Only elite category at the World Championships for the Netherlands, the entire under-23 programme is put "on hold until further notice"

The Netherlands won't send riders to participate in neither junior nor under-23 categories at the World Championships in Rwanda for the time being. Instead, they'll focus on European competitions in an attempt to please a tight budget.

The KNWU talent program will focus entirely on the junior category in 2025. This is prompted by 'budgetary factors and strict investment requirements', says talent development program manager Martin Truijens. However, not even the juniors are likely to travel to Rwanda in September. "Following countries that have already made the decision, or have expressed their doubts, the Netherlands will not travel to Rwanda with the juniors for the time being."

Denmark and Belgium are among the countries that preceded the Netherlands. Belgian Cycling has responded to this passage in the press release at Sporza. "The fact that the Netherlands mentions our country in the communiqué is entirely their responsibility," it says. The association states that it has not yet made a decision on whether or not to send Belgian juniors and/or promises to the World Championships in Rwanda.

The Dutch juniors will not be travelling to Rwanda for the time being. Truijens explains: "We simply do not have the resources at the moment to fill in the preparation phase with the quality we stand for. Then it is better to set up the programme in such a way that we focus on the things that we can optimally facilitate. The selection will focus on the European Championship and the Nations Cup programme."

And the under-23s? Their entire program is "on hold until further notice", it sounds. There is also no clarity about the World Championships albeit without a big favourite for the hard course, it's expected that the Dutch team won't send (at the very least) men's U23 team. In any case this means that at the moment only the elite men and women are expected to be competing in Africa on behalf of the Netherlands.