In 2024, organisers announced that the race had been cancelled, owing to increasing costs, regulations and lack of support from the police.[1]
History
Men's event
The race was first held in 1960 as an amateur event.[2] Since 2005, the men's event has been part of the UCI Europe Tour. It became a 1.HC race in 2017.[3]
Between 2010 and 2015, Dwars door Drenthe was held on the same weekend as the Ronde van Drenthe.[4] In 2011, Ronde van Drenthe and Dwars door Drenthe were held as a combined stage race, with each day retaining its own branding. The events reverted to being separate events in 2012.
In November 2023, organisers announced that the men's race would not be held from 2024 onwards.[5] The women's event would continue. Organisers stated the cancellation was due to increasing costs, regulations and lack of support from the police.[1]
2008 Ronde van Drenthe
Women's event
A women's event was first held in 1998 as Novilon Eurocup, a one-day race.[6] Between 2003 and 2006, this was held as a three-day event.[7][8]
In 2007, these three stages were replaced by three one-day races - the Novilon Eurocup, Drenthe 8 of Dwingeloo and Ronde van Drenthe.[9][10][11] In 2015, the Novilon Eurocup was held for the last time, and the Drenthe 8 became Drentse 8 van Westerveld.
In 2024, organisers announced that the women's race would not be held from 2025 onwards, thereby cancelling the event. Organisers stated the cancellation was due to increasing costs, regulations and lack of support from the police.[1]
Route
The races used generally flat roads in the Drenthe region of the Netherlands, with the challenge being multiple ascents of the VAM-berg [nl] – a hill built on a landfill site. The climb was 750m in length with an average gradient of 4.2% and a maximum gradient of 20%.[12] Other difficulties were the ten cobbled sections on the route.[13]
^"News for April 7, 2001". autobus.cyclingnews.com. 7 April 2001. Retrieved 2023-04-13. Both the men's and women's versions of the Ronde van Drenthe, scheduled for April 7, have been cancelled. The reason given is the Foot and Mouth outbreak in the Netherlands, that caused the cancellation of several other races recently.
