Timo de Jong Wins NIBC Tour of Holland Stage on the VAM-Berg — Christophe Laporte Takes the Orange Leader’s Jersey
South Drenthe – The fifth stage of the NIBC Tour of Holland delivered an unforgettable day for cycling fans and especially for Timo de Jong. Under a radiant autumn sun, the peloton rode from Emmen through the south of Drenthe towards the VAM-berg. At the highest point of the province, De Jong out-sprinted Christophe Laporte and Lukáš Kubiš to claim victory.
Christophe Laporte took over the orange leader’s jersey from Ethan Hayter, who abandoned the race due to illness. By finishing second, Laporte also secured the blue points jersey, which will be worn tomorrow by Tim Merlier. The red jersey for the most combative rider went to Lukáš Kubiš, while the white jersey for best young rider will be worn by Jakob Söderqvist.
It was a stark contrast to yesterday, when the race had to be neutralized. Today the atmosphere was festive, the setting distinctly Dutch, and the crowds impressive: thousands of spectators lined the slopes of the VAM-berg to cheer on the riders. Once again, cycling proved itself a sport for everyone — up close and free to enjoy.
The story of the day belonged to Timo de Jong (26) of the VolkerWessels Cycling Team. The rider from Zeeland, who still works part-time in a bike shop in Middelburg during the week, made history by defeating former European champion Christophe Laporte (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) in a powerful uphill sprint. Lukáš Kubiš (Unibet Tietema Rockets)finished third and claimed the red jersey as the day’s most combative rider.
Standing proudly on the podium atop the VAM-berg, De Jong said:
“When Laporte and Kubiš caught up, I stopped taking turns. They’re the favorites, riding for the general classification. I was focused on the stage win.”
Just before the finish, Kubiš launched his sprint early on the cobblestones. De Jong explained:
“I got right onto his wheel and knew he’d have to keep pushing to hold speed on that final climb. I could use that to my advantage. With 200 meters to go, I just went all-out and hoped they wouldn’t come around me — and they didn’t.”
“Honestly, I’ve dreamed of this since I started cycling, when I was nine years old. I used to watch guys like Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara on TV and think: I want to do that too. To experience it myself now is really special. It’s an amazing way to finish the season.”
About the NIBC Tour of Holland
The NIBC Tour of Holland is a six-day international stage race that returned to the Dutch calendar in 2025 after a 21-year absence. The race runs from The Hague to Arnhem, with stages in Dordrecht, Brabant, Limburg, and Drenthe. It is organized by TIG Sports, known for events such as the Dutch Grand Prix, KLM Open, and Simac Ladies Tour.
Top 5 – Stage 4 (Emmen – VAM-berg)
- Timo de Jong (NED) – VolkerWessels Cycling Team
- Christophe Laporte (FRA) – Team Visma | Lease a Bike
- Lukáš Kubiš (SVK) – Unibet Tietema Rockets
- Rick Ottema (NED) – Diftar Continental Cycling Team
- Rayan Boulahoite (FRA) – TotalEnergies
General Classification After Stage 4
- Christophe Laporte (FRA) – Team Visma | Lease a Bike
- Lukáš Kubiš (SVK) – Unibet Tietema Rockets + 0:37
- Jakob Söderqvist (SWE) – Lidl-Trek + 1:05
- Rayan Boulahoite (FRA) – TotalEnergies + 1:25
- Rick Ottema (NED) – Diftar Continental Cycling Team + 1:26
Click here for the results:
