Approaching CP2 Parcours

To sleep, or not to sleep

Start Parcours & CP1

Let's roll

Route Preview

Race Preview

Bas Vlaskamp

Daniel Steinhauser

Mark ten Cate

Arjen Veldhuizen

Alexander Vahl

Bram Den Hartog

Maarten Gabriel

Merlijn Sluiter

Julian von Gronefeld

Sjoerd van ‘t Hul

Roel Massink

Youri Zwart

Jur Baltussen

Belle de Gast

Thomas Seehausen

Joris Bosch

Jason Schreurs

Bas Belder

Jean-Sébastien Henniquiau

Gert Cox

Lennart Stania

Wilfred van der Schaaf

Martijn Henneau

Dieter De Waele

Ian Berkel

Eric Kampherbeek

Indy Neerhoff

Bram Koeweiden

Tom Hudders

Roel Hamers

Till Menges

Hugo van Dijk

Jetske van den Berg

Jan Wagtendonk

Matthijs Stapel

Floris Bakker

Mateusz Tondel

Jeroen Doelman

Victor van Buuren

David MacGregor

Branko Fort

Mathijs Hoek

Egbert Darwinkel

Sarah Dunker

Markus Carlos Hein

Tuur Deeleman

Gieljan Van Camp

Ben van den Brand

Sanjay Laidlaw

Hauke Kottek

Pascal Heesakkers

Bob van Streun

David van der Linden

Marcel Zwiers

Pascal Streng

Pascal Glass

Quirijn Mooij

Pieter Wilbert Molemaker

Norbert Münch

Patricia van Til

Robert Ophoff

Jip Voshol

Heike Sturm

Pieter Bevernage

Pim Heijnen

Markus Linz

Robin van Dijk

Gorjan Petrovski

Frans van Helvert

Tobias Liermann

Joshua Lequen

Joël Bertschi

Lennart Nap

Wouter Gerritsen

Sebastian Stein

Floris Von Boninghausen

Julio Greff

Stephan Schmich

Abi Squires

Edward Mulder

Paolo Capozzi

Karel Tempelaere

Benjamin Wabel

Martin Dinter

Jarno Schukken

Benjamin Van Vianen

Matthias van Pijkeren

Jaro Robberechts

Julian Boer

Thijs Sluijter

Jelmer Lennartz

Richard Lennartz

Crew 1

Crew 2

In this post: some extra attention to the self-made ‘free routes’ of the riders. Because lots of interesting things happened there! And believe it or not, the most unexpected route choices turned (sometimes) out to be the best! In this post two fantastic examples of the best route craftsmanship until now. 

### Types of route designers
Part of an ultra is just cycling. But the other part is about being clever, being efficient, having some luck, and making the right choices. Making a convenient route is part of that. Let’s separate the competitors in 3 kinds of people:
1. The ones that go for the logical route
2. The ones that go for 'flat = fast'
3. The adventurers!

### 1. The most logical route
For some it’s because they let Komoot do the thinking, for others it’s a carefully planned route that still makes you end up with the majority of the riders. Many times the most logical route is just the best. In France, the front end of the field mostly went for the route that ended up being the most popular. It roughly follows the Meuse/Maas first, and then the Moselle/Moezel towards the Vosges mountains. 

![20250803-DSC00327 (1)](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6vWivMTstaMNSK8FjskfBE/b54bbf988cbfc5da1ffb648bf35da765/20250803-DSC00327__1_.jpg)
*Want to meet others now and then? Take the most logical route! (Photo by Ruben Platte @rubenplatte)*

But it’s in the two other categories where it gets interesting…

### 2. Flat = fast
Luxembourg? Yes, Luxembourg! It might been the best route choice riders could have made. And yet, this choice was only being made by one person: __Jan Wagtendonk (Cap 82)__. I know, when looking at the map it might be hard to convince you that Luxembourg was the place to go, but I’ll show you the hard data from Checkpoint 1 to the start of the Vosges parcours. :

Luxembourg route: 397km | 3.700m elevation
Most logical route: 389 km | 4.000m elevation

Conclusion: only 8 kilometres more, but 300m of elevation less. I think the Luxembourg route could well be the fastest. __Jan__ went from passing Checkpoint 1 as 34th to being 15th as he came back to the ‘logical route’ just south of Nancy. Hats off to him!

![Jan in Luxembourg](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7FTpX9cn0MTrxEaR7sVp77/075530deab651846b8914c62adf7d42c/Jan_in_Luxembourg.PNG)
*__Jan Wagtendonk (Cap 82)__ doing some route craftsmanship in Luxembourg*

More people opted for some flatter sections. __Dieter De Waele (Cap 80)__ takes the most western route, an area that’s a bit less hilly. He’s coming in all kinds of places that no-one else has been, and might even have obtained some fresh water in Bar-le-Duc. (Fun fact: the mineral water actually comes from Utrecht, and has no connection to the French town.)

