For almost fifty years, the organization of the day after the Tour has been able to bring large cycling names to Boxmeer. In 2026 it will be a big party, because then is the fiftieth edition of the event. But while Thymen Arensman is the first to cross the finish line with a small lead, chairman Pierre Hermans is concerned about the survival of the day after the Tour: “It is becoming increasingly difficult to organize such a large criterion.”
When Pierre Hermans started as chairman of the day after the Tour, there were still around fifty cycling criteria throughout the Netherlands. In the meantime, according to the ‘Rondbaas’, there are only thirteen. “Why is they having a hard time? It is often about money or board members, but too few people talk about safety. While that costs more and more.”
Don’t hunt safety
It used to be simple, says Hermans. “Then we stranded a red-white ribbon along the road, and now there are all kinds of rules that we must meet. And that is good, because safety is important. But it also means that the costs for this have doubled in a few years.” And so the chairman is a bit worried about the survival of the day after the Tour.
Yet he does not want to cut back on safety. “You may be able to save on riders, by inviting less big names. But of course safety is not allowed to be hunted,” says Hermans firmly. “If something goes wrong, then you are liable.”
Fiftieth edition: yellow sweater?
Hermans is optimistic, but realistic. “At the moment things are going well with the day after the Tour. We belong to the criteria that will continue to exist for a while. But you never know for sure.” He knows one thing for sure: as long as he is chairman, the event will remain free. “I think that is important. Also the fiftieth edition, in 2026, will remain accessible free of charge.”
For that edition he is already thinking about a special guest: “I want the Tour winner,” he says grinning. “If it is to pay and if he wants, we can get that arranged next year,” it sounds promising.
Whether it is really possible to get the man with the yellow sweater to Boxmeer, he never knows for sure. “But the day after the tour there will be next year. We still have some fat on the bones.”
Winner the day after the Tour 2025
Public favorite Thymen Arensman won the 49th edition of the day after the Tour. He crossed the finish line a little after 22:00. Jonathan Milan was in the wheel and followed with a second place. Danny van Poppel from Moergestel sprinted to third place.
Arensman previously won the fourteenth mountain stage from Pau to Luchon superbagnères. The Dutchman also crossed the finish line of the nineteenth stage to La Plagne.
With the women the victory went to Ellen van Dijk, for Nienke Veenhoven and Floortje Mackaij.