~Press release~

European Championships Rowingbike 2007

Neeltje Jans, Zeeland, the Netherlands

September 15 and 16 2007


Middelburg, September 2007

The rowingbike sport is a meeting point for (top) athletes from different backgrounds. Row cycling is fun and can be tough, very tough. "Die hards" find a new extreme challenge: kick and pull your brains out while you are "flying" low over the road. Or one can also row at a very relaxed pace and enjoy the scenery on the rowingbike. On this 9th Rowingbike Championships both racing "die hards" and more recreational rowingbikers will get their kicks.

During September 15 & 16 2007 the 9th European Championships Rowingbike will take place on and near the artificial island Neeltje Jans, Zeeland, The Netherlands. Approximately 60 Row cyclists from 6 countries will participate in this event. Because of the hospitality of sponsor Roompot Holidays the previous European Championships have been a great success. No doubt this championship will prove to be another cracker.

At this EC 2 times olympic Golden medal rower Nico Rienks and Current Olympic toprower matthijs vellenga will be participating.
Besides other European Champions Rowingbike of previous years, like Theo Homan, Derk Thijs and Beb Thijs Belgian rowchampion Johan Marynissen and rugbyinternational Arno Seijbel will be present in superb shape.
Spectectular and fast are the two rowingbike (back to back) tandems that are competing this year.

There's a racing class and a touring class. The racing class will ride 4 disciplines: a Criterion along 14 km, Sprint (333 m), one hour Time Trial and a 80 km Long Distance race. This balanced combination of sprints and distance races ensures an all-round test of the participants. The touring class will perform 2 tours: one of 60 km and a 70 km ride.

The rowingbike is a kind of recumbent bike that is propelled by a rowing movement. That means that legs, arms, back, belly and shoulders are used in propelling the bike forward. A unique feature of the rowingbike is the fully step-less propulsion by means of a steel or dyneema cable and a snek in stead of the conventional chaindriven system. Result is the rowingbike: an allround fitness device which provides high speeds and is fun to ride!

A few years ago Wout Conijn rode his rowingbike all the way from Europe to Tibet. Richard Bruijn rode to the north pole circle and back in 2001 and again in 2005. Theo Homan, 2001 Rowingbike Champion, excelled at the legendary Paris- Brest-Paris tour. He rowed the very challenging track of more than 1200 km in less than 63 hours, leaving all other participating recumbent riders far behind. Derk Thijs completed the entire route of the 2001 Tour de France on his rowingbike. He even completed it a day faster than the pro's: in 21 days.

For more info on the event: look at the website www.rowingbike.com
Your contact person during the race weekend is Frans Bolweg: +31 (0)6 - 53758788