Some of the river-lovers followed the beautifully winding river Meuse to the south from Checkpoint 1. __Ben van den Brand (Cap 19)__ was one of them. He predicted it to me at the start, that being strong and tall has it advantages, but that it makes him choose for flat sections whenever possible. But also top-5 contender __Alexander Vahl (Cap 10)__ took this route. The route didn’t prove to be quicker or slower, but it certainly made for some nice views. 

### 3. Appreciation for the adventurers!
To come to my second example of route craftsmanship - the first one was the Luxembourg-visit of __Jan Wagtendonk__ - let me describe the start of the Vosges parcours first. To come there, you first have to climb up the *Ballon de Servance*, descent, and then climb up again to the startpoint at *La Super Planche des Belles Filles* (it’s super steep!). After that, you go down again, go up the *Ballon de Servance* again, and then the rest of the parcours. Sounds like doing things double, right?

![WhatsApp Image 2025-08-04 at 00.14.57](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2suWTmlaTi9z4zSM4iGHTd/0e5bbf6fa2649cd37e29ed4930683cf3/WhatsApp_Image_2025-08-04_at_00.14.58.jpeg)
*__Bas Belder (Cap 48)__ going up to the start of the Vosges parcours*

Some riders found a solution for this. __Jean-Sebastian Henniquiau (Cap 64)__ for instance. He took a detour and approached the start of the parcours from the south. Longer distance, but one climb less, well done. __Floris Bakker (Cap 58)__ seems to be doing something like that as well. __Dieter De Waele (Cap 80)__ and __Roel Hamers (36)__ also look like they are going for this creative solution. 

But the second (virtual) route craftsmanship award (or was it a rash gamble?) goes to none others than frontrunner __Bas Vlaskamp (Cap 8)__ and chaser __Bram den Hartog (Cap 23)__, for their gravel adventures up in the Vosges mountains. Their solution was basically not going down inbetween the two mountains, but just staying up there on some gravel path. When we look back with the ‘replay’ option on the dotwatching map, we can see that __Bas__ took a different turn when he was really close to __Daniel Steinhauser (Cap 18)__. I’m imagining __Daniel__ wondering where __Bas__ had gone, and seeing him hours later coming out of the bushes up the mountain. It had race organiser __Ruben__ wondering for a while: *“Is Bas confused about the route? I would feel bad for him if that's the case."*

![Aug 3 - bas-cp2-5](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/40aEySIcbZ5qXBqdts0Cop/f39c954f06f33b56809b7ca2ee2c3c5e/Aug_3_-_bas-cp2-5.jpg)
*__Bas__ and __Daniel__ meeting at Checkpoint 2 (Photo by Tycjan Trzpiola @tycjantrzpiola)*

This route choice really paid off, though. __Bas__ was considerably faster than __Daniel__, but it was __Bram__ that proved the real strength of this route. He came half an hour closer to the people he was chasing: __Alexander Vahl (Cap 10)__, __Arjen Veldhuizen (Cap 3)__ and __Mark ten Cate (Cap 20)__. These four are currently all sleeping at the Refuge de Hahnenbrunnen, so we'll see who wakes up first. 

For the rest: cheers to __Wilfred van der Schaaf (Cap 33)__, __Sarah Dunker (Cap 38)__ and __Heike Sturm (Cap 74)__ for making nice and original route choices. Who knows what stories they are gonna tell at the finishers party next Friday.  

*We've seen that __Jan__, __Bram__ and __Bas__ (among others) did their homework. You can expect some more route tactics from them, maybe some unusual approach of the Vaalserberg later in the race?*

__Written by Matthijs Beerepoot__

Unexpected route choices in the French hills

The nights are always tough for the riders. Many pushed through, significantly shaping the race. But nights have a nice property — they always end. As soon as the sun rises, riders often feel a fresh boost of energy.

In the women's race, __Merlijn Sluiter (Cap 30)__ and __Jetske van den Berg (Cap 16)__ decided to take proper sleep breaks, each resting around four to five hours. __Merlijn__ stopped in the Givet area near CP1, confirming earlier suspicions, while __Jetske__ rested further along in Houdremont, France. Interestingly, __Belle de Gast (Cap 4)__ chose a completely different strategy, stopping only briefly along the way. Unfortunately, her aggressive approach didn't pay off this time, leading __Belle__ to withdraw from the race. She had mentioned to [Matthijs](https://www.instagram.com/matthijsbeerepoot/) at the start that she would see how the race unfolded and might stop if she wasn't enjoying it enough.

__Jetske__ took a route through Verdun, similar to most riders—including the leading men — while __Merlijn__ chose a distinctive path via Nancy, setting her apart from the majority.

