3 Nations Cup Schijndel, Netherlands. 36 years later.... By BdJ

Jun 22, 2016

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 5115 times

36 years (!) ago I found myself on the back seat of my dad's Open Kadet. We were on our way to my first BMX race in Schijndel, organized by FCV dun Urste. It was cold and muddy but it got around 300 bicycle motocross riders together for the first race of the year. 355 was on my green number plate and two strong men were holding on to each side of the starting gate and dropped it around the "go" moment to pick it back up for the next moto. Just imagine how sore they must have been doing this hundreds of times on one day. Fast forward to last weekend and I was on my way to the same town looking for the BMX track. The location has changed and also the way there is lots different now, but the BMX signs got me to the track. On arrival I did not see Leon Walravens do wheelies with a cigarette in his mouth like I did 36 years ago. BMX has become an olympic discipline and the camper of 2012's bronze medalist Laura Smulders that was parked at the entrance was larger than life. But lots of things haven't changed. People gather around the track with their coolbox of food and drinks. The racers battle it out on the track and the vendors try to sell whatever they have brought

to the race. The 3-Nations Cup was held on Saturday where the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium battled it out for maximum points. Sunday saw a C1 race which brought a selection of Elite and Junior racers to the track in the afternoon. Not everyone had signed up with Rio being less than 50 days away, but still it wasn't an easy race according to Niels Bensink. Dave van der Burg made it work in the Elite Final with Joris Harmsen and Raymon van der Biezen completing the podium in Schijndel giving Verlu, TVE and the National Federation a podium spot on Sunday 19 June 2016.

Results Elite Men C1 race Schijndel, Netherlands
1    Dave VAN DER BURG    NED    23    50    50
2    Joris HARMSEN    NED    24    45    45
3    Raymon VAN DER BIEZEN    NED    29    40    40
4    Niels BENSINK    NED    20    30    30
5    Mitchel SCHOTMAN    NED    20    28    28
6    Jordy VAN DER HEIJDEN    NED    28    35    35
7    Martijn JASPERS    NED    29    26    26
8    Tom MANDEMAKERS    NED    20    24    24