Bart Brentjens Challenge 2008

The fourth Bart Brentjens Challenge is won by Ramses Bekkenk. Bekkenk was 3.36 faster than Bart Brentjens himself and 3.38 than Jelmer Pietersma.

The Bart Brentjens Challenge is the biggest mountainbike event in The Netherlands. The marathon is known as the toughest race with off-road climbs in the Belgian Voerstreek and the Hills in the Southern part of The Netherlands.


Bart Brentjens at the start
Photo © 2008 Bart Hazen

The marathon race started under beautiful weather conditions. It was about 20 degrees Celsius and very sunny.

In the beginning of the race Bart Brentjens got a flat tire and lost seven minutes. But the Dutch Olympic Champion of Atlanta 1994 didn't gave up and went on. In front Ramses Bekkenk and Jelmer Pietersma got rid of the others and finally Pietersma had to drop with Bekkenk as well.

Click on photos for a larger image:

Ramses Bekkenk leads the race - Tim Ottens together with Bart Brentjens
Photo © 2008 Bart Hazen

Bekkenk went on and was able to keep his lead on the competition to win the fourth edition of the Bart Brentjens Challenge. Behind Bekkenk Bart Brentjens was making lots of progress after his flat tire and caught up with lots of riders in front of him and finally finished as second. Jelmer Pietersma completed the podium.


Jelmer Pietersma
Photo © 2008 Bart Hazen

The women's race was won by Kim Saenen. Nicoletta de Jager and Anouk Kesseleer rounded off the podium.

Result U23/Elite Men
1 200 Ramses Bekkenk Broek op Langedijk NED 03:32:51
2 1 Bart Brentjens Schaik NED 03:36:39
3 207 Jelmer Pietersma Nuth NED 03:38:44


The podium
Photo © 2008 Bart Hazen

4 172 Rob van der Werf Nijmegen NED 03:45:20
5 254 Gody Jacobs Genk BEL 03:45:21
6 158 Frank Baets Arnhem NED 03:54:31
7 100 Ad de Brabander Wateringen NED 03:54:48
8 124 Rob v.d Brand Geffen NED 03:55:29
9 174 Johnny van Diermen Bunschoten Spakenburg NED 03:59:40
10 186 Tim Ottens Amsterdam NED 04:02:43
11 110 Marcel Lommers Sprang Capelle NED 04:03:52
12 235 Tim Wijnands Sint Geertruid NED 04:03:53
13 248 Tibor Gijssen Maastricht NED 04:05:02
14 199 Gert-jan Knijnenburg Hoek van Holland NED 04:06:43
15 140 Jaron van Diermen Bunschoten Spakenburg NED 04:12:50


The beautiful scenery
Photo © 2008 Bart Hazen

16 244 Danny Bekker Amsterdam NED 04:17:24
17 85 Bart Damen Reusel NED 04:19:08
18 262 Frank Nak Weert NED 04:20:12
19 256 Thomas Achouri NED 04:23:24
20 135 Kevin Mori Nijmegen NED 04:23:25
21 102 Kristiaan Tetetroo Velp NED 04:24:21
22 229 Niels Van Kerckhoven Westmeerbeek BEL 04:25:54
23 268 Frank Luikens NED 04:29:08
24 249 Kris Nys Rotselaar BEL 04:29:55
25 239 Rob van der Niet Noordwijk NED 04:33:13

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Bart Brentjens in action - Race winner Ramses Bekkenk
Photo © 2008 Bart Hazen

26 113 Pim vd Marel De Lier NED 04:41:41
27 272 Wilco Verwegen NED 04:45:54
28 173 Patrick Groenestein Hoogland NED 04:55:34
29 190 Michael van Eerd Breda NED 05:05:49
30 73 Cees Snoek Volendam NED 05:06:32
31 160 Wim Jansen Sleen NED 05:09:48
32 196 Stefan Breemes Amsterdam NED 05:24:49

Result Women
1 259 Kim Saenen Diest BEL 04:17:15
2 92 Nicoletta de Jager Bussum NED 04:19:37
3 161 Anouk Kesseleer-Haarsma Heeswijk-Dinther NED 04:22:51

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Race winner Kim Saenen - the second Nicoletta de Jager
Photo © 2008 Bart Hazen

4 209 Ingrid van Lubek Hilversum NED 04:40:55
5 132 Henriette Pepels Beilen NED 04:47:41
6 60 Laura van Leeuwen Den haag NED 04:54:37
7 3 Danielle de Vries Putten NED 05:06:30
8 87 Laura Seinstra Den Haag NED 06:24:35


The number three of the race Anouk Kesseleer
Photo © 2008 Bart Hazen

More photos, click here

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