On the men's side, __Daniel Steinhauser (Cap 18)__  shared an update from near the start of the CP2 parcours. He mentioned the close competition in the challenging Vosges mountains and noted that while his sleep was limited, it was very strategic and well-invested. __Daniel__ and __Bas Vlascamp (Cap 8)__ have chosen the same general route but are clearly watching each other closely, each approaching CP2 with slightly different tactics.

__Sjoerd van ‘t Hul (Cap 22)__ had a good rest near Verdun in a bivy, which will definitely help him in the long day ahead. Meanwhile, __Arjen Veldhuizen (Cap 3)__, __Alexander Vahl (Cap 10)__, and __Mark ten Cate (Cap 20)__ are steadily gaining ground, closing in behind the leaders, with __Mark__ currently about 20km from Le Thillot. ![UUXL25 CP2 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1gp4hACQyWRF5y3jjNqbGh/22a2b057556b3cf5c444b10d51b314ae/sjoerdhul.jpg)
*Photo by Sjoerd van ‘t Hul*

All the leading riders took similar routes through Verdun, and notably, __Bas__ continues his incredible performance—covering 761 kilometers with just 5 minutes total stopping time.

Looking at CP1, 58 riders successfully passed it, while 30 did not, making for a completion rate of 65.9% at this early stage.

We also saw some notable withdrawals, including __Youri Zwart (Cap 45)__ due to multiple issues like knee pain, __Gert Cox (Cap 86)__ who wasn't feeling well, __Belle De Gast (Cap 4)__ possibly due to her aggressive minimal-stop strategy, and __Indy Neerhoff (Cap 66)__, who had to withdraw due to illness.

Stay tuned—there's plenty more to come as riders tackle the demanding terrain ahead!

__Written by Vova Mihura__

The different sleeping arrangements tend to make up good stories in ultra races. You can imagine that hotel owners look quite surprised when hurried cyclists ask if they can sleep there for only three hours. But that’s nothing compared to the ones that are wildcamping or sleeping in some shelter along the road. *What are our riders up to in the first night?*

### Why bother sleeping at all?
The first question to answer: are the riders actually sleeping this night? After all, in the classic 1.000 km-version of Utrecht Ultra, most of the fastest contenders skipped the first night. Asking around at the accreditation friday evening, most riders said they were planning to sleep. Differing from a short nap to a decent night. 

When we look at the map right now (it's 2 o'clock in the night) we see that the back of the field is sleeping, but the front is still moving (no surprise there). __Belle de Gast (Cap 4)__ and __Bram den Hartog (Cap 23)__ seem to be the furthest away dots that have not moved for some time. Bram takes a well deserved break after an incredible start, considering he was ill just a few days ago. The top-4 is currently not concerned with sleeping yet. They (__Daniel__, __Bas__, __Sjoerd__ en __Arjen__) have a gap of 30 kilometres to number 5 __Alexander Vahl (Cap 10)__. 

### Hotel or adventure?
__Robert Ophoff (Cap 5)__ puts his need to sleep in words: *"I could really use some sleep now. I'ts like the feeling when you are walking on Lego blocks with bare feet. (That's the best comparison I can come up with right now.)"* 

I'm not sure if I ever felt like that due to being tired, but at least Robert found a quick solution and is currently asleep in a hotel near Namur. He's not the only one using this city for the hotel option. He is joined by __Quirijn Mooij (Cap 56)__, __Pascal Streng (Cap 87)__ and __Sanjay Laidlaw (Cap 52)__, who will all wake up in the shadows of the Namur citadel (or in the darkness). 

![WhatsApp Image 2025-08-03 at 01.11.37 (1)](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6VhkIkfNOiH3Sa7IDFZxNh/0e5168e56a1e31d949e8b92af6f4e132/WhatsApp_Image_2025-08-03_at_01.11.37__1_.jpeg)
*__Tom Hudders (Cap 14)__ sleeps in the Ibis Hotel near Checkpoint 1*

__David van der Linden (Cap 77)__ found his hotel in Dinant, where he was super happy that his hotel was still able to serve him a pasta meal. He has had *"a day with many faces"*, where he met his family and friends along the route. But even more notably: *"I got stuck with a flat tire in a puddle that came halfway up my calves."* I can imagine that must have been a pretty dramatic moment (but a good story afterwards). 

