Ronald Kruijer won the Cycling Round of Leek on Friday evening. The 34-year-old rider and marathon skater, who was born and grew up in Heiligerlee, beat Redmar Dijkman (Lutjegast) and Michiel Kok (Heerenveen) in the sprint. As expected, Lorena Wiebes was supreme among the women.
Glutton Wiebes (24), who won stages in both the Tour de France and that of Italy this year, was in a class of his own according to chairman Willem Oosting of the organization in Leek. ,,She even lapped the other riders, was clearly a buddy too fast. That was great to see.”
The SD Worx rider from Mijdrecht, who claimed the European road title in Munich last year, took the title for the first time in Leek. Second was Femke Beuling from Heerenveen and Meike Uiterwijk Winkel from Echten in Drenthe finished third.
Fight the dark
In the men’s race, Kruijer, who has lived in Donkerbroek in Friesland for many years, won the sprint against a group of five men. Only one hour and five laps were raced for both men and women, because darkness fell quickly.
The organization, which took the course from the Wielermeerdaagse Noordenveld Westerkwartier last year, had taken less account of that. ,,It is always driven at the end of June, the beginning of July”, Oosting said, ,,and then it is of course a bit longer light. But hey, it went so well. It was a nice, fast course. We are very satisfied. This will be the case again next year, during the Leek Festival Week. A lot of sponsors like that better.”