In 1909 the first Tour through the Netherlands was held. ASC Olympia organised this three-day tour. On country roads, with a rest day after the second stage. Today we call this gravel. Chris Kalkman (21) was the eventual winner. In the same year he also won the championship on the road from Nijmegen to Mook (100km in 3 hours). In 1914 the Tour was held in Belgium, because the Dutch government had not given approval for a championship on the road. Chris wins for the second time.

Of the 26 participants, 15 men finished. The first stage was ridden by Chris in 10 hours 42 minutes. There was also a classic Amsterdam-Utrecht in 1909, they rode 80km in 2 hours @37 on average. Highways, simple single speed bicycles, without brakes. Food and drink was simple, sometimes some wine (low alcohol % in those years!), water, musette and bands around your neck and go. Chris loved apple syrup we know, perhaps that was his magic potion? We know that in Antiquity and the Middle Ages people liked to eat dried dates, figs, apricots and nuts as part of their sports diet. Galen of Pergamon was a Greek physician who knew a lot about this. Now the sports nutrition industry has switched to laboratory nutrition. Ask yourself if this is really better for your body.