![WhatsApp Image 2025-08-03 at 02.29.36](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7kkfSO6arEyI5lclC4uoqp/8f413bc8d4cf67dd59c1e26a6f8d36d8/WhatsApp_Image_2025-08-03_at_02.29.36.jpeg)
*The wet gravelroads-situation, captured by __Jip Voshol (Cap 75)__*

Hotels offer a bit of luxury during this hard race, but lots of riders choose other options. __Markus Carlos Hein (Cap 47)__ is one of the riders that keeps his eyes open for nice shelters along the route. Research in advance of the race made him aiming for a covered supermarket entry in some Belgian town, but according to the dots on the map he is taking a nap on a beautiful spot next to the Meuse river. You can judge yourself using [his location on Street View](https://www.google.nl/maps/@50.2015812,4.8526715,3a,75y,144.45h,85.67t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s88FesQU9lujfdxiOwsXJ-A!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D4.326576121936085%26panoid%3D88FesQU9lujfdxiOwsXJ-A%26yaw%3D144.45469111446315!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDczMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D). Just around the corner is __Ben van den Brand (Cap 19)__, who is apparently [sleeping on an island](https://www.google.nl/maps/@50.2041689,4.8188708,3a,75y,247.97h,16.62t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sCIHM0ogKEICAgID6w7m69gE!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2Fgpms-cs-s%2FAB8u6Hb9qGAvuXNEf6tVLgUOJzAaQmKCRhohO7aRrUViJT7gZd3jRZKrYyFtumeZ5KfnNddNtDSYTCy9tPNQMOFMtOV8YtrnrMGdz9mU5bn2U-foN9Qb_k8_f9uDJtp6E996T2mtijXo8A%3Dw900-h600-k-no-pi73.38225110190933-ya247.9747420107977-ro0-fo100!7i4096!8i2048?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDczMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D). 

![Slaapplek Jip Voshol](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4pq9lcRY9onHQh7JhJmchK/bfb96ce2f3a6293fc405b7bc80cd51a6/Slaapplek_Jip_Voshol.jpeg)
*The sleeping spot of __Jip Voshol (Cap 75)__ looks pretty cool!*

### Stick to the plan?
Some of the riders try to stick to the thought out plan they made in advance, also when considering sleeping spots. The first pair in the race, __Julian Boer (Cap 95)__ and __Thijs Sluijter (Cap 96)__ made a careful planning, including their preferred places to sleep. At the start they told me they would probably book the first hotels shortly after the start, as booking before the start of the race isn’t allowed. But as ultra’s are unpredictable, they left some flexibility to deviate from their plan. __Sjoerd van ‘t Hul (Cap 22)__ showed me an impressive Excel list with route information, including possible sleeping spots. 

__Til Menges (Cap 24)__ told me at the start his personal wisdom about his (lack of) plans: *“Plans? I have no plans, because plans can be broken."* If you're curious where the lack of a plan might land you: Til is lying motionless at a cementery right now. (No worries about that, I'm sure he's just sleeping.)

In the meanwhile, the pair __Richard Lennartz (Cap 94)__ and __Jelmer Lennartz (Cap 93)__ are experiencing other problems. After 4 flat tires in total, father and son are now faced with a broken navigation computer (Richard) and a broken gear cable (Jelmer). They are currently dreaming about this problem near Checkpoint 1. 

I, Matthijs, do also sometimes wonder ‘to sleep or not to sleep'. But as the race continues, [Vova](https://www.instagram.com/trnl/) and I will continue dotwatching after we catch some sleep!

__Written by Matthijs Beerepoot__


As riders set out on their journey, they were immediately challenged by harsh weather conditions. Showers repeatedly soaked the route — I experienced this firsthand during my own ride today. Where there's rain, punctures are never far behind, as water washes debris onto the roads.

In the women's race, __Belle de Gast (Cap 4)__ started impressively strong, leading the peloton ahead of __Jetske van den Berg (Cap 16)__ and __Merlijn Sluiter (Cap 30)__. __Jetske__ and __Merlijn__ rode closely together from Den Bosch to Eindhoven before Merlijn made a decisive move near Helmond. After splitting, each rider chose a different path: __Jetske__ followed the scenic Maas river, __Merlijn__ took a direct route straight toward Givet, and __Belle__ chose a northern route past Liège before turning south. By the time of writing __Belle__ passed CP1 in 12 hours 37 minutes, being 1st women and 10th overall. __Merlijn__ was 2nd with timing of 12 hours 50 minutes. 
![UUXL25 Star Parcours & CP1 2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/DNdizNfI0uIhlyDACK2lH/15529c7543e6a3c4f04dab0bc09603cf/20250802-DSC09696.jpg)
*Photo by Ruben Platte*

Among the men, __Bas Vlaskamp (Cap 8)__ took an early commanding lead, closely pursued by __Daniel Stenhauser (Cap 18)__ about five kilometres behind. __Daniel__ took an eastern approach to CP1, eventually crossing paths with Bas and __Sjoerd van ’t
Hul (Cap 22)__. Bas and Sjoerd were head-to-head at CP1, with Bas eventually taking the lead and Daniel in third. Sjoerd stopped right after the bridge for a grocerry shopping, meanwhile Bas didn't stop at all – he is riding nonstop for over __13 hours and 30 minutes__ so far! 
![UUXL25 Start & CP1 3](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/vMwHTp96DP3mWhcvlmQYt/988d5dd008d31d6f4b51a7e6394132c0/20250802-DSC00112.jpg)
*Photo by Ruben Platte*

