Latest news
16-07-2026 (for more photos, media articles and video’s see https://wc26hpv.nl/press-photos-films/
2026 HPV World Championships: Three Outstanding Days of Racing, Innovation and Community
Bathed in glorious summer sunshine, the 2026 HPV World Championships brought together riders, volunteers, manufacturers and spectators for three unforgettable days of racing, innovation and friendship at the Tom Dumoulin Bike Park in Sittard.
The event welcomed in the end 110 competitors from 13 countries around the world, supported by 45 dedicated volunteers, all of whom enjoyed the warm hospitality and excellent facilities of the Bike Park. The venue proved to be an ideal location for an international championship of this scale.
Competitor Andrew Sidwell perfectly captured the sentiment shared by many participants:
“Many thanks to all the organisers and volunteers for such a great championship. The organisation was excellent from start to finish—everything ran on time and exactly according to plan (I’ll overlook the change from 3 hours to 2 hours, as that was a very good decision!).
A good event is one where you can focus entirely on racing without having to think about meals, transport, showers, and all the other logistics. In Sittard, all those extra details were handled so well that competitors could concentrate solely on racing. The air-conditioned clubhouse with its permanently open café was a brilliant idea—even though none of us expected temperatures to approach 30°C.
Once again, thank you very much for such a fantastic event. PS: Please feel free to use these comments anywhere else you would like“ .
Andrew Sidwell (Race Number 16)
We could not have asked for a better endorsement. Thank you, Andrew!
Bringing the Industry Together
One of the defining features of the Championships was the strong presence of the recumbent cycling industry. Manufacturers, dealers and accessory suppliers showcased a wide range of bicycles, trikes and equipment, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the latest developments in human-powered vehicle technology.
ICE drew considerable attention with an impressive fleet of trikes brought from the United Kingdom. Other exhibitors included Velomobiel.nl, Elan, Ligfietsshop Tempelman, ACE (Trike Specialists), Velomobileworld, Fietser.be and Radical Design. By the end of the weekend, several exhibitors had completely sold out of their accessories.
Four companies—Velomobiel.nl, Radical Design, Ventisit and Velomobileworld—also contributed prizes for the event raffle. Winners will be contacted shortly.
The Championships once again demonstrated the close relationship between riders, manufacturers and dealers. The recumbent community thrives through this partnership, and the positive atmosphere throughout the weekend confirmed the value of bringing sport and industry together at future events.
Saturday Evening Tombola
Another highlight was Saturday evening’s tombola, organised by Rudi Cools of HPV Belgium. Thanks to his efforts, participants enjoyed an extensive prize draw featuring many valuable prizes.
Every competitor and volunteer received a complimentary ticket during registration, ensuring everyone had the opportunity to take part in the festivities.
Three-Country Cycling Tour
The traditional Three-Country Ride, enthusiastically organised by De Grensrijder, attracted around eighteen participants. While attendance was lower than anticipated—largely due to the exceptionally warm weather—it nevertheless provided those who took part with a memorable ride through the border region.
Our sincere thanks go to Oliver Piper for helping to organise this enjoyable excursion.
Young Riders
After welcoming three young competitors on the opening day, participation doubled on the second day. To help everyone cope with the summer heat, the young riders enjoyed refreshing water sprays along the course.
Special thanks go to Bram Luyckx from Belgium for coordinating these activities.
Limburg Hospitality
Providing a welcoming atmosphere was an important part of the Championships.
Competitors and volunteers were greeted with a traditional Limburg pie buffet and refreshments. Throughout the weekend, Bike Park volunteers prepared excellent lunches with homemade soup and sandwiches, while two evening pasta buffets—supplied by a local caterer—were enjoyed by all. There was more than enough food to ensure that even those who had not pre-ordered were well catered for.
As overnight camping was not permitted at the venue, accommodation was arranged at the Watersley hostel and nearby campsites, providing comfortable options for competitors and volunteers alike.
A Special World Championship Magazine
Earlier this year, the organising committee recognised that the World Championships offered a unique opportunity to introduce recumbent cycling to a wider audience.
With the arrival of Edmond Varwijk to the board and additional support from Yaïr Da Costa, the team collaborated with editor-in-chief Jeroen Peeters and designer Hans Nieuwstraten to produce a special World Championship edition of Ligfiets& magazine.
