NK cycling in 2022 or 2023 possible in Swiss mountains

If it is up to KNWU director Thorwald Veneberg, the Dutch cycling championship will be held in the Swiss Alps within a few years. The idea for a mountainous NK in Austria did not get off the ground, but a title battle in Switzerland seems possible. Even in 2022 or 2023.

Last year, the idea for a climbing NK was first mooted by Jumbo-Visma manager Richard Plugge. He also wants to give the climbers of the Netherlands the chance to win the Dutch title. Hilly courses in Limburg are not considered selective enough. So the KNWU investigated the options. Talks were also held with the Austrian region of Tyrol, among others, but those discussions failed.

“They saw opportunities in Switzerland”
It did not stop with Austria, Veneberg told the WE. “I first contacted Austria. Well, that was a bit difficult. We then also spoke with the Swiss Confederation, Swiss regions and the organization of the Tour de Suisse. They did see opportunities, ”he explains.

The director of the KNWU knows that there will be opposition. “You have people who are not so happy with it anyway. For the teams, we are also looking to keep costs as low as possible. Switzerland is an expensive country, ”said Veneberg. Whether the youth categories are also organized an NK in the Alps is still a point of discussion.

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