From Dylan Groenewegen to Mike Teunissen and from Danny van Poppel to Robbie Mcewen. The mile of Mares knew well -known winners in rich history. The cycling criterion in Maarheeze will not return to the agenda this year. “Despite all the efforts, partly due to the strongly increased costs in recent years, it has not proved to be possible to organize it cost -effective,” says the organization.
For the first cycling criterion in Maarheeze we go back to the year 1963. Then Bas Maliepaard won the competition shortly after the Tour de France. Over the years, the mile of Mares remained a criterion in which famous cyclists, including many Dutch people, liked to participate.
This year the organizing foundation had to decide to put a line through the sporting weekend of 15 and 16 August. “My pain in my heart. Under these circumstances it is not justified to organize the mile,” says a statement. A special think tank bowed over alternative forms. “But unfortunately it was also not possible to come to a feasible solution.”
And so after decades the ’round around the church’ comes to an end and it is questionable whether it will ever return. “Many volunteers, sponsors and visitors have always worked with heart and soul and shown involved in the event,” the organization writes. “The board is therefore very grateful for them. We understand that this news will be a disappointment for many, but hope for understanding this difficult decision.”
A number of criteria are retained for Brabant. The day after the Tour in Boxmeer, for example, a very familiar, but also the turn of the Kaai in Roosendaal and the eight of Chaam are crowd pullers.