RTV NOF | Boat Sape Schoorstra
Monday, July 22, 2024
SURHUISTERVEEN – “The yellow jersey within the Profronde is and can stay particular,” says Erik Jager, board member of the Surhuisterveen Biking Committee to Omrop Fryslân. With the arrival of Tour winner Tadej Pogacar on the most well-known biking occasion in Friesland, spectacle is assured, in response to him. “We’ll make it an incredible night.”
The committee is overjoyed. “It’s implausible that we’ve managed to do that. We’re actually thrilled!” says Jager. It’s the primary time that Pogacar is at first of the Profronde. Along with the Tour, Pogacar additionally received the Giro d’Italia earlier this yr. Pogacar had indicated that he would solely trip one criterium after the Tour de France. The truth that he selected Surhuisterveen is particular, however in response to Jager, not completely stunning.
‘To make up for one thing’
“Final yr he had already promised to come back, however then he needed to cancel on the final minute as a consequence of fatigue. Since then we have now all the time stored in good contact together with his administration. Pogacar apparently felt that he nonetheless had one thing to make up for to us. Sunday morning we acquired affirmation that he’ll certainly come.” “The second we despatched out the message that Pogacar could be at first with us in Surhuisterveen, the telephone hardly stopped ringing. And naturally we get numerous reactions from folks within the village and the encircling space. Everybody thinks it’s implausible.”
Yellow jerseys
The Surhuisterveen Biking Committee has a fame to uphold relating to signing Tour de France winners. Prior to now, Marco Pantani (1998), Alberto Contador (2007 and 2009), Cadel Evans (2011), Vincenzo Nibali (2014) and Chris Froome (2016) have come to Friesland of their yellow jersey. Pogacar is the following massive identify in that line. Nevertheless, in response to Erik Jager, it has turn out to be more and more troublesome to signal high cyclists over time. “Prior to now, cyclists preferred to trip a couple of criteriums after the Tour, however instances have modified. They now have such a decent and well-thought-out schedule. The competitors program they are going to trip is already decided firstly of the yr and a criterium doesn’t simply slot in between.”
To not Paris
After the Surhuisterveen Profronde, Pogacar was imagined to go on to a really massive occasion: the Olympic Video games. He was imagined to be in motion on Saturday 3 August, however withdrew on Monday. The 25-year-old could be too drained to take part within the Video games after the Tour de France. That makes it all of the extra particular, additionally in response to Erik Jager, that Pogacar will come to Friesland. Jager: “Usually we have now between 25,000 and 30,000 folks across the course. However I anticipate it to be additional busy this time. I estimate that a minimum of 5,000 extra folks will come.”
Whether or not the Surhuisterveen Biking Committee needed to dig deep into their pockets for this, Jager leaves undecided. It’s common data that cyclists can typically earn some huge cash within the criteriums after the Tour de France, with insiders saying that the beginning charge for superstars can simply quantity to half a ton. Jager: “When quantities are talked about, I all the time snigger. In fact, it’s fairly a pleasant quantity that he will get right here, however he actually would not must do it for that. He earns an incredible wage together with his workforce. This in Surhuisterveen is only a good factor for him.”
‘A really strange boy’
And Pogacar would not want any particular remedy both. No limousine, no luxurious resort room, not to mention different extravagant issues to please the Tour winner. Based on Jager, Pogacar is a really strange man. “He isn’t a pop star, . His administration arranges for him to come back to the Netherlands, that he’s taken by automotive from the airport to Surhuisterveen and that every part is neatly organized. We ensure that he could be extensively launched to the general public and that everybody can see him up shut. We make it an exquisite night.”
Writer: Omrop Fryslân
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