From Pieterburen to the Pietersberg: a journey across the Netherlands that reminded me exactly why ultra-distance cycling continues to fascinate me after all these years.
There is something special about standing at the start of an ultra-distance event. The nervous excitement. The uncertainty. The realization that within a few hours you will be far away from everything familiar, relying only on your legs, your preparation, your mindset, and the people around you. Ultra-distance cycling has become much more than a hobby for me. It has become a passion and a way of life.
Over the years, I have completed 22 rides longer than 300 kilometers, ranging from mountainous adventures in the Alps to brutal Everesting challenges and countless epic days in the saddle. Every event is different, yet every time I stand at the start line, I feel the same excitement. The Pietertocht Extreme turned out to be one of those Ultra Distance Cycling rides I will never forget.
An Unexpected Ultre Distance Cycling Alternative
Originally, my summer goal was completely different. I had registered for the Ultra Bike France Alps Ultra Distance Race, an event that would take me deep into the French Alps and some of the most beautiful mountain roads in Europe. Unfortunately, the organization announced that the event would be postponed until 2027 because too few riders had registered.
After months of preparation, I suddenly found myself without a major challenge. As any ultra cyclist knows, once you’ve trained for a big event, you need somewhere to direct that fitness and motivation. So I started searching. Only one week before the start, I discovered the first edition of the Pietertocht Extreme. A fully organized Dutch ultra-distance event stretching from Pieterburen, the starting point of the legendary Pieterpad hiking trail, all the way to the Pietersberg in South Limburg. The route follows the Pieterpad as closely as possible, but over paved roads suitable for road bikes.
- Distance: approximately 505 kilometers.
- Elevation gain: nearly 2,000 meters.
The perfect replacement challenge. I signed up immediately.
Preparing for an Ultra
People often ask me how I prepare for rides like this. The answer is simple: consistency. There are no shortcuts in ultra-distance cycling. Throughout the year I ride approximately 25 to 30000 kilometers, cycling six days a week whenever possible. During winter I spend countless hours on Zwift and my indoor setup. I also do core-strength training several times a week and pay close attention to nutrition and recovery.
For an ultra distance cycling event though, the preparation isn’t only physical. It’s mental. You need to become comfortable with discomfort. You need to accept that at some point you will feel tired, cold, hungry, sore, sleepy, or all of the above simultaneously. But most of all, you learn to keep moving forward anyway. Because after hundreds of kilometers, everyone is suffering. The riders who finish are usually not the strongest. They are the ones who keep going.
A Long Journey Before the Ride Even Started
My adventure actually began long before the official start. On Saturday morning at 09:27, I boarded a train in Roosendaal. What followed was a true Dutch public transport adventure. Several train changes, including Zwolle and Groningen, and because railway works had interrupted the connection between Zwolle and Meppel, I even had to ride 28 kilometers by bike between stations. Eventually, around 14:30, I arrived in Baflo. From there it was only a short ride to Pieterburen. The weather didn’t look promising. At 18:30, rain was still falling over the start area. Fortunately, by the time our group rolled away at 19:30, the roads were dry. Or at least dry enough, I thought. More about this later on…
Three Waves, One Goal
The Pietertocht Extreme 2026 Ultra Distance Cyling organization offered three different starting waves:
- 25–28 km/h – start at 17:30
- 28–30 km/h – start at 18:30
- 30 km/h+ – start at 19:30
As usual, I couldn’t resist choosing the fastest option. At the start, our wave consisted of about nine riders. eight Dutchmen and one Belgian. Me. None of us knew each other. Yet within a few hours we would become companions sharing one unforgettable experience. Unfortunately one of them gave up somewhere in the middle (although he did a great job) and one chose a somewhat slower group at the start. Leaving me with six great guys whole way long.
Thanks for the great companion Erwin, Diederik, Arjan, Valentijn, Wim and Robert. What a team, what a dream, what a dream team!
Disaster After Only 20 Kilometers
Sometimes ultra-distance cycling teaches humility very quickly. After only about 20 kilometers, disaster struck. Indeed, it seemed dry enough but still wet enough to make a crash which would influence my whole event 🙁 While crossing a section with concrete slabs, I crashed hard. Very hard. My little finger and the palm of my hand immediately began to swell. Painful bruised ribs. A scraped jaw. An arm covered in road rash. The pain was intense. Honestly, I feared my hand might be broken. For a moment I wondered whether my adventure would end almost before it had begun. But quitting has never been my first instinct. I got back on the bike. And I kept riding. The remaining 480 kilometers would be completed with those injuries. Looking back, that may have been one of the toughest aspects of the entire event.