Published primarily in English, the magazine featured interviews with competitors alongside articles covering world records, championship history, technological innovation, touring, long-distance travel and the global recumbent cycling community.
Thanks to additional advertising support, every competitor, volunteer, exhibitor, visitor and media representative received a complimentary copy.
Capturing the Event
Our sincere appreciation goes to photographers Gaby and Roger Dalemans for documenting Saturday’s events, and especially to Arnold Ligtvoet, who photographed the Championships throughout all three days, often under challenging weather conditions.
Arnold has made his photographs freely available for use, provided appropriate credit is given to the photographer.
A Rainbow Jersey for the Champions
The success of the 2026 HPV World Championships would not have been possible without the generous support of Peter Bouwels and the dedicated volunteers of the Tom Dumoulin Bike Park, Limburg Cycling and the Municipality of Sittard-Geleen.
Thanks to Peter’s initiative, this year’s World Champions received authentic rainbow jerseys—a first in the history of the HPV World Championships. The jerseys symbolise the growing connection between traditional cycle racing and recumbent racing and added a memorable new tradition to the event.
Finally, our heartfelt thanks go to our own team of 45 volunteers, whose commitment, professionalism and enthusiasm ensured the smooth running of every aspect of the Championships. With invaluable support from Jorie and Jeroen Peeters, they made this international event possible.
Looking Back
The organising committee looks back with great pride on a successful 2026 HPV World Championships. More than just a sporting event, the Championships celebrated innovation, international friendship and the unique spirit of the global recumbent cycling community.
To everyone who competed, volunteered, exhibited, supported or simply joined us in Sittard—thank you for making this event such a memorable success.
We wish the organisers in France every success in organising the 2027 World Championships!
The Organising Committee
Roel • Rudi • Rembrandt • Sjoerd • Jochem • Mark • Carla • Edmond • Yaïr
02-08-2026
A big thank you to the volunteers at the WC 2026 at the Tom Dumoulin Bike Park, Sittard-Geleen, 10–12 July 2026.
12-07-2026
Awards ceremony and results
Final Results
If you see any anomalies, talk to us or write to https://wc26hpv.nl/contact/
Kids races and results on Sunday
Day 3 2-hours race (photos Arnold Ligtvoet)
11-07-2026
Day 2 climbing criterion 45 minutes + 1 lap (photos Arnold Ligtvoet)
Sunday morning’s 3-hour race to be shortened
In view of the temperature, we have decided to shorten the 3-hour race by one hour. We will start at the usual time and finish an hour earlier.
Water stations along the track
Water stations will be added to both the indoor and outdoor tracks.
We are still looking for volunteers for this. Who would like to sign up with Sjoerd and Mark?
These are the exhibitors at the Recumbent Bike Fair during the 2026 World Championships
3-Countries bike tour on Saturday
Kids race and results on Saturday (Photo’s Gaby Dalemans)
Lunch (photos Roger Dalemans)
Lunch (photos Gaby Dalemans)
1-hour time trialcing Racing (2), racing racing (photos arnold Ligtvoet)
1-hour time trialcing Racing, racing racing (photos arnold Ligtvoet)
Things are starting to get busy…(photos Roger Dalemans)
Early in the morning on Day 2: The trade show is being set up, and the first participants have arrived (foto’s Gaby Dalemans)
10-07-2026
World Championships Recumbent Cycling Officially Underway!
The World Championships Recumbent Cycling have officially begun! On Friday evening, Alderman for Sports Gabriëlle Essing-Demandt officially opened the event at the Tom Dumoulin Bike Park, kicking off three days of speed, innovation and fun.
The opening ceremony featured a colourful parade of around 120 recumbent cyclists riding around the circuit. Leading the parade was the alderman, accompanied by Roel van Dijk and Rudi Cools, the presidents of the Dutch and Belgian Recumbent Cycling Associations.
For the occasion, she rode the brand-new ICE PERS, an innovative chainless, electrically assisted trike. This remarkable three-wheeler not only rides forward but can even reverse!
The atmosphere was fantastic from the very start. Participants, spectators and the alderman herself all clearly enjoyed the festive opening. The photos truly speak for themselves.
Following the opening parade, the sporting action got underway with the “Fastest Lap” race. Competitors are racing under pleasant temperatures with a refreshing breeze, and so far the weather has been on our side.
