With Mathias Vacek crowned overall winner, five varied stages, strong teams and a professionally organised race, ZLM Verzekeringen and LPC look back on a successful edition of the ZLM Tour. From 2 to 6 September, the Dutch stage race once again provided a platform for elite sport, collaboration and new cycling stories.
A new place on the calendar
For the first time, the ZLM Tour took place in September. Its new place on the calendar created opportunities for a wide range of racing scenarios across five days. A long time trial, stages shaped by crosswinds, the new Vlagheideberg, opportunities for attackers and a bunch sprint all contributed to a varied race.
In doing so, the ZLM Tour demonstrated that it continues to develop from a sporting perspective and has more to offer than its traditional reputation as a race predominantly suited to sprinters.
A partnership that continues to grow
For ZLM Verzekeringen, this development is an important part of its long-standing partnership with the race.
“Following the 2024 edition, the race made a fantastic return to the calendar this year,” says Egbert Blok, Marketing Manager at ZLM Verzekeringen. “The organisation has everything well under control. That is exactly what we want to see as a partner.”
The partnership underlines the shared ambition to help the ZLM Tour grow further, with a continued focus on sporting quality, strong organisation and lasting connections with the communities along the route.
A platform for sporting and social impact
For LPC, the strength of the ZLM Tour lies in creating the right conditions for others to perform. Together with municipalities, sponsors, teams, volunteers and other stakeholders, LPC delivered a safe, professional and engaging stage race in which sport took centre stage.
This year, the ZLM Tour also broadened its impact beyond the race itself. The Postcode Loterij joined the event as a new partner, while the first Hart Klimmen Challenge took place on the Vlagheideberg, with participants raising money for the Dutch Heart Foundation. In this way, the ZLM Tour brought together elite sport, partnerships and social engagement.
“The greatest achievement is that the riders were given every opportunity to perform, while we were also able to facilitate a safe and professionally organised stage race with a strong field,” says Martin de Kok, General Manager of LPC. “The positive responses from teams, municipalities, sponsors and other stakeholders show what can be achieved by working together. Alongside our team, the volunteers and all our partners, we once again created the platform on which new cycling history could be made.”
A strong foundation for the next stage
Following its successful move to September, the ZLM Tour has laid a strong foundation for future growth. Sporting quality, safety and collaboration will remain central to that development.
This year’s race created opportunities for different types of riders, new partnerships and social initiatives. It is precisely this combination that gives a cycling event its value: a platform where performances, stories and impact come together.