![UUXL25 Start Parcours & CP1 7](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3mxG2r4c8BiCuW1eY5V2Ku/fca26056dde409b8974ca4f522fb4dbd/WhatsApp_Image_2025-08-02_at_10.54.59â__PM.jpeg)
*Photo by Tona Pulido*

The wet conditions proved challenging for many riders: __Martijn Henneau (Cap 17)__ faced three punctures and even had to stop at a bike shop for new tubes — only to puncture again shortly afterwards. __Arjen Veldhuizen (Cap 3)__ paused for a quick break at McDonald's, clearly strategising his way through the weather.

__Bram Den Hartog (Cap 23)__, shared an update from the road during a brief stop to shelter from heavy rain:

> *Update from the road. Cap number 23. My first break, just after the end of Start Parcours at the bus stop. It is pouring rain. The other pouring rain situation I could manage just to push through, but this one is a bit heavy for what I like. And it's nice to rest a bit. I would have wanted to push through a bit further, but it is what it is. 
The mud fest – that was wild, like the 25 kilometres alongside the canal. That was just mud, mud, mud. Slippery and I were just avoiding rocks. It was nice to meet up with other riders, and then we just looked at each other, like, what are we doing? What is this madness? Just without saying a word, we fully understood each other.
So hopefully all the others are quite all right. Just saw two people with flats. No one crushed there in anything. And yeah, I don't know when you'll hear from me again, but so far, so good.*
![UUXL25 Start & CP1 4](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5b0uz1q1EDhiVtguxBSHgx/da0b4059dbad3a81cd28c7ba7bda2e31/Aug_2_-_Gravel-6.jpg)
*Photo by Tycjan Trzpiola*

With these tough early conditions, riders have clearly shown their grit and determination. Let's see how the rest of the race unfolds — stay tuned for more updates!

__Written by Vova Mihura__

On Friday evening, excitement and anticipation filled Brewpub De Kromme Haring. [Matthijs](https://www.instagram.com/matthijsbeerepoot/) and I met up at the check-in, eager to chat with riders and learn about their plans for the challenging journey ahead. Riders steadily arrived — some stayed around, enjoying alcohol-free beers and catching up, while others quickly collected their stamp cards and race numbers before heading out.
![UUXL25 Let's Roll 7](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4sW8VExxXHIJe1v92sTrk0/7eff4584b24ef4f1be81443581268382/Aug_1_-_Accreditation_-12.jpg)
*Photo by Tycjan Trzpiola*

We managed to speak with a few riders, finally matching faces to familiar names. Many planned to ride through the first night, aiming to reach CP2 and rest at the refuge, relying on quick power naps if needed. Concerns were high about the unpredictable weather forecast and the limited availability of open shops in France on Sunday. Most riders were well-prepared with sleeping gear, suggesting fewer were relying solely on "credit-card racing" strategy I'm often guilty of myself.
![UUXL25 Let's Roll 2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1jv77L3rKQJDGDoChv8Acl/1f66997d5d1310eb1ebc5094999eabed/IMG_9146.png)

Some fascinating bike setups caught our attention. __Ben van den Brand (Cap 19)__ had aerobars without the bars, featuring only the arm cups — quite an intriguing choice. __Julian Boer (Cap 95)__ from the pairs category came exceptionally prepared, using an 11-40 cassette specifically for climbing. With a 34/40 ratio (0.85), it seemed he could tackle even the world's steepest slopes effortlessly. His partner, __Thijs Sluijter (Cap 96)__ decided to run a beachracer bike (MTB frame + 60mm road tires). Additionally, we saw a beautifully self-welded frame showcasing impressive craftsmanship. For a deeper dive into the diverse and intriguing bike setups at UUXL, check out our dedicated article – [Bikes of Utrecht Ultra XL](https://dotwatcher.cc/feature/bikes-of-utrecht-ultra-xl-2025).
![UUXL25 Let's Roll 5](//downloads.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1tvsuHFVf2Hq8f5irT3nUT/09b56e0260f19acbc600b01006cb5846/output.png)

On Saturday morning, we returned to the start line under light rain. Rather than dampening spirits, the weather brought riders closer together, with everyone acknowledging this might not be the toughest condition they’d face during the race. A few fellow riders from previous Utrecht Ultra editions showed up to wish everyone luck, highlighting once again the strength and warmth of the UU community. ![UUXL25 Let's Roll 6](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5Y1P76QvFzyiboU5yDJ1ZO/87f6c02ecb8e7512c49eca85a45bb003/IMG_9175.png)

As the riders pedaled away, we knew unforgettable stories and experiences were just around the corner. Here's to a safe, strong, and memorable ride for everyone taking on Utrecht Ultra XL 2025!

