As the world tries to find solutions to slow climate change during the COP28 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, we look at the actions of some of our UCI Bike Cities and Regions. Spotlight on Limburg-Valkenburg, in the Netherlands.
Limburg-Valkenburg was one of the first recipients of the UCI Bike Region label, back in 2016.
Home to major cycling events, including the Amstel Gold Race and Amstel Gold Race Ladies, over 50 cycling competitions take place in the Dutch province each year. In 2024, a stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will set off from Valkenburg on 14 August.
In addition, some 100 cyclo-sportives attract 75,000 participants of all ages annually.
Limburg Cycling, the central organisation for cycling in Limburg, has a strategy to increase the use of bikes to benefit health and the economy. Through its culture of cycling and policy of inclusion, Limburg-Valkenburg helps promote the bike as a solution to climate change.
Its programmes of competitions, recreational events, talent development, branding and school projects have attracted sponsors, enabling the creation of durable activities and events, with the support of the Province of Limburg and communities such as Valkenburg.
In 2017 the Tom Dumoulin Bikepark was opened by the Dutch professional road cyclist himself just after he had won the Giro d’Italia. This Bikepark with hill gradients up to 20% and a 3.8 km track provides a safe environment for children and adults to ride their bikes and participate in races.
Indeed, Limburg Cycling works with professional UCI road teams and their athletes, helping to instill the cycling culture among young old. Projects have been carried out with teams such as Team DSM-Firmenich (formerly Team Sunweb) with Ladies Only clinics, Team Jumbo-Visma, and UCI Women’s Continental Team Parkhotel-Valkenburg. Former mountain bike cross-country UCI World Champion (1995) and Olympic Champion (1996) Bart Brentjens is also a Limburg Cycling partner for children’s mountain bike clinics and to promote the region for all cyclists.
“We use the power of professional cycling to grow as a platform, get more participation, better results and to promote cycling in general,” says Milan van Wersch, Manager at Limburg Cycling. Limburg Cycling’s ambassadors included former professionals such as Roy Curvers, Marc Lotz, Bram Tankink and former time trial UCI World Champion Tom Dumoulin.
“Tom Dumoulin’s involvement in youth cycling started already when he was on the bike, and since he ended his career, this has only increased. We are blessed to have such a great ambassador for the sport in general and in Limburg in particular.”
Other initiatives led by professionals have included events for children and a Time Trial Clinic.
Activities are largely aimed at developing citizens’ cycling skills and participation in competitions, but they are also rubbing off on the general population. According to Strava Metro - the largest collection of human-powered transport information in the world - bike trips in Limburg increased by more than 50% between 2019 and 2023.
Good news for the fight to slow climate change.