The Dutch Headwind Cycling Championships took place today at the Oosterscheldekering (in English: Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier) in the southern province of Zeeland.
This year was the third running of the championships and the winner of the inaugural race was Bart Brentjens, former World and Olympic champion mountain biker.
The winner of this year’s race was Pico de Yager with a time of 19’15” with Wouter Mesker taking second 16″ behind.
Competitors must ride the 8.5 km course against the wind on upright single-speed bikes, which come from the organisers. The championships are announced three days before a storm is expected as the organisers wait for the ‘perfect’ conditions. Riders have faced headwinds of up to 90 kmph in the past.
Since 2014, there has also been a team time trial. A total of 200 individual cyclists can participate with 25 teams of four cyclists. Participants start 30 seconds apart from each other and the one with the fastest time wins.
This video of last year’s race shows what the competitors had to face.
Simon Garrett Ed Dursley Steven Clarke we’d be quite good at this I fancy!!
Sit up and beg team time trial!
Just like riding bidford to Honeybourne hell on earth
Andrew O’Hara
Every bloody day u go out in Ireland is a headwind championship….
This has Pete Walkers name all over it haha!