Rieks van Lubek from Zuidwolde cycles faster than ever around the Netherlands
The 65-year-old Rieks van Lubek from Zuidwolde has successfully completed the Race Around The Netherlands for the second time. He finished last night at 4.45 am and completed the task of cycling no less than 1952 kilometers within nine days.
The start was last Saturday at eight o’clock in the morning with 145 participants from home and abroad in Amerongen, where the finish was also. Rieks was faster than two years ago, when he was on the road for eight days on his debut. In 2020 he already announced at the finish that he wanted to do it again. This year it happened.
The Ice Hares
Rieks van Lubek turned out to be cycling a kilometer long in preparation. On Strava, the route along Meppel, Zwolle and Ommen was a beautiful thing. In the last days before the start, he tempered the number of kilometers. His last preparation ride for the RA was the tour with De IJshazen, his association, on 25 April.
His first stage was Saturday 30 April from Amerongen with a pendulum towards Elburg, down to Arnhem and to the border at Enschede, to drive on to Rijssen. That was almost 312 kilometers from the first resting place. All activities provide a place to sleep and were also completely needed.
Waddencoastline
The second day went on Sunday 1 May over the Sallandse Heuvelrug to Hardenberg, on to Coevorden and via Assen and Groningen to Delfzijl: a total of 268 kilometers. Day three brought Rieks along the Wadden coast line past Lauwersoog and Harlingen near Lemmer into the Flevopolder with the final station in Lelystad. In total almost 290 kilometers. On day four it went along the IJsselmeer coast from North Holland to Den Helder and along the North Sea coast after 288 kilometers to Haarlem. The fifth day was about 272 kilometers south to Vlissingen. On the way, Rieks crossed the port area of Rotterdam, which resulted in the necessary extra kilometres.
While the whole of the Netherlands was celebrating Liberation Day, Rieks bravely cycled from Vlissingen through North Brabant to Limburg with the finish after 251 kilometers in Thorn. That meant that there was still one stage to go, considering the number of kilometers that Rieks covered in one day: from Thorn down towards Vaals, to then cycle north again to finish place Amerongen. That 273 kilometers long him at the finish line tonight.
One day profit
Compared to two years ago, Rieks cycled more kilometers per day, which ultimately gave him a day’s profit. It was hard work, because despite the beautiful weather, about forty participants did not make it to the finish. Lennart Nap arrived on Tuesday and was the fastest of the entire peloton. Rieks van Lubek came as 59 ste at the finish, at the moment some athletes are still on their way.
Information: www.adventurebikeracing.com