What is the European Junior Cycling Tour Assen?

The European Junior Cycling Tour Assen, known in Dutch as the Jeugdtour, held its 58th edition from Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August 2025. The annual event is held on the roads in and around the Drenthe capital of Assen and is a standout on the European cycling calendar.

In 2025, there were almost six hundred riders from thirty nations on the start list.

The programme featured five stages: a criterium race in Vredeveldseweg, road races at Lieveren and the Vam-berg, a time trial, and the Omloop Asserbos finale on 1 August. You can find more information on each stage below.

All races run under KNWU rules (Koninklijke Nederlandsche Wielren Unie, the Royal Dutch Cycling Union).

This European cycling road race covers age groups from 8 to 18.

Part 1: The racing

Where is the European Junior Tour held?

Assen is the capital of the Drenthe region of the Netherlands. It is located in the northeastern Netherlands and is famous for the motorcycle racing circuit. It’s a pretty place – you can see some photos from the town centre below.

The HQ for the Junior Tour is close to the camping ground at Stadsbroek 11, Assen, a great place for junior cycling teams to bond and relax after racing. It’s a few hundred metres from the De Bonte Wever hotel. You can find more about the hotel below.

Below is a map highlighting some of the key places mentioned in this article. Hover over the map pins to see the names of places.

How many cyclists take part and from which countries?

Six hundred riders from thirty nations lined up in the city of Assen for the five-stage Jeugdtour, one of the largest European cycling events for junior riders. It marked a 30 per cent increase on the 2024 field.

One in eight competitors travelled from outside Europe. 176 riders were from the Netherlands, with 134 entrants from Great Britain and 104 from Germany. Interestingly, entrants also came from as far away as Australia, Hong Kong, UAE and Canada.

How do you enter?

In 2025, entries opened on 3 February 2025 and some categories filled up immediately (particularly the older age categories).

Remember that if you are a UK cyclist, in order to enter you need a British Cycling licence and a letter of authority from British Cycling to race overseas (we emailed membership@britishcycling.com to get this in advance of the event). Presumably similar rules apply for other countries but do check the rules on the organisers’ website.organisers’ website.

British Cycling membership includes an element of travel insurance but look into insurance in detail; your kids will be racing full gas and there were lots of crashes.

How “serious” is the racing at Assen

The organisers endeavour to stress fun over competition, but in truth, the standard here is high and the tight organisation make this feel like a pretty serious youth cycle racing event.

• There are coloured jerseys, a points system and finishes that often come down to fractions of seconds in the older age categories, just like in pro European cycling races. Penalties were issued each night for cyclists failing to comply with the rules – for example, for dropping litter. Motorcycle escorts, timing transponders, course cars and a broom wagon follow every race, making the week feel like a full-scale pro event.
• For younger riders, the tour provides an introduction to multi day road racing, with back-to-back days of riding and competitors from across the world. As you move through the age groups, the level of competition increases significantly. Older kids will also be conscious of the fact that many WorldTour professionals first tested themselves here!
• Cyclists are reminded to race cleanly when they get their pre-race briefing in the start pen, but from what we heard and saw, be prepared for some “elbows out” in the peloton.

2025 was the first season both my children raced competitively,

• For my daughter in category 2, this was by far her most “serious” experience of racing. That said, she is quite a strong cyclist who had competed in a good handful of cycling races before Assen and so she was fine. However, I would stress it is important to be realistic in assessing whether your child will be happy in what feels like quite a pro cyclist environment.
• My son, in category 5, had done one somewhat comparable race before Assen; the Isle of Man Tour, a three-stage race over three days.

Both children said that Assen was significantly more competitive than most of the junior cycling races they had completed previously. This is also born out when you look at the results and see how close the time margins are between the kids.

Fast cornering at the Lieveren crit on day 1

How do the age groups work?

The tour ran single-year age categories based on the year of birth, up to category 7.  Girls race alongside boys in the category below (so for example, boys born in 2016 race with girls born in 2015). The aim is to equal things up and, from what we saw, this seems to work well.

This is different to the two-year age bands in the UK.

How do the jerseys get awarded?

