For more than fifty years he has been traveling throughout the country to steer cycling races in the right direction. Rieks Poelman from Assen may be 75 years old, this weekend two Drenthe cycling races will be accompanied by him with the help of dozens of motards from his motorcycle guidance team Assen.
Despite all those years, he still can’t get enough of it. The passion makes the age subordinate. “Organizing gives a lot of energy and remains fun to do. Even after all those decades I already have on it.” This weekend Poelman is allowed to get back to work, because both the Dorpenomloop right through Drenthe, from Assen through nine municipalities to Gieten, and the cobblestone circulation in Exloo are under his reign.
An assignment from stature, because dozens of motards from his file are present to steer both rates in the right direction. They come from all over the country. “Unlike in the west of the country, the races here are even more accessible. That is why Motards think it is nice to go to work here from the surrounding area. This is all a bit smoother here.”
And the number of applications has only increased in recent months, because police officers have indicated that they will no longer guide cycling races. It costs the Hermandad too much manpower. As a result, several cycling races are on loose screws. Motor guidance team Assen offers a way out.
“We have received many more applications since that decision. The summer months are almost full. It is all manageable for the time being, because we are now in the eighty to a hundred applications per year. But it requires a lot of the volunteers.”
Because those motards may be in the front to see all that cycling violence, they don’t get rich. It is and remains a pure hobby with no finances.
“That is why you usually see motards that are already old. People often pick it up as a hobby, when they are sitting at home and no more have to work. But in recent years that number has risen less sharply than before, because the retirement age has of course gone up,” says Poelman.
After this busy weekend it is not yet sitting still for Poelman. The 75-year-old organizer is not of that either. Staying busy is his motto. The previously canceled Dutch championship continues, and so Poelman is present with his motards. “Van Arnhem moves the course to Ede. So everything has to be prepared for that. But first get through this weekend,” Poelman concludes with a smile.