Tour de junior
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The Tour de Junior, is an annual bicycle race in Achterveld, Netherlands. The race is for young riders, from age 12 to 16. It is a kind of little Tour de France for kids.[1] It is held during the summer break, lasting for 6 consecutive days. There are 9 stages, with road races and time trials. The oldest youth tour of Holland, it is ridden by the rules of the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Wielren Unie.
The Tour de Junior was ridden for the first time in 1958, making it the oldest youthtour of Holland. The first time the tour went international was in 1962, being probably the first youthtour organised in Europe. Since 1960 the tour has to deal with a competitor, the Youthtour Assen. Nowadays the Youthtour Assen is a bigger event than the Tour de Junior, with more participants.
The tour was founded by Jan Schouten and since 1958 there have been only 3 other leaders. The current tourleader is Hein Ossendrijver, who took over from his father in 2001.[2] The Tour de Junior has had a lot of participants that became professional cyclists, including but not limited to Hennie Kuiper, Michael Boogerd, Hennie Stamsnijder, Erik Dekker and Nicole Cooke
In 2011 Michael Boogerd went to the 54th Tour de Junior and gave the first starting shot.[3]
Organisation
The tour is organised by a union connected with the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Wielren Unie. During the week the participants stay in Achterveld. They can choose to stay with a local family, or go to the tourcamping. Many volunteers work during the tour. There is a first aid, and during the races the riders are guided by motorriders and the police makes sure nobody enters the course.