The results of this first race will be published as soon as the competition concludes. It marks the opening event of a four-race series taking place over the next three days.
Here’s to a fantastic World Championships!
First Impressions of the 2026 World Recumbent Championships 
The atmosphere is already fantastic! Most participants have arrived and their recumbent bikes have passed the technical inspection. Great news: every bike inspected so far has been approved, so everything is in perfect order from a safety perspective.
The media are here as well. Omroep Limburg 1 visited today to film the event, and the footage will be broadcast on regional television this evening.
Tonight’s programme:
6:30 PM – Official Opening Ceremony
7:30 PM – First event: Fastest Lap
We’re looking forward to an exciting, friendly, and successful World Championships! (foto’s Arnold Ligtvoet)
Let’s get started!
Three exciting days lie ahead, packed with thrilling races, exhibitions, a scenic tour ride, and plenty of opportunities to meet fellow recumbent cyclists from around the world.
And the weather? It’s looking good—at least it’s not raining! A great way to kick off an unforgettable weekend.
With around 110 riders and 50 dedicated volunteers, we have everything we need to make this a fantastic event. This would not have been possible without the tremendous support and hard work of the teams at Tom Dumoulin Bike Park, Limburg Cycling, and the Municipality of Sittard-Geleen.
Let’s make these three days a celebration of sport, friendship, and the unique spirit of the recumbent cycling community.
We wish you all a wonderful time and a fantastic 2026 World Recumbent Cycling Championships!
The Organising Committee
2026 World Recumbent Cycling Championships
09-07-2026
Coping with the heat
Bicycle tyres: take care not to leave your tyres in direct sunlight. It’s up to you to decide how many BAR to put in the tyres, but don’t inflate them to full pressure, as the heat will cause the air to expand, which could lead to blowouts, even before you’ve set off.
Protecting your bike
The designated bike parking area is situated on a grassy patch. If you want to protect your bike from the heat, you could stretch a small tarpaulin or similar over it. You are not permitted to park your bike on the circuit itself.
Warm-up and cool-down Warm up by cycling at least one lap to signal to your muscles that they need to start performing. Even if you think it’s warm and that you don’t need to!
Cool down by cycling at least two laps to signal to your body that the physical exertion is coming to an end. So don’t stop straight away after the race, as this can cause problems. Do not expose your body to sudden changes in temperature immediately after the races, so do not rinse off with cold water straight away. Wait until your body has acclimatised.
We have a bucket of water with sponges at the circuit. We do not recommend using it, for the reason mentioned earlier. But if you like it, you are welcome to use it.
Participants are allowed to accept water bottles from people standing at the side of the track. BUT THEY MUST NOT CROSS THE TRACK DURING THE RACES. THIS ALSO APPLIES TO THE PARTICIPANTS! Make sure they know exactly which lane you’re driving in. The person helping you must be positioned in THAT lane beforehand. Do not accept water or any other drink from strangers.
Accepting water will NOT result in disqualification, provided you ensure that you and/or your bike do not obstruct other participants!
Here are the tips mentioned earlier once again:
Here are the most important tips for protecting yourself from the heat:
- Drink plenty of water: Keep drinking small sips before, during and after your rides.
- Isotonic drinks: Use sports drinks or electrolytes to prevent cramps and salt loss.
- Cool box: Bring your own cool box to keep your drinks cold.
- Protect your body with sun cream: Apply sun cream with a minimum SPF of 30 before you set off. And reapply it frequently.
- Headwear: Wear a cap or hat when you’re not cycling.
- Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from the intense UV rays.
Seek active ways to cool down - Wet towel: Place a damp towel around your neck whilst you wait.
- Shade: Rest under a parasol, tree or marquee. Make sure you don’t take anything with you that could blow onto the track!
- Clothing: Wear light, breathable and loose-fitting clothing when not racing.
Please look after yourselves and look out for one another this weekend. Be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion, such as dizziness, headaches or extreme tiredness, and report these immediately to the first-aid team on site.
Together, let’s make this a fantastic and safe World Cup!
08-07-2026
Tom Dumoulin Bike Park ready to go!
The paths have been swept, the grass mown, the carpet laid, and it’s already been blessed with the Limburg anthem.
The lads at the park are really busy with it.
And we’re so glad to be with them!