The race leader wore yellow, the points leader green, and the special‐classification leader white, while the top-placed girl raced in pink.

The jerseys were awarded either at the end of the day’s racing or during the course of the events, depending on the day. If you’re in contention for a podium spot, keep an ear out for your name being called!

After the Friday racing finished, there was a presentation at 4pm that finished at around 5:45pm. At this, they presented trophies to the top 3 finishers for each jersey as well as the top 10 on general classification in each category.

Category 5 lining up for the crit on day 1

Are there gear restrictions?

Yes. Note that these were different to British Cycling’s gear restrictions – we found that it was significantly more restricted for both of our kids. Check the official event website for more details.

How do the starts work for each race category?

Riders headed to the start pens 15 minutes before the race start time.

On day 1, everyone had their gearing checked before the start. After that, it was just the riders in jerseys and spot checks on other riders.

Riders sign on and then wait in the holding area until the riders are called forward to grid up.

From day 2 onwards, riders wearing jerseys are gridded in the front row. The remaining riders are gridded according to the last number on their bib, so for example, all the 1s, 2s, 3s, etc. These changed each day in order to make things as fair as possible. However, it did mean that slower riders might be gridded in front of your child.

What happens if you have a mechanical on the course?

If your child has a mechanical they can fix, they could go to the commissaires car or a support point and they would confirm whether you can wait for the bunch for to come around and rejoin without losing time.

If your child has a mechanical they can’t fix, the neutral service car may be able to assist and the same rule as above applies.

In the event of a crash in the last lap, specific rules apply – check the race regulations or ask an official.

Team car

What race prep tips can you share?

• Read the race rules well ahead of arriving in the city of Assen. The details change year to year. There’s also a team manager briefing at 7:30pm the night before the first race – useful to reiterate points and ask questions.
• The bib number needed to be pinned on different sides of the jersey depending on the stage; check the handbook for details.
• Numbers had to be pinned on (other than for the time trial event) so no number wraps or similar.

Part 2: Day by day rundown of the European Junior Cycling Tour Assen

The course is not the same each year. We understand from those who have taken part in multiple years that this year some courses were the same, some had small differences compared with the previous year and some were totally different. It’s also worth bearing in mind that often the course is different depending which category you are in.

Day 0: Registration

Registration (and bib collection) was between 2 and 5pm on Sunday 27 July 2025.

Race sign-on

Day 1: Crit near Assen

The crit was held on a 1.6 kilometre loop around the town of Vredeveldseweg on the outskirts of Assen, around 15 minutes drive from the HQ. It set the stage for an intense week of Assen cycling action.

There were some sharp corners, herringbone brick/cobble sections and drain covers to watch out for.

Some sections of the course went through woodland; if it’s the same in future, then if it rains, be aware that these stay wet for longer.

Parking was on residential streets and at the small shopping centre. Do be considerate with your parking to ease tensions with residents.

Criterium start line

Day 2: Omloop Lieveren

This Omloop race took place in the countryside around 30 minutes south of Assen. There were two laps, the 5.3-kilometre small loop for categories 1 to 6 and the 10.8 kilometre loop for categories 7 and older.

The narrow roads, sharp corners and potential for headwind added a real challenge today!

A big field in Lieveren was dedicated to parking and it was then a walk from there to the start of the course. There was a lovely little café between the car park and the course that provided a mean toastie with fries on our return journey!

Lieveren race finish

Day 3: Omloop Vam-mountain

This was the mountain stage and for categories 3 and upwards, it was a significant climb.

The Vamberg or Col du Vam is located in Wijster, Drenthe, and is well-known in the European cycling community, especially amongst Dutch cyclists. It is the highest point in the Drenthe region and has been created from an old rubbish dump. Vam mountain has hosted events such as the European Championships, National Championships and the Ronde van Drenthe.

The gradients on the climb up are steep – precisely how steep depends on which course you’re riding, but they vary between about 11 and 16%! For the descent, there’s a sign warning you of 13%; this is a course you should recce and take particular care if you end up riding it in rainy conditions.

The Vamberg is a car-free zone even when there isn’t a race taking place on it.