Big thank you also to the Dutch guys surrounding me. They have been helpful and concerned whole ride long. It is also thanks to their support I have made it to the end.
Fighting the Wind
The route heads almost continuously south through the Netherlands. That sounds easy. It wasn’t. We faced a persistent 3 to 4 Beaufort headwind for almost the entire ride, sometimes even up to 5 Beaufort storm wind. Because the route was essentially one long line toward the south, the wind never seemed to disappear. Our group quickly settled into a rhythm. Despite the headwind, we maintained a speed of around 34–35 km/h for hours on end. The teamwork was remarkable. Everyone took turns at the front. Nobody tried to be a hero. Nobody refused to work. Everyone contributed. That spirit made all the difference.
A few rain showers added another layer of difficulty. But somehow they also made the ride feel more epic. The dark skies, the wet roads, the endless headwind and the determination of eight riders pushing south together created the kind of memories that stay with you forever.
The Best Kind of Strangers
One of the most beautiful things about ultra-distance cycling is the people you meet. Out of the original nine riders, two eventually had to abandon. The remaining seven stayed together all the way to the finish.For more than 500 kilometers. Think about that. Seventeen hours with people you had never met before. Yet by the finish it felt like we had known each other for years. We shared stories. We shared suffering and encouragement. And we shared the same goal. That is one of the reasons I keep returning to ultra-distance events. You meet people who understand exactly why you are there.
The Legendary Feed Stations
The Pietertocht Extreme was exceptionally well organized. Along the route there were seven feed stations.Each one felt like a small oasis. The volunteers provided everything a tired cyclist could hope for:
- Fruit
- Cookies
- Candy
- Warm drinks
- Energy snacks
- Plenty of encouragement
The final feed station even featured the famous Limburgse vlaai, a local pie that tasted absolutely incredible after hundreds of kilometers in the saddle. Participants could also hand over two drop bags that would be transported to specific feed stations along the route. In addition, a larger bag could be left at the start and collected at the finish. Small details perhaps, but they make a huge difference during an event of this length.
Huge thank you and applause for the organisation and all the volunteers!!!
Fueling the Engine
One lesson I have learned from experience is simple: Nutrition is everything. The first 300 kilometers usually go well. You feel strong. The pace feels manageable. You start thinking the ride might actually be easy. That is exactly when mistakes happen. The final 200 kilometers are always different. At that point it becomes a battle of character. You must keep eating. You must keep drinking. Even when you don’t feel hungry. Even when your stomach says no. Because the moment you stop fueling, the ride can unravel very quickly.
My nutrition strategy remained familiar and trusted:
- Maurten Drink Mix 320
- Maurten gels
- Gummies
- Two stroopwafels
- Two pieces of Limburgse vlaai
Simple. Effective. Reliable.
When the Hills Finally Arrived
For most of the ride, the terrain was relatively flat. Then came Limburg. After more than 400 kilometers, the route suddenly started to resemble a completely different country. The climbs were not alpine giants. But after riding through the night and covering hundreds of kilometers, they felt significant.
The Lemelerberg
A beautiful rolling climb in Overijssel, often considered one of the most scenic hills in the Netherlands.
- Length: ~1.3 km
- Average gradient: ~3%
- Maximum gradient: ~6%
A gentle introduction to what was coming later.
The Holterberg
Known from the Sallandse Heuvelrug region.
- Length: ~2 km
- Average gradient: ~2–3%
- Maximum gradient: ~5%
Not steep, but enough to break the rhythm after endless flat roads.
The Keutenberg
The most feared climb of the route.
- Length: ~700 m
- Average gradient: ~9%
- Maximum gradient: over 20%
The Keutenberg is infamous among Dutch cyclists. After more than 400 kilometers, its brutally steep ramps feel far bigger than the numbers suggest. Walking was never an option. Getting off the bike was never an option. Slowly, painfully, I climbed it.
The Pietersberg
The final climb. Not the steepest. Not the longest. But undoubtedly the most meaningful. Because it marked the end of an incredible journey across the entire Netherlands.
