The Dutch National Championships cycling will be held on Friday. In Drenthe the men will start at 1.15 pm in Westerbork and after more than 193 kilometers the finish is planned around 5.45 pm. With outsider Ramon Sinkeldam from Assendelft, we look ahead to the Dutch National Championships.
“The Dutch National Championships are something unique. You have a chance to win a title and I am one of the outsiders. When I became Dutch champion in 2017, I was not one of the favorites either. Then everything fell into place and that is also possible tomorrow”, Sinkeldam looks ahead.
VAM mountain
The place that will most likely make the difference is the VAM mountain. The former garbage dump is climbed several times and the finish is also uphill. “That suits me well. It is twice an effort of 30 seconds to one minute. I have to be able to handle that well. On such a climb, a race climber like Bauke Mollema does not drive me off. Two years ago, Van der Poel won with a solo of 60 kilometers, he can win that way”, a confident Sinkeldam sounds.
Dylan Groenewegen, Cees Bol and Jetse Bol absent
The NK is characterized by a large number of absentees. Mathieu van der Poel, Dylan van Baarle, Wilco Kelderman and Robert Gesink, among others, are absent. “Too bad for the Dutch National Championships. A great rider prefers to wear such a jersey and Van der Poel really had a chance. There are several interests at stake. He rode the Giro and will ride the Tour. He may need a training camp. From both sides there is something to say. If he takes yellow in the first week of the Tour, you will not hear anyone about the Dutch National Championships,” said Sinkeldam.
Amsterdam’s Dylan Groenewegen withdrew from the Dutch National Championships at the last minute. He indicated that he would take an extra rest period before he appears at the start of the Tour de France next Friday.
Jetse Bol is also not participating. “I got corona after the ZLM tour and have only been on my bike for a few days. I also didn’t receive support from the team to go to the Dutch National Championships, so I was already in doubt,” the team said. rider from Avenhorn know. Cees Bol recently had corona and therefore will not appear at the start.
Future Sinkeldam
Ramon Sinkeldam will drive for the French Groupama-FDJ from 2018 onwards. It is not yet known whether the North Hollander will also drive for the French team next season. The Belgian Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl is interested in the services of Sinkeldam. “We are working on it, but nothing is clear yet. I hope to know more in a few weeks.”