The VAM-berg Cross was scheduled for this coming weekend, an international UCI C2 cyclocross race. It was scheduled because, after commendable editions in 2023 (national level) and 2024 (international), the race will not take place this year. The event is organized by the cycling club De Peddelaars from Hoogeveen, who wanted to step into the gap left by the Superprestige Gieten a few years ago. However, the organizers cannot balance the budget, explains organizer Johan Buurmeijer to WielerFlits.
A little less than a month ago, Buurmeijer and his team decided to remove the race from the calendar, which was originally planned for Sunday, November 16. This year, the cyclocross would have taken place at the international level for the second time. The European Championships were still held at the VAM-berg in 2022. However, the step towards a sustainable international race currently weighs too heavily on the organization. “We really did our best to make everything financially work out, but it just didn’t," Buurmeijer says. “Then you have to be honest and say: it’s not going to happen this year.”
Part of the problem is the location. “The VAM-berg is fantastic, but also expensive. There’s nothing there. You have to bring everything in: power, barriers, tents, toilets, you name it. That just costs a lot of money. We have many loyal sponsors who mainly support us by providing equipment. For us, this year it broke down on gathering the UCI-mandated prize money requirement. There is a minimum attached to this, which we didn’t reach.”
Growing pains
Buurmeijer and company could not avoid this reality. Setting up a bigger VIP tent is also not a solution, because the race is (still) too small for that. “We were facing a deficit of about 10,000 euros. In theory, it might still have been possible to cover that, but all in all, it takes an enormous amount of time. And that’s time we as volunteers don’t always have. Everything happens through the club. That means everyone does their utmost besides their jobs, whereas many races are organized by companies. They have staff employed to raise funds.”
Atmosphere from the 2024 cross – photo: VAM-berg Cross
The cancellation of the VAM-berg Cross for elites this year does not mean a definitive farewell, according to Buurmeijer. “The youth cross — which De Peddelaars also organizes — will still take place a day earlier (on Saturday, November 15, ed.). We do this deliberately. This way we keep our volunteers and youth members engaged. We want to keep the club active and show that we can still put on something special. Although it does mean that some sponsors have withdrawn now that the UCI race won’t happen. That’s unfortunate, but understandable.”
Later this year, the club will again sit down with the province and sponsors to organize the UCI cross for the coming three years. “It would be a shame if this race didn’t take place, because the location is unique. But maybe we have to do it differently. The Heerderstrand also hosts a great race. Since they became an Exact Cross, you see a much stronger field coming there. That’s something to consider. But as a club, we didn’t want to be stuck with the financial burden now. Canceling was the only sensible decision.”
VAM-berg cross| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58:57 | |
| 2 | + 15 | |
| 3 | + 47 | |
| 4 | + 51 | |
| 5 | + 01:25 | |
| 6 | + 02:12 | |
| 7 | + 02:15 | |
| 8 | + 02:25 | |
| 9 | + 02:46 | |
| 10 | + 03:04 |
VAM-berg cross| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45:46 | |
| 2 | + 14 | |
| 3 | + 01:27 | |
| 4 | + 01:54 | |
| 5 | + 02:21 | |
| 6 | + 03:17 | |
| 7 | + 03:41 | |
| 8 | + 04:13 | |
| 9 | + 04:27 | |
| 10 | + 04:56 |