Parking was in roadside parking spots in the village of Drijber.

Supporters lining the climb up the Col du Vam on race day

Day 4: Emmen Time Trial (TT)

The event was held around 35 minutes southeast from Assen, near the town of Emmen.

The route was different for categories 1 to 5 and categories 6 and older. Categories 1 to 5 didn’t include the short climb that appears in the longer races.

The organisers used their starting ramp trailer.

We found it quite tricky having one child in category 2 and one in category 5 because the course moved over time, and so different roads were closed at different times. Being at the start and end was also difficult – ideally, you have someone to be there for the kids at the start and someone at the end, as getting between the two was difficult.

Parking is in a number of car parks, some way from the finish of the TT.

Gearing check on time trial day at Assen 2025

Day 5: HQ Omloop

The course was 3.9 kilometres, almost totally flat and held within woodland close to the campsite and HQ. There were some long straights, one of which is cobbled. There were also a number of corners.

The official award ceremony follows the final race.

Officials at startline

What race and course tips can you share?

• It’s very important that your child is confident riding in a tightly packed peloton and has had experience of bunch racing before arriving in Assen.
• In the 2025 event, most of the racing in the crit (day 1), road race (day 2) and Omloop (day 5) ended in a bunch sprint. In some categories, even the mountain stage (day 3) ended in a bunch sprint. This means that the individual TT played a significant role in determining the overall general classification. The mountain stage was also key.
• As well as TTs and climbing, other key cycling skills to practice ahead of Assen include sprinting (on restricted gears) and cornering at speed.
• Consider training for cadence due to the sprint finishes.

Part 3: Practicalities for attending the European Junior Cycling Tour Assen

How to get to Assen?

This will of course depend on where you’re coming from. Most people drive due to the sheer quantity of kit you need to race an event like this.

We took the Eurotunnel to Calais (7:36am crossing) and drove the 500 kilometres up to Assen, arriving around 5pm (including several hours of delay due to having to fix a puncture on the way!). The power of the Schengen Agreement is incredible; we barely noticed cycling across the border between France and Belgium and between Belgium and the Netherlands. Just note the fact that the speed limits vary between countries!

When to arrive in Assen?

In 2025, the event ran from Monday 27 July to Friday 1 August.

We arrived on the afternoon of Saturday 25 July, which allowed us plenty of time to recce some of the courses. That said, we spotted lots of people also arriving on Sunday; just do your best to arrive with time to recce the course for the next day.

Map signboard for Vam-berg cycling routes in Drenthe

When to leave Assen?

The event finishes on Friday evening with a presentation.

If you want to leave on the Friday, do bear in mind that in 2025 the prize presentation ceremony didn’t finish until about 5:45pm – and it could be later in future years, so don’t rely on this as gospel when booking your transport!

If you can, it’s nice to stay Friday night so the children can celebrate and enjoy the evening together.

We booked the 16:24 crossing from Calais to the UK on Saturday, 2 August. We left at 8am and we found this allowed plenty of time for two stops, including lunch in a restaurant in Dunkirk.

Prize presentations got caught in a torrential downpour in 2025!

What are the best places to stay for the European Junior Cycling Tour Assen?

The three main options we came across were:

De Bonte Wever Hotel

What we liked

• We thought the all-inclusive package worked well – we paid a set price for a complete package that was generous in what it included: food (with options available pretty much 7am to 8pm), drinks (including various alcoholic options), sub-tropical swimming and sauna paradise (a smaller scale Center Parcs), bowling alley, curling, pool tables, mini golf, playgrounds, gym etc. There were also bars and live music in the evenings.
• A few of our kids’ teammates also attended Assen in 2025. It was nice for them to have some chill out time post-racing using the hotel’s facilities with their friends and cycling team mates. Note that if you are not staying at the hotel, you can still pay to use the sub-tropical pools.
• You are close to the HQ.
• There’s lots of parking – though you might end up needing to park some way from your room.

Things to be aware of

• The hotel has three floors – there are lifts but it’s worth requesting a ground floor room as this makes it easier to keep your bike in your room so you don’t have to get it in the lift or carry it up the stairs.
• Breakfast only starts at 7 am, which can make it tricky if you have a race with an early start.
• Lunch has much more limited food options than dinner.

