Too much of a good thing: Dutch Headwind Championships cancelled due to high winds

You know it's windy when it's too windy for the Dutch Headwind Championships. The NK Tegenwindfietsen, as the event is known in Dutch, seeks out the most blustery of conditions, but has been cancelled at short notice due to high winds.

The event, which was due to take place on Thursday afternoon, sees cyclists ride 8.5km along the Oosterscheldekering (Eastern Scheldt) storm surge barrier that faces the North Sea, into a headwind of 50kph or more.

Storm Ciarán, which is currently battering northern Europe, appeared to present the perfect opportunity for the 2023 edition, but the winds are so extreme that the event has been deemed unsafe.

Forecasts suggest that the wind on the course will sit steadily at around 60kph all afternoon, with gusts in excess of 100kph.

In an Instagram post, the organisers announced the cancellation, saying: "We've been closely monitoring the development of Storm Ciarán and unfortunately as the day became so strong that we can't start. Everyone's safety is our top priority."

All competitors use traditional upright Dutch bikes, and around 300 people were expected to participate.

The event is planned at short notice; the organisers must wait for the forecasts, specifically wind levels that top seven on the Beaufort scale, before they can organise it.

However this year, they seem to have too much of a good thing. As Storm Ciarán was declared, anticipation was high and the brutal conditions were hyped even in past days, and in the hours leading up to the start on Thursday.

However, late on, as participants began to arrive, the organisers were forced to take the decision to cancel, citing safety concerns.

"We were really looking forward to it, but have had to make this decision in cooperation with different parties and with pain in our hearts."