs Zonneveld about his dual role – NH News
Then the Egmond half marathon. Race director Jan Willem Mijderwijk says that 18,000 runners will be in action on Sunday. This not only concerns the half marathon, but also the Heroes Run, mini and quarter marathon.
The route is different this year. Due to the severe weather in recent weeks, the organization has been forced to adjust the course. Due to the high groundwater, the route in Castricum aan Zee near the dunes runs differently and there is a loop in the south of Egmond. At first glance the route now seems easier. Fewer unpaved roads and fewer hills.
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Race director Jan Willem Mijderwijk about the course and the contenders – NH Sport/Erik-Brinkman
One of the contenders for victory over the 21.1 kilometers is Luuk Maas for the men and for the women Anne Luijten hopes to make a bid for the title. Last year Luijten finished fourth. She hopes for more on Sunday, although she finds it difficult to predict how the race will go. “This is a completely different race. The route is different, the wind is in the other direction and this time there is also a strong international field.”
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Anne Luijten about her tactics during the Egmond half marathon – NH News
While Luijten has experience with the Egmond half marathon, Maas is making his debut. The Brabander mainly watched previous editions on TV and that inspired him to be at the start here now. “It will be a bit faster match.”
Debutant Luuk Maas is looking a bit tense, but above all eagerly looking forward to Sunday – NH News
NH Sport will be there live on TV on Sunday. The broadcast is from 12:00 noon to 2:30 p.m. We also report on both events via radio and online.
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