More information

Take a look at the hotel on booking.com to see prices and availability.

Hotel room at the De Bonte Wever hotel

The campsite

During the Tour, you can stay at the campsite at Stadsbroek for a small fee for the week, which is popular with junior cycling teams.

One of the advantages of staying at the campsite or the hotel is that the children get the opportunity to socialise with other riders. This is particularly the case on the campsite.

The campsite at Assen HQ

Air BnBs around the HQ

The event is on the outskirts of Assen, so there are plenty of options.

What will the weather be like?

The weather in the Netherlands is notoriously fickle. It was constant sunshine and showers in 2025. We were told 2023 was wall-to-wall rain and 2024 was wall-to-wall sun. So come prepared!

Bring enough wet weather kit for both spectators and riders. For riders, you’ll want dry kit every day, so a minimum of two sets of race kit. For spectators, an umbrella as well as a raincoat can be helpful and some waterproof shoes can also be useful…

Don’t forget suncream too!

Sheep readying themselves for the spectacle of the racing to come on the Col du Vam

What planning related tips do you have for anyone attending the European Junior Cycling Tour Assen?

• As with other top-level European cycling races, it’s important to get your entry in early – this year registration opened on 3 February 2025 and there were reports that several categories filled the same day.
• Depending on how old your kids are, you may want to recce the courses with them. In this case, you’ll need a bike as the hill stage on the Vamberg is closed to cars. You can hire a bike from the hotel or elsewhere, but you might prefer to bring your own.
• Consider that if you have multiple kids, they may be riding different courses depending on their age group.
• Service your child’s race bike before arrival. In case of emergencies, note that there is a Giant store in Assen and this offers servicing and repairs. We also heard they rented a bike to an unlucky kid who broke their bike the previous year. Fortunately, they were able to supply us with a replacement derailleur hanger when my daughter crashed during stage 3.
• Bring spares of everything – you don’t know what might break! That said, as well as the bike shops in Assen, there’s a great community spirit so if you don’t have something it’s likely you’ll find someone who can help
• It’s worth bringing a trolley to carry rollers, spare wheels, foldable chairs and whatever else you might need. Some of the parking spots are some distance from the course.
• We’re told that the stages are usually similar year to year and based close to Assen. However, this depends on the organisers being able to get the necessary permits. Some of the stages in 2025 were a 30-40 minute drive from Assen, and in the past, they have been even further away. The upside is that you get a taste of the Drenthe countryside with its thatched houses and tree-lined roads past pastures filled with horses and agriculture. But it does make having your own transport necessary.

Part 4: Conclusion

Our kids had a fabulous time at Assen and are keen to attend again in 2026; always a good sign!

Both were exhausted by the end of the week and it’s fair to say that the parents were too! Don’t come expecting this to be a relaxing holiday. There is quite a lot of pressure to be at the right place at the right time, with perfectly functioning equipment – especially if your kids are within shot of the podium. There is also a lot to think about for newbies, given things like the restricted gearing and finding start lines and parking in a country you may not know well. I think we will find all these things much easier second time around.

And finally, we thought the road race was superbly well organised; for any child who has done some local racing and is ready for a taste of what it would be like to race seriously, it’s definitely worth considering entering a junior cycle tour like this.

Hopefully you’ve found the information shared here is useful. Do say hello or comment below if you’re planning to enter – it would be great to meet at Assen 2026!

Want to extend your holiday in the Netherlands? You may not get much chance to explore during the week, so it’s worth considering tacking on some extra holiday after the event. These might help:

• Guide to cycling the Netherlands
• Guide to cycling Belgium
• Guide to cycling France
• Family cycling hub page

Clare Dewey is a cyclist with a passion for travel. She set up epicroadrides.com in 2018 to help make it easy for cyclists to explore the world by bike. Today her mission is still inspiring cyclists to discover new places on two wheels - and doing what she can to make sure they have the best possible time while they're there. Clare has visited 50+ destinations around the world, many of them by bike.

Want to connect with Clare? Find her over on LinkedIn.