Alarm bells

This year, we all enjoyed the 58th edition of the European Junior Cycling Tour Assen. It is a unique week that has been leading the way in the Netherlands and abroad for almost 60 years, but it is also an event that has become increasingly difficult to organise in recent years.

Increased regulatory pressure and legislation in the Netherlands, objections from local residents and a lack of volunteers are issues that all organisations, both voluntary and professional, have to deal with. This also applies to the Jeugdtour Assen. The board of the Stichting Ondersteuning Wielersport has been run by a group of passionate volunteers for many years, but they are now sounding the alarm.

Organising cycling races on public roads has become very difficult, from professional level to youth cycling. As Stichting Ondersteuning Wielrennen, the organisation behind this event, we have a responsibility to guarantee the safety of 600 cyclists. This demands a lot from us as organisers and from our volunteers.

Firstly, there are the many traffic controllers, who must all be officially certified. They are ready all day long in rain and wind to keep the course safe for the riders. In addition, a course must be cordoned off every day. Cordoning off a course and setting up the start/finish area demands a lot from a group of volunteers who put up and take down the fences in the early morning and after the last rider at the end of the day. These are long days. We have fantastic volunteers, but they are getting older and there are not nearly enough of them.

In addition, the six-person board of organisers has to deal with a lot of regulations from national, regional and local authorities in the areas of the environment, road closures and diversions, certification, permits, the daily race plans and objections from local residents, and so much more. Organising an event such as the Jeugdtour Assen requires a great deal of specialised expertise, but above all, an exponential increase in time investment over the past ten years.

We will put it succinctly. As the current organisers, we are fully committed to organising the event at least once more from 27 July to 1 August 2026. However, without new volunteers who we can deploy for that week of the Jeugdtour itself: the traffic controllers, the start/finish team, the drivers or the canteen staff, we cannot continue. Then, unfortunately, there will be no 59^th edition.

We are appealing to you. Give us extra manpower. Come and help. These new volunteers must be in place by 1 December. Based on the interest shown, we will then have to make the difficult decision in early December whether there will be another Jeugdtour next year. We cannot wait any longer to make this decision. This is incredibly difficult and sad for us as the organisers, but it is the harsh reality. If no new people come forward, there will be no Jeugdtour anymore in 2026.

Do you have the time and desire to help with this event? Email us at [email protected] and we will call you back.