The Dutch Headwind Cycling Championships (in Dutch: NK Tegenwindfietsen, ) are an annual Dutch cycling time trial championships that takes place during storms of wind force 7 (50 km/h) or higher. They are not regulated by the Royal Dutch Cycling Union.
The Championships take place on the Oosterscheldekering storm barrier, which faces the North Sea, and have been held in autumn or winter since 2013. Competitors must ride the 8.5 km course against the wind on upright single-speed bicycles, which are provided by the organization. The championships are announced three days before a storm is expected. Since 2014 there is also a team time trial. A total of 200 individual cyclists (300 cyclists in 2020) can participate, plus 25 teams of four cyclists. Participants start 30 seconds apart from each other and the one with the fastest time wins.
In 2020 both the male and female reigning champions (from 2018) successfully defended their titles. In 2023 the event was cancelled because of heavy storm.
Editions YearDate Wind force Men Time Women Time Team Time 2013December 15, 20135 Bart Brentjens 17m 51sec Irene Tesink 19m 31sec N/A 2014December 11, 20148 SW Wouter Mesker 18m 06sec Nathalie Simoens 22m 34sec Wind in de Rug Wouter Mesker Kaj Hendriks Melvin Hekman Erik van Lakerveld 16m 30.653sec 2015 October 11, 20157 Pico de Jager19m15s Mathilde Matthijsse21m23sWind in de Rug18m39s2016November 20, 20169 (code yellow) Teun Sweere22m30s Mathilde Matthijsse28m09sJan de Jonge Fietsen21m34s2017 Did not take place, due to the absence of stormy conditions2018 December 8, 20187 Max de Jong18m16s Lisa Scheenaard20m28s Team Nooitstop2019 Did not take place2020February 9, 2020 (during Storm Ciara) 8 (code orange) Max de Jong 20m00s Lisa Scheenaard23m08s No team winner — contest stopped early due to overly dangerous conditions2021 Did not take place due to COVID-192022February 6, 20227 (code yellow) Jurjun van der Velde 20m23s Lisa Scheenaard22m53sTeam Nooitstop15m14s2023 Cancelled due to too heavy winds during Storm Ciarán
See also Dutch National Time Trial Championships Dutch National Road Race Championships
References