Netherlands to host 2034 world cycling championship in Groningen and Drenthe

For the first time since 2012, the UCI Road World Championships will take place in the Netherlands in 2034. It was announced by the International Cycling Federation on Wednesday at its congress in Montreal that the event will take place in Groningen and Drenthe. The organizers said they intend for the course to pass through every municipality in those provinces.

The last time the Worlds were staged in the Netherlands was in 2012. That year, in Valkenburg, Limburg, Philippe Gilbert and Marianne Vos became the world champions.

Griningen and Drenthe had originally wanted to host the 2032 edition. That will instead be held in Pune, India, before the event comes to the Netherlands two years later.

Speaking of the event, Groningen provincial executive Marian van Dijken said, "The main thing is that it happens, so tens of millions of television viewers can see what the northern provinces have to offer.” Twenty million euros has been set aside by Groningen’s Nij Begun earthquake recovery program. Nu.nl reported that the fund sees a rare chance to win international recognition for the northern Netherlands.