Most people have no qualms about going on holiday during these summers and missing Richard Krajicek's exploits at Wimbledon or those of Michael Boogerd, Krajicek's primary school class-mate, on the Tour de France. Cycling is only really popular in the Catholic south of the Netherlands. After the Tour de France, the cyclists earn a great deal of money 'riding circles around the church', as these races are often called. If you look around the countryside these days, you will see that most cycling amateurs are middle-aged. The young have all but abandoned cycling, considering it a sport for mad endurance freaks.
Dutch athletes excel in outdoor sports, with the exception of indoor speed skating.
Despite the fact that the rainy climate might be seen to encourage the pursuit of indoor sports, international success in these disciplines is extremely rare. The major exception to the rule was the men's volleyball team, which won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. Since then, however, the team's form has deteriorated. Handball and basketball are in an even more dire condition. The average Dutchman is only really interested in the NBA playoffs, which receive wide television coverage.