The start of La Vuelta in the Netherlands is not until 2022. After the postponement of 2020, this gives a great opportunity to put the Netherlands on the map as a cycling country. That the Netherlands is a great cycling destination can already be seen in different media. A stage like the Vuelta is a unique opportunity. In cooperation with the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, we published a number of articles around this round in starting city Utrecht and its immediate surroundings. We set off with a nice group to ride the highest climb of the Vuelta Holanda: the Amerongse Berg. On the site of Utrecht Hill Ridge we slightly modified an existing route using Komoot.
Car on lock
It is 10 o'clock on Saturday morning when I turn onto the car park at Slot Zeist with my road bike. The starting point of this Vuelta Holanda route is in the village of Zeist, about 10 kilometres from Utrecht, where 'the real Vuelta' will start in the summer of 2022. On this ride, me, Sander, together with co-founder Ruben, Rik de Voogd and Alice a.k.a. Gringalice, will be looking for some nice stretches on the Heuvelrug. In addition, we'll see right away who is the fastest at the top of the Amerongse Berg climb. Although, that's initially the plan.
While I am still quietly checking on my phone to see if this is the right place, I am almost knocked over by Rik and Alice, who have come this way together. At least the 100-kilometre route seems to bring a lot of joy. Everyone is happy, almost elated. The weather (grey, no sun) and the forecast (a bit of rain) would suggest otherwise. When Ruben also joins us, the mood is well and truly set. The bikes are ready: let's go!
Majestic start
Lock Zeist is a beautiful venue. You can get married in this 17th-century castle, throw a party, take a guided tour, have a picnic and much more. The castle has a huge wide driveway and a beautiful large castle pond. A real picture. We don't know how quickly to grab cameras and phones to capture that. From here, we roll down the wide castle avenue and turn right out of the village, towards the countryside around Driebergen. We pass some favourite spots, including. Sterkenburg castle. Anyway. First, let's shoot some pictures.
Driebergen-Rijssenburg
From Zeist, you drive fairly quickly towards Driebergen. We eventually turn right at the renovated Driebergen-Zeist station and then, just before Odijk, turn left onto Rijnseweg, later Langbroekerdijk, which eventually ends at the T-junction at the aforementioned Ridderhofstad Sterkenburg. For the touring cyclists among us: this road is also the LF4 - Midden Nederlandroute. I personally find this a very pleasant road to cycle on. Good tarmac, clear, plenty to see. I usually cycle it slightly differently with a Loop via Beverweert Castle. So now we take the straight line and it certainly does not disappoint.
Gooijerdijk - Ruiterberg - Hoogstraat
We swing left at the Castle to finally turn right across Sterkenburgerlaan, onto the gooijerdijk. This is another fine stretch. Very car-free, it meanders a bit and if you have the wind from the side, there is lots of shelter, both left and right. Lovely! Eventually we cross the provincial road and we turn into Sandenburgerlaan a little further on. Just before the restaurant, we stop for photos. It's getting ready for the dreaded combo Ruiterberg - Hoogstraat!
After climbing Ruiterberg, we roll on downhill and I notice that I am having a harder time than my group mates. While I am buffeting, two of us are cycling with our hands loosely raised. Something is not right here. I search diligently for the motor in the other bikes. To no avail. The High Street ditto. Fortunately, they are a bit considerate of me.
Prologue - STOP!
Just at the bottom of Amerongse Berg sits cycling café Prologue. Despite only being 28 kilometres on the road (a scant hour), we still go for a 'bakkie'. Proloog is a lovely cycling café, the coffee is always good and the cake is (according to linguists Rik and Ruben) good! After a break of about 30 minutes, we climb back on our bikes and literally climb up too. Here lies the highest point of the La Vuelta Holanda route. I don't think I was the first at the top, so the blue polka dot jersey passes me by nicely.
Along the canal
The route we ride eventually heads towards the Pyramid of Austerlitz. The direct route is relatively short, so we added a loop that includes Amersfoort, also one of the places that will shine in La Vuelta Holanda. We ride a beautiful stretch along the Valleikanaal canal, along the towpath on the border of Gelderland and Utrecht. The path meanders nicely, it is nice and quiet on this autumn Saturday, and the people we meet greet kindly back. Disclaimer: in summer and on sunny days, this place is very busy. Groups of cyclists are not going to enjoy themselves then. As an alternative, take the route along the railway and via Woudenberg towards the Leusderheide. That will make everyone happy.
Galgenberg
Amersfoort is not only known for the Muurhuizen (UNESCO world heritage site), the Koppelpoort and the Amersfoort boulder, but also for the Amersfoort mountain among cyclists. According to the topo, it is called 'Galgenberg'. No boulder rider (born in Amersfoort) would call it that. It is either 'de Berg' referring to the posh neighbourhood next to it, or 'de Amersfoortse Berg'. You can do a nice little circuit here, in combination with Laan 1914 and then return via the Stichtse Rotonde. That way, you'll pick up some altimeters in a short time. Surinamelaan even has a section at 5% and the vicious section at the Belgenmonument is not to be missed! There is a lot of history here and therefore also a lot of sand. You can have your fun.
Take-off via Austerlitz and Soesterberg
Finally, we make a small loop of mountain and drive back towards the Tankbaan via the Utrecht road. This stretch of asphalt used to be literally for tanks to manoeuvre between Camp Zeist, Soesterberg and the barracks around Amersfoort and Leusderheide. It is great cycling here as a tank has a considerable turning circle so needs a lot of space. Enjoy! You ride up a little climb and then descend just as quickly towards the Leusderheide. Turn right, look at the training grounds and after a few kilometres you are at the traffic lights at the bottom of the Pyramid of Austerlitz. This climb is often in the Ronde van Midden Nederland and has sometimes been in a major tour. Up it is still a bit tough and once at the top you can ride all the way to the pyramid (if you are at the restaurant along the provincial road, you have to do your best) or you can continue towards Zeist. We do the latter.
air base
The descent from the pyramid is lovely. It really slopes down, you have a great overview and you can pick up speed nicely. Don't go too fast, because there are a few dangerous crossings. Also, just before you drive into Zeist, you have to pay attention, because before you know it you're on the bonnet of Louis van Gaal or Memphis. The KNVB Campus is on the left here. We continue along the provincial road towards the former Soesterberg Air Base. Outside the breeding season (November-April), you can drive around and do blocks here on the beautiful, wide asphalt. It's a photogenic spot, so you'll also come across many couples here, as well as many cyclists. We split up briefly to let the instagrammers among us get their money's worth here too. It is chilly though, so after a short break we continue towards our destination.
Refuel and go home
The route eventually leads us back towards Zeist, but with a loop via De Bilt and Bunnik. Just before we want to turn towards Bunnik, we stop at restaurant Pump 41. As we feast on a fantastic lunch, I make the decision to turn off towards home here. The 100 kilometres are over and I can dream of the route towards Slot Zeist by now.
Valve
Would you like to know more about the Vuelta Holanda? Then check the site for here for routes and starting points. Fans of scenic routes can also take a look at the website of the Utrecht Hill Ridge. There you'll find some great inspiration routes you can take in Komoot completely customisable.
Want to recreate our own route? Then check out the route below!
