First Day of NIBC Tour of Holland: British Sprinter Ethan Hayter Wins Innovative Evening Prologue in The Hague
The Hague — The NIBC Tour of Holland officially kicked off today in The Hague with a festive opening ceremony at the Sportcampus in Zuiderpark. Before an audience of over 1,500 cycling fans, the teams and riders were presented this afternoon, after which the brand-new stage race wrote its first chapter with an evening prologue — a fresh concept within Dutch cycling.
Around seven o’clock, the first rider rolled down the start ramp. Under a light drizzle and a mix of autumn and artificial light, The Hague’s Zuiderpark transformed into a cycling spectacle. The course was illuminated by 189 extra lamps, creating an almost fairytale-like atmosphere where speed, tension, and spectacle came together — a modern, vibrant start to what could become a new cycling tradition.
The technical and fast course drew large crowds along the barriers. For a long time, it seemed that Australian Cameron Rogers (Lidl–Trek) would take the win, holding the top spot in the “hot seat” for over an hour. But in the end, it was Briton Ethan Hayter who delivered a powerful and composed ride to clock the fastest time, claiming the first orange leader’s jersey of the Tour.
Afterwards, Dutchman Daan Hoole (Lidl–Trek) praised both the setup and the course:
“It feels really fast — you’re racing between the trees and the crowd. Really nice. I think it’s a great course within the possibilities. So yes, we’re going for the general classification. We have several guys who can win. I mean, Cameron is close to the lead. Söderquist can also ride a strong time trial and he’s very strong overall.”
Ethan Hayter, the British rider who claimed the opening victory in The Hague, said:
“This year I’ve really found my old time-trial form again. That feels amazing, especially after a period where things weren’t going so well. I’m grateful to the team for believing in me and giving me the best equipment to go as fast as possible.”
“Racing a prologue in the dark and the wind reminded me a bit of a track race — warming up late in the evening and all the atmosphere around it. Luckily, the course dried up a little, but I didn’t take any risks in the corners. I used those moments to recover and then went full gas on the straights.”
“Wearing a leader’s jersey is always an honour, but to do it here in the Netherlands makes it extra special. I think this is even my first victory on Dutch soil — that makes it even better.”
Roxane Knetemann was pleasantly surprised:
“The course was incredibly well lit — honestly, I had my doubts beforehand. How bright can you really make a circuit like that? Well, super bright, as it turned out. I got a lot of messages from people watching on TV saying it looked so atmospheric. And it really was: well filmed, well lit, and an exciting time trial.”
“Out on the course, I was overwhelmed by the amount of spectators! There were so many people, everywhere. Of course, double rows at the start and finish, but even on the outer loop — a bit further from the centre — there were lots of fans. I really didn’t expect that.”
On to Dordrecht
Tonight, the peloton travels to Dordrecht, where tomorrow’s first road stage awaits. The route will take the riders through classic Dutch scenery and promises a traditional flat racing day — with wind, water, and fierce competition as its familiar ingredients.