The Finish
After 16 hours and 40 minutes of riding, we finally reached the Pietersberg. The adventure was over. The emotions were not. Relief. Satisfaction. Pride. Exhaustion. Gratitude. I had ridden 505 kilometers with bruised ribs, a swollen hand, road rash, and more pain than I care to remember.
Yet those things fade quickly. What remains are the memories. The companionship. The laughter. The headwind. The rain. The climbs. The feed stations. And the realization that once again I had pushed my limits a little further.
No Broken Bones, Just New Memories
After the finish, my wife picked me up. Big thank you to her too. Given the condition of my hand, we decided not to take any risks and headed straight to the emergency department. Fortunately, the diagnosis was good news. No fractures. Just severe bruising and swelling. Painful, certainly. But nothing that would keep me off the bike for long.
My Pietertocht Extreme Ultra Distance Cycling Set-up
No ultra-distance ride is complete without carefully chosen equipment, and for the Pietertocht Extreme I once again relied on the bike that has already carried me through countless adventures: my Winspace T1550 2nd Generation. Over the years, this bike has become a trusted companion during many of my longest and toughest challenges. It perfectly combines everything I look for in an ultra-distance machine: it is light enough for climbing, aerodynamic enough to maintain high speeds on the flats, and comfortable enough to spend endless hours in the saddle.
The bike is equipped with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 12-speed groupset, a Magene power meter to keep an eye on my effort levels, and an incredibly light Gelu carbon saddle that has proven its worth over thousands of kilometers. Completing the package are my Lún Hyper Light wheels, which are among the best all-round wheelsets I have ever ridden. They feel fast in every situation, whether pushing into a headwind on the Dutch plains or tackling the steep ramps of the Limburg hills.
Light in the darkness
Because a large part of the ride takes place during the night, lighting is absolutely critical. My primary setup consists of a KOM Cycling Quick Release 1000 Lumen headlight, which I always use first. As a backup, I carry a Ravemen FR500, one of the smartest cycling lights available. Not only does it provide excellent illumination, but it also doubles as a power bank. In an ultra-distance event, having a reserve battery for your GPS or phone can be invaluable, which is why I deliberately save the Ravemen’s battery for later in the ride whenever possible. On my helmet, I wear a BioLite headlamp, something that has proven useful on numerous occasions. Whether reading route information, finding something in a bag, or repairing a puncture in complete darkness, having light exactly where you are looking is a luxury you quickly learn to appreciate.
Safety is equally important at the rear of the bike. For this ride I used both a Wahoo TRACKR Radar Light and a Garmin RTL515 radar, giving me redundancy in case one system would fail and providing maximum visibility to approaching traffic.
Framebag or backpack?
For carrying supplies, I usually choose between a frame bag and my trusted USWE Camelbak backpack. This time I opted for the backpack, which allowed me to comfortably carry everything I needed. Thanks to the excellent organization and seven well-stocked feed stations, I travelled relatively light. My nutrition consisted mainly of seven Maurten Drink Mix 320 sachets and several Maurten gels, while all additional food could be picked up along the route. Of course, some essentials are non-negotiable on an ultra-distance ride: spare TPU inner tubes, tools, a mini repair kit, and a few emergency items always come with me. Fortunately, despite the crash early in the event, I never needed them.
As always, my equipment performed flawlessly, allowing me to focus on the only thing that really mattered: turning the pedals and enjoying another unforgettable ultra-distance adventure.
Looking Ahead
With the Pietertocht Extreme completed, another memorable chapter has been added to my ultra-distance cycling story. Ride number 23 over 300 kilometers is now in the books.
The first edition of the Pietertocht Extreme delivered everything I love about this sport:
- Adventure
- Friendship
- Challenge
- Suffering
- Beautiful landscapes
- Outstanding organization
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. And now the next question arises. What will be my next major challenge? The World Championship Everesting on Mount Etna? Or the Ultra Bike France event in Provence and around the legendary Mont Ventoux in October 20262? Back to where it all once began with the Bincglé de Ventoux, climbing the Mont Ventoux 6 times.
I haven’t decided yet. But one thing is certain. Somewhere, another finish line is waiting. And sooner rather than later, I’ll be standing at another start line, ready to discover once again just how far a bicycle can take me. 🚴♂️💨
