The cyclists who completed the IJsselmeer round were festively welcomed in Assendelft with a drum band and much applause. The fiftieth and final edition was successful: despite the wind, the weather was reasonably good, no tires needed to be fixed and all participants returned home in one piece.
The IJsselmeer Round was conceived in 1970 by four friends, as a joke. Assendelft is the starting point, a round along the IJsselmeer and finish again in Assendelft. Over the years, the group of participants has grown, and in 2022 an entire coaching team will even join them.
66 participants started from the beginning in Assendelft. Eight ‘old-timers’ joined the penultimate stop in Slootdorp to cycle the last sixty kilometers. Among them was Cor Gaal. NH News looked earlier already ahead on the journey with him.
Tribute
Sjors van der Hoorn rode this round together with his brother as a tribute to his father Jos, one of the founders of the IJsselmeer Round. He and other participants are featured in the compilation of this special day, which can be seen below.
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Organizer Raymond Delivery is met after the finish. He is handing out coins so that the participants can drink the beer. “It’s ready, everyone can let go. I understand one dropout, that can happen. Nothing else at all!”
Kees Helmerhorst now has a beautiful medal hanging around his neck. This was his 36th edition. He liked it, although he wouldn’t have competed again if the round had continued. “Actually I wanted to stop with my 35th round, but because this was the last time I participated one more time. Take a breather tomorrow and go to bed.”