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Netherlands 08 Mar 2026 Class 1.2 – 1 day – Class 2
Website www.dorpenomlooprucphen.nl
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
The 50th edition of the Dorpenomloop Rucphen is taking place on Sunday, March 8, 2026. This UCI 1.2 men’s elite race is a staple of the Dutch cycling calendar and forms part of the Holland Cup.
Below is the schedule and key details for today’s event:
Race Schedule (March 8, 2026)
The race follows a tight schedule centered around the Gemeentehuis (City Hall) in Rucphen.
| Time (CET) | Activity | Location |
| 08:30 – 09:30 | Registration & Numbers | Permanence (Gemeentehuis Rucphen) |
| 09:45 | Team Managers Meeting | Permanence |
| 10:45 | Team Presentation | Start podium (Gemeentehuis) |
| 11:55 | Official Start | Gemeentehuis Rucphen |
| ~15:50 | Expected Finish | Raadhuisstraat, Rucphen |
| 16:00 | Podiums & Ceremonies | Finish Area |
Race Details
- Total Distance: Approximately 175.3 km (includes a 2.4 km neutralized start).
- Route: The course typically consists of a large loop through the Rucphen municipality followed by several local finishing circuits. It is notoriously flat and exposed, often making wind and echelons a major factor.
- Live Coverage: Live video coverage is expected to begin around 14:30 CET for the final stages of the race.
Side Events
The “program” also includes community activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary:
Rabo Dikke Banden Race: A youth race for local children, traditionally held on the same day as the main event.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The Dorpenomloop Rucphen has a rich 50-year history, evolving from a local amateur race into a significant fixture on the international UCI cycling calendar. Today, March 8, 2026, marks its 50th anniversary edition.
Foundations and Early Years
- Established: The race was first held in 1974.
- Original Name: It began as the Grand Prix Rucphen, primarily serving as a one-day race for amateurs.
- First Winner: The inaugural edition was won by the Dutchman Ronald van der Tang.
Transition to Professional Status
The race underwent a major transformation at the turn of the millennium to attract a higher caliber of riders:
- 1999: The event was first opened to professional cyclists.
- 2011: It officially joined the UCI Europe Tour with a 1.2 classification. This status allows a mix of Professional Continental, Continental, and national teams to compete.
- The “Holland Cup”: It is now a key part of the Holland Cup, a series of Dutch semi-classics designed to showcase up-and-coming talent.
Notable Winners & Alumni
The race is known as a “springboard” for young talent. Many riders who performed well in Rucphen went on to successful WorldTour careers:
- Dylan van Baarle (2013): A future Paris-Roubaix winner, he won Rucphen while riding for the Rabobank Development Team.
- Mikkel Bjerg (2018): The multi-time U23 World Time Trial champion took the win here before becoming a key domestique for Tadej Pogačar.
- David Dekker (2020): Won the race just before the global sports hiatus in 2020, later joining the WorldTour with Jumbo-Visma.
Historical Challenges
The race is famous for being “typically Dutch”—flat, windswept, and tactically punishing.
- Cancellations: The race was notably not held in 2004 and 2010.
- Weather: In 2019, the race had to be cancelled mid-event due to extreme stormy weather and dangerous wind conditions, which are common in the open polders of North Brabant.
Recent Winners (The Modern Era)
| Year | Winner | Team |
| 2026 | Timothy Dupont | Tarteletto – Isorex |
| 2025 | Milan De Ceuster | Lotto Development Team |
| 2024 | Johan Dorussen | Dev. Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL |
| 2023 | Laurenz Rex | Circus–ReUz–Technord |
| 2022 | Maikel Zijlaard | VolkerWessels Cycling Team |
