What is the Jeudgtour Assen?

In 1964, the first Jeudgtour Assen was organised in and around Assen. Klamer Bos, the first winner, is still a keen follower of the event, even though the race has changed completely over the years. From a race in which mainly regional riders, riders from the rest of the Netherlands and a few from Germany or Denmark took part, it has now become a leading cycling week with participants from all over the world. That is why it is now officially called the European Junior Cycling Tour Assen, where ‘junior’ refers to young people aged 8 to 16.

In 2025, we had stage winners from Australia, Norway, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Great Britain, and the Netherlands. And those aren’t even all the countries that were successful. For years, riders have been coming to Assen from far-flung corners and closer afield, with as many as 32 nationalities on the start list this year: a record.

We expect to welcome around 500 riders on Monday 27 July for a criterium in Assen-Oost. On Tuesday, we’ll ride a beautiful and perhaps windy echelon circuit in Lieveren. The highlight of the week is Wednesday’s stage as we head to the VAM-berg. It has been the venue for World Cup races such as the Tour of Drenthe, European Road and Cyclo-cross Championships, and the Simac Ladies and Holland Tours. Now the young riders will be racing on its steep slopes. We round off the week with a time trial in Emmen and the final circuit through the Asserbos.

What makes the Jeugdtour – as many still affectionately call it – so special? The competition on and off the bike, new and old friendships, the loyal volunteers, the enthusiastic crowds, the beautiful roads of Drenthe, and the memories passed down from father to son and from mother to daughter. The Jeugdtour is about being together, spending a week enjoying everything that the sport and the province Drenthe have to offer.