So let’s get practising now, shall we…
At the campsite
Weather forecast: no need to change the programme – tips!
| SITTARD | Weather forecast | (8 July) | |||
| Date | Time | Program | Actual temp | Perceived | Wind |
| Fr. July-10 | 19:30-21:00 | the fastest lap | 28-25 | 26-23 | NE2 |
| Sa.July-11 | 09:00 – 12:00 | 1-hour time trial | 20-27 | 20-27 | NE2 |
| 10:00 – 13:00 | 3-country-tour | 24-28 | 23-28 | NE2 | |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Kids-Race (15 min) | 29 | 29 | NE3 | |
| 15:00 | climbing criterion 45 minutes + 1 lap on/half streamlined | 30 | 29 | NE3 | |
| 16:30 | climbing criterion 45 minutes + 1 lap streamlined | 30-31 | 29 | NE3 | |
| Su.July-12 | 09:00 – 12:00 | 3-hour race | 23-28 | 23-27 | E2-NO3 |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Kids Race (15 min) | 29 | 28 | NE3 |
In short, compared with some previous World Championships, it looks as though it will be manageable as things stand. For the time being, there is no reason to adjust the program.
But we will continue to monitor the situation.
TIPS!
Here are the most important tips for protecting yourself from the heat:
- Drink plenty of water: Keep drinking small sips before, during and after your rides.
- Isotonic drinks: Use sports drinks or electrolytes to prevent cramps and salt loss.
- Cool box: Bring your own cool box to keep your drinks cold.
- Protect your body with sun cream: Apply sun cream with a minimum SPF of 30 before you set off. And reapply it frequently.
- Headwear: Wear a cap or hat when you’re not cycling.
- Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from the intense UV rays.
Seek active ways to cool down
- Wet towel: Place a damp towel around your neck whilst you wait.
- Shade: Rest under a parasol, tree or marquee. Make sure you don’t take anything with you that could blow onto the track!
- Clothing: Wear light, breathable and loose-fitting clothing when not racing.
Please look after yourselves and look out for one another this weekend. Be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion, such as dizziness, headaches or extreme tiredness, and report these immediately to the first-aid team on site.
Together, let’s make this a fantastic and safe World Cup!
06-07-2026
🎉 Only 4 days to go!! 🤩
We’re already busy practicing… 👀
❓Practicing what?
🎤 Singing!
❓Why?
Because we created our very own World Championship song!
🎶 RACING IN SITTARD – “Colourful Parade” 🎶
Now it’s your turn! 💙
Start practicing too, so we can all sing it together during the World Championship! 🙌🎵
🌟 And there’s more exciting news:
Alderman Gabriëlle Essing-Demandt from the Municipality of Sittard-Geleen will lead us during the first lap in a UFM!
So turn up the music, learn the song, and let’s make it an unforgettable celebration together! 💙💛❤️
Will you sing along? 🎶🥳
04-07-2026
6 days to go…
With just six days to go until the 2026 Recumbent World Championships, we’re sharing the personal stories of people who are taking part in the Championships and/or for whom recumbent cycling has become a way of life. Their stories are featured in our special World Championships ’26 Magazine, which you can read here.
Today we’re putting the spotlight on Daniël Fenn and Matthias König.
A sign of life from Daniël Fenn
Daniël is an independent designer who achieved great success with the DF-series (named after his initials), the Alpha-series, and many other velomobile designs. At the end of 2024, he was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, sustaining a spinal cord injury that left him paralysed from the chest down.
(Photo: Kerstin Lübeck)
From his wheelchair, driven by his unstoppable creativity, Daniël is now working on a new generation of velomobiles: the Omega. In our special magazine, you’ll find an inspiring interview with Daniël and his partner Nici Walde, who has set records in 12-hour races. Both Daniël and Nici have also been crowned World Champions many times.
Matthias König – King of Records
For Matthias, recumbent cycling has long been much more than a sport; it has become a way of life. Not only has he achieved numerous successes aboard the world’s fastest recumbents, but he has also played a significant role in their technical development. His remarkable achievements and relentless pursuit of innovation have earned him the title “King of Records.”
(Photo: Droplimits)
Matthias will also be competing at the 2026 Recumbent World Championships in Sittard between July 10-12.