One notable rider who couldn't start this year was Julio Greff (Cap 15), unfortunately sidelined by injury. We hope to see him back in action soon!

__Written by Vova Mihura__

Oh yes, the route will be beautiful! Meandering rivers, green hills, impressive sunsets… The question is if the riders are gonna spend lots of time enjoying the views during this first edition of Utrecht Ultra XL. Above all, the route promises lots of challenges. What will the riders encounter, following the start at Saturday morning 8:00? Let’s look at it a bit closer!

### From Utrecht to the south
The start parcours will bet the least challenging in many ways: the riders are still fresh and eager, the Dutch terrain is as flat as it gets, and the biggest setbacks are yet to come (oh yes, lots of things will happen for sure!). But that doesn’t mean that it will be easy. One of the risks is starting too fast and having to pay for it later. It’s the part of the race where there’s still a lot of competitors in sight. Some would even consider it very ‘gezellig’, although cycling together is not encouraged and drafting is prohibited. 

Utrecht Ultra XL consists of a fixed route (around 45%) and a free route. The fixed start parcours from Utrecht to Maastricht has to be followed by each rider. After this, riders are expected to have their self-made route ready. 

### Ardennes: strategic route planning skills needed!
The free route is where it gets interesting: which riders will prove themselves as expert route builders, and take the most clever route? For some this will be the shortest route possible, meaning that they might encounter more hills on their route. For others, the preferred route will be along the rivers and flatter sections, but they might need to make a detour. From Maastricht to the unstaffed checkpoint 1 in Givet (France), it is actually possible to follow the Meuse/Maas river all the way. But will it be the fastest?

![Dinant - Matthijs Beerepoot](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5AL5qx15iDdLbVWdSplMH4/dae3dbddee627375c38999c331aa6f3e/Dinant_-_Matthijs_Beerepoot.jpg)
*When following the Meuse, riders can enjoy the citadel view in Dinant*
*(Photo by Matthijs Beerepoot)*

I’m looking forward to see the route choices after the unstaffed checkpoint 1 in Givet, France. Following the Meuse/Maas to the south, or going back into the Belgian hills a bit to the east? Both seem logical, but the difference in elevation gain will be hundreds of metres. 

### Vosges: suffering at the CP2 Parcours
The Vosges will be tough! Avid cyclists or supporters might know climbs like La Super Planche des Belles Filles, Ballon d’Alsace, Grand Ballon, Champ du Feu… It’s a lot to conquer in a relatively short distance! It’s a good thing that halfway through the parcours the riders can find the Refuge du Hahnenbrunnen, where a sleeping dorm is reserved for competitors that are in need of some well-deserved rest. Also, this is the place where brevet cards can be stamped and the only place where there is a cut-off time. So, riders, be sure to be there before Wednesday 22:00!

![CP2 Parcours profile](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7MnM6QLhEmuGFYjsRWa05t/cb5cf17afb8da818a914e1a5042b5ec2/CP2_Parcours_profile.PNG)
*Profile of the CP2 Parcours. Good luck, competitors!*

If you compare this parcours with the previous editions of Utrecht Ultra (the classic one, with around 1.000 km’s): the elevation gain in this parcours is impressive! The CP2 Parcours got almost 6.000 ascent metres, whereas the whole 1.000 km-route of the previous Utrecht Ultra’s counted around 8.000. But then again, with its total of 16.000 metres of elevation, Utrecht Ultra XL is quite a bit more about climbing than its predecessors. 

### Eifel: mentally the  hardest part?
Far into the race, the riders will have to cross the Eifel region. I expect Germany to be everyone’s fourth country (but you never know if some adventurer decides to plan their route through Luxembourg). With a lot of hills in the area, and the checkpoint being the highest hilltop of the Eifel region, this part of the race won’t be easy. The legs will be heavy, some will be sleep deprived or have struggle to eat properly. Those who still can, can make the difference here. 

### Finish parcours
There’s actually quite a few route-options to reach the start of the finish parcours (which is the three-country point at the Vaalserberg). Let’s see what the riders come up with! After this, the finish parcours leads them through the beautiful hills of South-Limburg. The last 200 km will be flat again. Being ‘close’ to the finish can give an extra boost and be motivating to ride the last stretch with extra power. But – speaking from personal experience during my first Utrecht Ultra – the last 100 kilometre can also feel like the toughest kilometres ever. 

Utrecht Ultra XL promises to bring an epic adventure for the riders, and lots of reasons to support, dotwatch and follow these daredevils on their way to the finish back in Utrecht!

