De Veldslag

De Veldslag, or Veldslag om Norg, is an off-road mountain bike event near Norg in Drenthe. Participants can select routes of 50, 80, or 100 kilometers, suitable for both strong recreational cyclists and racers seeking a lengthy day on their bikes. The organizers describe it as the most convivial mountain bike tour in the Netherlands, focusing on distance, dirt, nature, and the post-ride atmosphere. The challenging sections with loose sand and single tracks near Norg are where significant gaps can form after many kilometers. Past elite participants have included Mariëlle Trouwborst, Elisa Serné, Maaike Nijland, Bas-Luca de Vries, Jasper Ockeloen, Tijmen Eising, Rick Ottema, Lars van Ark, and Frits Biesterbos. One edition saw over 2,200 cyclists participate, and the finish area typically becomes a social gathering with food, drinks, shared stories, and tired participants. The event also carries a somber note: one participant passed away after falling ill during the ride, leading to the early conclusion of that edition.