Students from Assen today voluntarily handed in their racing bike. The bikes are loaded into trucks in the parking lot of the Drenthe College. They see the steel ros again on Monday morning, at the foot of the French Berg Alpe d’Huez. The 180 students participate in the sporting event Alpe d’HuZes, where as much money as possible is collected for research into cancer and improving the quality of life of people with cancer.
The 19-year-old Emma Hoogenraad is participating for the second time. “Last year I walked the mountain, this year I’m going to cycle. I wanted to challenge myself even more.”
On the first Thursday of June, 5000 participants climb cycling, running or walking the Alpe d’Huez, a mountain in the French Alps. The height difference between Start and Finish is 1100 meters with an average increase of 7.9%. The road to the top is 14.5 kilometers long and has 21 turns. “It is 21 times,” laughs Ramon Lieuwes. He is in the organization of Team Assen.
Cyclists go up a maximum of 6 times and walkers a maximum of 3 times. “I go for six times, if the weather remains good,” says participant Tom Buls Hoopvol.
Many children from Team Assen control the mountain with a special person in mind. “I cycle for my mother,” says Emma. “She died of cancer a few years ago. I stick a picture of her on my bike rod. When I sit through it I look at her and then I know what I do it again.”
That immediately makes the sporting event very emotional. “Everyone has their own story,” explains Lieuwes. “Because we are with so much, you have the idea that you are doing it together,” adds Emma. “Whether you are walking or cycling: you support each other. That is really a very nice feeling.”
Together, the 180 students from continued and secondary vocational education raised more than 240,000 euros. “Chances are that even more money will be added,” Lieuwes predicts.
Tomorrow morning at 4 o’clock the trucks leave with racing bikes, the students board the bus to the French Alps on Sunday evening. Then they have a few days to train. Thursday 5 June is the sporting event Alpe d’HuZes.