{"id":3003,"date":"2021-11-22T19:47:15","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T19:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=3003"},"modified":"2026-10-05T14:33:41","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T14:33:41","slug":"on-the-trail-of-la-vuelta-holanda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/nederland\/in-het-spoor-van-la-vuelta-holanda","title":{"rendered":"Following in the footsteps of La Vuelta Holanda"},"content":{"rendered":"

The start of La Vuelta in the Netherlands is not until 2022. After the postponement of 2020, this presents a great opportunity to put the Netherlands on the map as a cycling country. We are already seeing that the Netherlands is a beautiful cycling destination, as shown by various<\/a> media. A stage like the Vuelta is a unique opportunity. In collaboration with the Utrecht Heuvelrug, we are publishing a number of articles around this round in the starting point of Utrecht and its immediate surroundings. We set off with a beautiful group to ride the highest climb of the Vuelta Holland: the Amerongse Berg. On the site of Utrecht's Heuvelrug<\/a> We have slightly adapted an existing route using Komoot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Car at the lock<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is 10 a.m. on Saturday when I pull up my race bike at the parking lot near Slot Zeist. The starting point of this Vuelta Holanda route is in the village of Zeist, about 10 kilometers from Utrecht, where the \u2018real Vuelta\u2019 will start in the summer of 2022. On this ride, I, Sander, together with co-founder Ruben, Rik de Voogd and Alice a.k.a. Gringalice, will be looking for some beautiful stretches on the Heuvelrug. At the same time, we will see who is the fastest up the climb of the Amerongse Berg. Although, that is the plan in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I am still calmly looking on my phone to see if this is indeed the right place, I am almost knocked over by Rik and Alice, who have come together this way. The 100-kilometer route seems to bring a lot of joy anyway. Everyone is happy, almost ecstatic. The weather (gray, no sun) and the forecast (a little rain) would otherwise suggest otherwise. If Ruben also joins us, the atmosphere is good. The bikes are ready: let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Majestic start<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Slot Zeist<\/a> It is a beautiful location. You can get married in this 17th-century castle, hold a party, take a guided tour, have a picnic and much more. The castle has a very wide driveway and a beautiful large castle pond. It really is a sight to behold. We don\u2019t know how soon we\u2019ll have to grab our cameras and phones to capture it all. From here we roll off the wide driveway to the right and head out into the countryside around Driebergen. We pass by some of our favorite places, including:. Castle Sterkenburg<\/a>. But anyway. First, let me take some photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driebergen-Rijssenburg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From Zeist, you drive fairly quickly towards Driebergen. At the renewed station of Driebergen-Zeist, we eventually turn right and then just before Odijk, we turn left onto the Rijnseweg, later the Langbroekerdijk, which eventually leads to the T-junction near the aforementioned Ridderhofstad Sterkenburg. For the cyclists among us: this road is also the LF4 \u2013 Midden Nederlandroute. I find this a very nice road to cycle on. Good asphalt, clear, plenty to see. I usually cycle it a little differently with a loop through Kasteel Beverweert<\/a>. Now we take the straight line and it certainly doesn\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gooijerdijk \u2013 Ruiterberg \u2013 Hoogstraat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We swing to the left at the Castle to get over the Sterkenburgerlaan and eventually turn right, onto the gooijerdijk. This is another lovely stretch of road. Very car-free, it winds a bit and if you have the wind from the side, there is plenty of shelter, both on the left and on the right. Lovely! Finally, we cross the provincial road and turn slightly further on to Sandenburgerlaan. Just before the restaurant, we stop for photos. It\u2019s time to prepare for the dreaded combination of Ruiterberg \u2013 Hoogstraat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After climbing the Ruiterberg we roll down the hill and I notice that I am heavier than my groupmates. While I\u2019m pedaling, two of us lift the bike with our hands. Something\u2019s not right here. I frantically look for the motor in the other bikes. No luck. The Hoogstraat is the same. Fortunately, they\u2019re a bit considerate of me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prologue \u2013 STOP!