ABOUT

Race around the Netherlands is a fully self-supported bike packing race.

The RatN is a do-it-yourself challenge.

You are your own ride organizer.

Understand that this is a personal challenge against the clock. Not against others!

It is 1900k in distance with 6800m of elevation.

The RatN has two categories – solo and pair.

Start and finish location:

De Proloog Cafe
Allemanswaard 27
3958 KA Amerongen
https://deproloog.cc/

Start time and date:

Update: Event got postponed. New date:

Sign up: August 28th from 1200 to 1800 local time.
Pasta: August 28th at 1800 local time.
Start: Solo riders: August 29th at 0800 local time.
Start: Pair riders: August 29th at 0810 local time.
Official Finish: September 6th at 1800 local time.

RULES

1. Riders must complete the full course from start to finish under their own power.

2. Riders must be fully self-supported.

3. No Drafting at any time.
(pair riders may draft each other)

4. Riders must follow the Dutch laws at any time.

5. Riders are required to use a provided GPS device.

6. No prize money.

ROUTE

The start and finish is in the village of Amerongen, located at the Utrechtse Heuvelrug at the famous cycling cafe De Proloog. The route takes us first along the rivers Neder-Rijn and the Waal to the historic cities of Nijmegen and Arnhem (known from the film “A Bridge Too Far” about the Operation Market Garden). Next you leave the beautiful river landscape and the historic cities behind and the route takes you through the National Park Veluwezoom. The National Park is known for its endless heath fields, imposing country estates and of course one of the most famous hills in the Netherlands, the Posbank.

You will pass through the heart of Enschede and along the Dolmens in the province of Drenthe, prehistoric burial chambers where the cycle route passes by. After which the route leads you through the city of Groningen.

The wind starts to get stronger along the coastline. Instead of crossing the Ijsselmeer over one of the icons of the Dutch flood defense, the Afsluitdijk, riders will ride around the Ijsselmeer and will pass scenic harbors in the towns of Enkhuizen and Hoorn.

den Header the route takes you south along the Dutch coast. Beautiful beaches and dunes with little to no buildings, towards the port of Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe. First you will cycle through the city of Rotterdam and across the Erasmus bridge towards the Maasvlakte.

The route takes you further south over the Delta Park Neeltje Jans, which is part of the Dutch flood defense, in the direction of Vlissingen. A historic city due to its strategic location. In the Eighty Years’ War between the Netherlands and Spain, the city was in Spanish hands for a while.

You cycle along the Belgian border towards the hills in the province of Limburg. Where you hit one of the iconic Dutch hills, the Keutenberg with a maximum gradient of 16%.

If you have conquered the hills you cycle back through the beautiful river landscape of the Maas towards Nijmegen. Via the southern side of the rivers over the dikes you will finish at the cafe De Proloog.

- Halfway point -
Madmen bicycles and coffee

We plan to open 24 hours for any RATN racer from may 2nd 8am till may 5th 20.00. We are located around km 860 (52.3624072, 4.9808662). We suppose riders can do 200-800km per day. And we make sure we track the race online. We have bikesupplies for all at discounted prices, a 50% discount on our deals for proven racers and charging points, toilet, wifi for free. You can recharge at any time during these days. Just knock on the door and we let you in!