__Written by Matthijs Beerepoot__

# Welcome to Utrecht Ultra XL (UUXL25)!

Hi everyone, we're your 'behind-the-keyboard' team for the first ever Utrecht Ultra XL – I'm [Vova Mihura](https://www.instagram.com/trnl/), and alongside me is [Matthijs Beerepoot](https://www.instagram.com/matthijsbeerepoot/). We'll be bringing you updates and stories from this amazing adventure. I'm personally super excited as Utrecht Ultra is very close to my heart and I know a lot of riders participating this year.

A bit about us: I've had the chance to ride Utrecht Ultra twice before (although not an XL version) this year including. Currently I'm gearing up for a few other races, with the Japanese Odyssey as my main goal. When Ruben (organizer) mentioned that he is looking for a commentator I was happy to jump on a bandwagon as it fits nicely between the races and I even have recovery week in my training plan! I'm really looking forward to seeing the race from a new perspective – dotwatching, supporting the riders, documenting their stories, and sharing the excitement with our community.

[Matthijs Beerepoot](https://www.instagram.com/matthijsbeerepoot/) will join me as a fellow commentator. Living only 3 minutes away from the start and finish, he'll be dotwatching from Utrecht after competing in Utrecht Ultra twice himself. His best result was a 6th place in ‘23, but the field only seems to have been getting stronger and stronger! Apart from being an adventurous cyclist, Matthijs loves maps, making music, and designing puzzles like [Bestemming Z](https://bestemmingz.wordpress.com/) in which puzzle challenges and discovering the world comes together (in a way, it’s just like cycling an ultra). 

Utrecht Ultra has quickly become the best ultra-distance race in the Netherlands, and this year they're taking things up a notch with the XL edition. It's 1,600 km with 16,000 m of climbing, a huge challenge considering we're starting in our flat Netherlands! The great thing about Utrecht Ultra is how it brings together riders of all levels. Many experienced cyclists are returning to test themselves further, alongside plenty of beginners taking their first steps into ultra-distance cycling.

Let's hear from [Ruben](https://www.instagram.com/rubenplatte/), the father of the race himself:
> *I started Utrecht Ultra in 2023 with the idea of creating a race that focuses on accessibility and inclusivity, where first-time ultra-cyclists feel comfortable to take on the challenge. With UUXL, I hope to offer the next step, for riders who want to challenge themselves even more. I can’t wait to see how riders experience this new format and route, especially the parcours in the Vosges mountains!*

But the thing I personally love most about this race is the community. After each Utrecht Ultra, I always end up making new friends and amazing memories. The finishers' party at Brewpub De Kromme Haring is something special — some riders even pedal straight into the party, greeted by cheering crowd. I'm seriously thinking about doing exactly that next year!

Stay tuned—we'll have a detailed look at the route in [another post](https://dotwatcher.cc/race/utrecht-ultra-xl-2025?post=5XKkMBfcTy2REl8Y4Vabwn). For now, let's check out the incredible riders joining us this year:

## Women
As we dive into this year's race coverage, we're starting with the women's field. Unfortunately, it's not a very big group, but we have some remarkable riders joining us. 
[__Belle de Gast__](https://www.instagram.com/belledegast/) is a former professional cyclist who currently serves as the Bicycle Mayor of Utrecht. Utrecht Ultra 2024 was her very first ultra-distance race, and she jokingly admitted she simply forgot to book accommodation — so she just kept riding and unexpectedly ended up winning. ![UUXL 25 Belle De Gast](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2jy9vPauozbNwk91rDKE2W/265900f29e083543f36cd77ba7256829/UU24_RubenPlatte-135.jpg)*Photo by Ruben Platte*

[__Jetske van den Berg__](https://www.instagram.com/jetskevdberg), another strong Dutch rider, completed the Transcontinental Race No.10 in about 15 days and is now ready to take on UUXL25. 

[__Sarah Dunker__](https://www.instagram.com/sarah.dunker/) comes with extensive ultra-cycling credentials, including her impressive 7500 km ride from North Cape to Tarifa, and securing podium finishes at Utrecht Ultra 2023 and the Peaks & Plains 500 km in 2024. Sarah mentioned that the inclusion of the Vosges in the UUXL25 route was a key motivation for her, having enjoyed that area during the Mittelgebirge Classique in 2023. 
Another rider is [__Heike Sturm__](https://dotwatcher.cc/profile/i/3430), who successfully completed Italy’s challenging Two Volcano Sprint in 2024 and TransAtlantic Way (Short) in 2023.

## Men
Turning to the men's field, we have several strong contenders lined up this year. 
[__Arjen Veldhuizen__](https://www.instagram.com/arjenveldhuizenn/), winner of the inaugural Utrecht Ultra in 2023, is known for his minimal rest strategy—completing the race solo in around 48 hours. Arjen mentioned he's looking forward to returning to the Vosges, recalling a memorable solo bikepacking trip he took there in 2020.