Read the World Championships HPV 2026 special edition https://wc26hpv.nl/…/WK-Ligfietsen-10-12-juli-2026…
02-07- 2026
9 Days to go!
The line-up for the 2026 World Cup – some statistics
Participants: 119
Countries: 13
- Germany 34
2. The Netherlands 21
3. UK 17
4. Schwitzerland 13
5. Belgium 10
6. Austria 8
7. France 8
8. Italy 3
9. Denmark 1
10. South-Africa 1
11. Argentin 1
12. Finland 1
13. Australia 1
Age:
the youngest (in the adult race) is 16 and the oldest 70
Average age:
49 years
Women:
7
Types of bikes:
Open recumbents: 32
Partially enclosed bikes (front and/or rear canopy): 16
Velomobiles [3 or 4 wheels and (virtually) fully enclosed]: 49
Speedliners (2-wheelers with a full canopy) 4
Trikes (open tricycles) 18
Former & current worldchampions taking part: 10
●Christoph Rindlisbacher, Schweiz
●Philippe Descubes,France
●Judith Swallow, UK
●Julian Kraft, Germany
●Guido Holenstein,Schweiz
●Kim Wall, UK
●Philippe Descubes France
●Pieter Sijbrandij, Netherlands
●Russell Bridge, UK
●James Coxon, UK
World record holders taking part: 3
Matthias König over three distances: 4 km (average 54.653 km on an open recumbent) – 170 km (average 46.67 km on a trike) – 1-hour time trial (average 57.637 km on an open recumbent)
James Coxon: 170 km (average 52.233 km on an open recumbent) – 1-hour time trial (50.492 on an open recumbent)
Melchior Poppe: 6-hour time trial (average 42.62 on an open recumbent bike) – 12-hour time trial (average 38.632 km on an open recumbent bike)
*No world records are set during the World Championships
01-07-2026
10 Days to Go!
Only ten days until the 2026 HPV World Championship! The big question is: “Is everyone getting excited yet?” We certainly are—and so are the 120 participants from 13 countries.
All the accommodation we had reserved is now fully booked, so Limburg is preparing for a colourful invasion of fast and eye-catching recumbents.
Preparations are in full swing. The ICE Trikes team from the United Kingdom will be defending their 2025 world title with the VTX,
while other competitors have already been ‘secretly’ testing the race circuit. Let’s just say… they weren’t quite as unnoticed as they had hoped. 😉
Now that this photo has surfaced anyway: a tent will soon be standing between the grandstand and the Fortuna Sittard stadium. Whether the sun is blazing or the skies decide to open, it will—together with the air-conditioned clubhouse—be the perfect place to relax, catch up with friends, and exchange a few tall tales between races. Because the World Championship is about much more than speed; it’s about bringing together the international recumbent cycling community.
HPV WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026 – SPECIAL EDITION!
Today we’re launching the ‘WC’26 HPV Special Edition’: a glossy magazine packed with personal stories, speed records, technical innovations, touring adventures, bloggers, YouTubers, and everything that makes this remarkable community so unique. Its purpose is to introduce a wider audience to recumbent cycling in all its forms, its many possibilities, and the passionate people behind it.
Visiting us in Sittard? Then be sure to pick up your free copy!
We’ve also updated WC26HPV.nl with the latest participant list, race information, regulations, parking details, and the venue map. From now on, be sure to check our website and social media every day for the latest news.
Behind the scenes, around 50 volunteers are working hard to make this World Championship an unforgettable event.
The only thing you need to bring is your good mood.
And… oh yes, your bike might come in handy too. 😉
And of course… feel free to share this message!
See you in ten days—we can’t wait!
the 2026 World Cup Special Edition!
01-01-2026
Happy New (wc2026) year!
First of all: we wish you a very positive year, with good health as the priority.
And for us recumbent cyclists: a year filled with miles of cycling in beautiful surroundings. We especially wish the speed enthusiasts among us success in (once again) breaking personal or (world) records with their aerodynamic bikes.
The Dutch and Belgian HPV associations are honored to contribute to this by organizing the HPV World Championships in the Netherlands.
The organization is starting with the launch of this special website, where we will share all the information and news about the World Championships with you in the coming year.
We wish everyone the best of luck with their preparations for the World Championships and warmly welcome you (and your families) to Sittard-Geleen and the surrounding area during the World Championships.
On behalf of the 2026 World Championships organization,
Roel van Dijk (Chairman of the Dutch HPV Association)
Rudi Cools (Chairman HPV-Belgium)