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Right below the Amerongse Berg is the pro cycling caf\u00e9 Proloog. Despite being only 28 kilometers into the journey (a short hour), we still decided to have a quick coffee. Proloog is a wonderful cycling caf\u00e9; the coffee is always good and the cake (according to language experts Rik and Ruben) is good! After a break of about 30 minutes, we climb back on the bike and literally climb up. This is the highest point of the La Vuelta Holanda route. According to me, I wasn\u2019t the first to reach it; so that blue jersey goes by right in front of me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Along the Canal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The route we are taking eventually leads to the Austerlitz Pyramid. The direct route is relatively short, so we have added a loop that includes Amersfoort, one of the places that will be featured in La Vuelta Holanda. We ride a beautiful stretch along the Valleikanaal, over the bridle path on the border between Gelderland and Utrecht. The path winds beautifully; it is very quiet on this autumn Saturday, and the people we meet greet us kindly back. Disclaimer: In the summer and on sunny days, it is very crowded here. Grouped cyclists will not have any fun. As an alternative, take the route along the railway and via Woudenberg towards the Leusderheide. Everyone will be delighted there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Galgenberg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amersfoort is not only known for the Muurhuizen (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Koppelpoort and the Amersfoortse Ke, but also for the Amersfoortse Berg (Amersfoort Mountain). According to the topo, it is called \u2018Galgenberg\u2019. No real mountain biker (born in Amersfoort) would call that thing that way. It is either \u2018the Berg\u2019 referring to the posh neighborhood that lies opposite it, or \u2018the Amersfoortse Berg\u2019. You can ride a nice circuit here, combined with Laan 1914 and then back via the Stichtse Rotonde. That way you can get a nice elevation gain in a short time. The Surinamese man even has a section with a 5% and you shouldn't miss the venomous section near the Belgian Monument either! There is a lot of history here and therefore a lot of sand too. You can have fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Take off via Austerlitz and Soesterberg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finally, we make a small loop around the hill and drive back via the Utrecht road towards the Tankbaan. This stretch of asphalt was previously literally designed for tanks that had to maneuver between Kamp Zeist, Soesterberg and the barracks around Amersfoort and the Leusderheide. It is great to cycle here because a tank has a considerable turning circle, so it needs a lot of space. Enjoy! You climb up a hill and then descend quickly towards the Leusderheide. Turn right, look at the training area and after a few kilometers you\u2019ll be at the traffic light at the bottom of the Austerlitz pyramid<\/a>. This climb is often part of the Ronde van Midden Nederland and has also been part of a major race. Upwards is still quite tough and once you\u2019re up there you can really tour the pyramid (if you\u2019re near the restaurant along the provincial road, you really have to work hard) or you can drive towards Zeist. We do the latter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Airbase<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The descent of the pyramid is wonderful. It really glides down, you have great visibility and you can make some nice speed. Don't go too fast, because there are a few dangerous intersections. Also just before you enter Zeist you have to be careful, because before you know it you're on the bonnet of Louis van Gaal or Memphis. The KNVB Campus is located here on the left side. We continue along the provincial road towards the former Vliegbasis Soesterberg. Outside the breeding season (November-April), you can ride around here and do some laps on the beautiful, wide asphalt. It's a photogenic place, so you'll also see a lot of couples here, but also a lot of cyclists. We split up here to get our Instagrammers to come out too. It's a bit chilly, so after a short break we continue towards the finish point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Refueling and going home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The route eventually leads us back towards Zeist, but with a detour via Bilt and Bunnik. Just before we want to turn towards Bunnik, we stop at Restaurant Pomp 41.<\/a> While we enjoy a fantastic lunch, I decide to turn here and head home. The 100 kilometers are over and I can already dream about the route to Slot Zeist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The finale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Would you like to know more about the Vuelta Holland<\/a>? Then take a look here on the site for the routes and the starting points. Lovers of beautiful routes can also take a look on the website of the Utrecht's Heuvelrug<\/a>. There you will find a number of nice inspirational routes that you can follow. Komoot<\/a> Can be completely customized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would you like to follow our own route? Check the route below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n