[__Jason Schreurs__](https://www.instagram.com/jason_schreurs/) finished 4th in Utrecht Ultra 2024 and is experienced from TCR No.9. Jason holds a special place for me, as he's the one who inspired me to dive into ultra-cycling. On my first-ever brevet, I rode alongside this strange guy who participated in crazy 2000 km races; little did I know I would join him just a few years later. ![UU25XL Jason Schreurs](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7bk6JwpVPZiODRDVNGKsIc/b52ef8cf6e7a7b6622d87ac327be9fe6/UU24_RubenPlatte-118.jpg) *Photo by Ruben Platte*

[__Julio Greff__](https://www.instagram.com/juliogreff/) took 3rd in Utrecht Ultra 2024 and 4th in RATN 2024. He's incredibly strong, and his engineering background is evident in his properly tuned bike – one of the most optimized I've ever seen. Julio is aggressive on the bike, often skipping sleep early in races. ![UU25XL Julio Greff](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1Dp5m86iRic7ayegz8IWIl/4e39cc0c7000cf452b883d5b26998a59/UU24_RubenPlatte-110.jpg) *Photo by Ruben Platte*

[__Tom Hudders__](https://www.instagram.com/tom_hudders/) is a seasoned TCR veteran with a top-10 finish at RATN. 

[__Bas Vlaskamp__](https://www.instagram.com/basvlaskamp/?hl=en), another legend in the Dutch ultra-cycling community, often competes on fixed gear bikes and recently came 2nd in RATN GX. He’s famous for his inventive, ultra-light (just 150g) frame bag made from tape, offering great aerodynamic advantages due to its transparent, sail-like properties. ![UU25XL Bas Vlaskamp](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/15h2JWBY3t4HvrvATrP8nZ/661a0d56c2a43f78ae96060bfd0d7e5e/17-5-2025-Utrecht-Ultra-_schurwanzpics_DSC3789-Enhanced-NR-lowres.jpg) *Photo by Jannik Schurwanz*

[__Martijn Henneau__](https://www.instagram.com/martijnhenn/?locale=no&hl=af) from Belgium is a climbing specialist with consistent podium finishes in local ultra events. He's been runner-up in "The Ardennes Monster" 2022 and again secured second place in its gravel sister event, “Hardennes”, in 2023. 
__Indy Neerhoff__ is another standout rider to watch. He recently finished 2nd in the 2025 Trans Am Bike Race, an epic 6,800 km journey across the U.S., and he's jumping into Utrecht Ultra XL just weeks after returning. Honestly, I'm not even sure if his bike still has American mud on it! 

Finally, __Alexander Vahl__, who finished 4th in UU25 rounds out this impressive group, adding further strength and depth to the competitive field. 

## Pairs
In the pairs category, we have two particularly interesting duos to keep an eye on. __Jelmer__ and __Richard Lennartz__, a father and son team, are lining up together. I personally think it’s incredibly special — and seriously impressive — to take on an ultra-distance event side by side with your family.
![UUXL25 Lennartz](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/11Ua8Axs9PDAun32CJv2z2/c8753b13447bdeacb2b7a1857ed485c8/IMG_9138.jpeg)

Additionally, we have __Julian Boer__, a seasoned ultra rider who placed 17th overall in Utrecht Ultra 2024, pairing up with __Thijs Sluijter__. This pairing could very well be a strong contender for the first position.

## DNS
On the sad side, we have few notable names pulled out. [__Lennart Nap__](https://www.instagram.com/lean_caffeine/), the back-to-back winner of UU 2024 and 2025 (+few other mind-blowing performances), won’t be on the start line. After two recent crashes, he’s decided to take time to recover. Take all the time you need, Lennart — we’re going to miss you for sure!

Another absence that reshapes the race is __Benjamin Van Vianen__. After placing 18th solo in 2024 and winning the pairs category in May 2025, he was expected to push into the top 10 this year. A quiet force in the Dutch ultra scene — this one stings.

Lastly, __Jaro Robberechts__ is also out. Riding alongside __Maarten Gabriel__, they were one of the strongest pairs entered this year. Now Maarten will ride in a solo category. 

As you can see, we have a super exciting field of riders and incredible days of racing ahead of us. We can't wait to share this adventure with you all!

__Written by Vova Mihura__

Utrecht Ultra XL 2025 road bikepacking race in Netherlands

Utrecht Ultra XL 2025

Utrecht Ultra XL offers double the climbing of its sister race (Utrecht Ultra) on a mixture of free and fixed route roads. At the adventures farthest point, a stunning yet demanding parcours through the Vosges mountains awaits riders.

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