The CPC Loop Den Haag (abbreviated for City-Pier-City Loop) is an annual half marathon competition held in The Hague, Netherlands, every mid-March.

CPC Loop Den Haag
Patrick Makau winning in the Hague in 2008
DateMid-March
LocationThe Hague, Netherlands Netherlands
Event typeRoad
DistanceHalf marathon
Primary sponsorNN Group
Established1975
Course recordsMen's: 58:33 (2007)
Kenya Samuel Wanjiru
Women's: 1:07:32 (1998)
Kenya Tegla Loroupe
Official siteCPC Loop Den Haag
Participants9,571 (2020)
9,494 (2018)

The inaugural edition was held in 1975 and featured a 14.5 km course. This was extended to the half marathon distance the following year. The competition has been used as the Dutch half marathon championships on a number of occasions.[1] The course is a relatively flat one, which lends itself to fast times for athletes.[2] A former men's half marathon world record of 58:33 minutes was set at this race by Samuel Wanjiru in 2007.[3] This remains the men's course record, while Tegla Loroupe is the women's course record holder with her run of 1:07:32 hours from 1998.

The most successful athletes of the CPC race are both Dutch: Carla Beurskens and Marti ten Kate have both topped the podium on four separate occasions. In its earlier editions, Dutch and other Europeans were the most successful athletes. From the 1990s onwards, this changed due to the rise of African, and particularly Kenyan, runners. Kenya's dominance was highlighted by a ten-year undefeated streak in the men's race from 2001 to 2010.[1]

Winners

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Tegla Loroupe set the course record in 1998
 
Samuel Wanjiru en route to setting a world record at the 2007 race

Key:   Course record   Dutch championship race   Short course or wind-assisted race

Year Winner men Nationality Time
(h:m:s)
Winner women Nationality Time
(h:m:s)
1975 Henk Kalf   Netherlands 42:53 Not held
1976 Jose Reveyn   Belgium 1:03:24
1977 Joachim Schirmer   Germany 1:02:40
1978 Wolf-Dieter Poschmann   Germany 1:03:36
1979 Øyvind Dahl   Norway 1:03:07
1980 Øyvind Dahl   Norway 1:02:46 Marja Wokke   Netherlands 1:13:59
1981 Øyvind Dahl   Norway 1:04:18 Ine Valentin   Netherlands 1:24:31
1982 Hugh Jones   England 1:01:06 Annie van Stiphout   Netherlands 1:14:34
1983 Cor Lambregts   Netherlands 1:00:40 Gerrie Timmermans   Netherlands 1:18:44
1984 Ray Crabb   England 1:02:56 Carla Beurskens   Netherlands 1:12:57
1985 Carl Thackery   England 1:02:11 Carla Beurskens   Netherlands 1:10:44
1986 David Tavares   Portugal 1:02:50 Carla Beurskens   Netherlands 1:09:28
1987 Marti ten Kate   Netherlands 1:03:14 Karolina Szabó   Hungary 1:10:58
1988 Marti ten Kate   Netherlands 1:02:20 Evy Palm   Sweden 1:12:24
1989 Marti ten Kate   Netherlands 1:01:34 Nelly Aerts   Belgium 1:11:32
1990 Marti ten Kate   Netherlands 1:02:24 Carla Beurskens   Netherlands 1:10:04
1991 John Burra   Tanzania 1:01:38 Ingrid Kristiansen   Norway 1:09:05
1992 Manuel Matias   Portugal 1:02:04 Anne van Schuppen   Netherlands 1:13:20
1993 Benson Masya   Kenya 1:00:24 Colleen De Reuck   South Africa 1:10:50
1994 Benson Masya   Kenya 1:02:00 Jane Salumäe   Estonia 1:10:10
1995 Simon Lopuyet   Kenya 1:01:42 Simona Staicu   Romania 1:10:58
1996 Thomas Osano   Kenya 1:02:03 Jane Salumäe   Estonia 1:11:38
1997 Grazia Calvaresi   Italy 1:01:08 Esther Kiplagat   Kenya 1:10:10
1998 Simon Bor   Kenya 1:01:03 Tegla Loroupe   Kenya 1:07:32
1999 Isaac Chemobo   Kenya 1:01:00 Cristina Pomacu   Romania 1:10:02
2000 Zebedayo Bayo   Tanzania 1:01:07 Lornah Kiplagat   Kenya 1:06:56
2001 Josephat Rop   Kenya 1:02:12 Catherine Ndereba   Kenya 1:07:54
2002 Yusuf Songoka   Kenya 1:00:53 Lenah Cheruiyot   Kenya 1:08:51
2003 Joseph Ngolepus   Kenya 1:00:53 Marleen Renders   Belgium 1:09:54
2004 Christopher Cheboiboch   Kenya 1:02:41 Mary Ptikany   Kenya 1:13:36
2005 Moses Kigen   Kenya 1:01:45 Mary Ptikany   Kenya 1:10:18
2006 Moses Kigen   Kenya 1:01:17 Simona Staicu   Hungary 1:12:49
2007 Samuel Wanjiru   Kenya 58:33 Hilda Kibet   Kenya 1:09:43
2008 Patrick Musyoki   Kenya 1:00:08 Pauline Wangui   Kenya 1:09:49
2009 Sammy Kitwara   Kenya 59:47 Pauline Wangui   Kenya 1:10:50
2010 Patrick Musyoki   Kenya 59:52 Pauline Wangui   Kenya 1:10:36
2011 Lelisa Desisa   Ethiopia 59:37 Flomena Chepchirchir   Kenya 1:09:06
2012 Stephen Kibet   Kenya 58:54 Josephine Chepkoech   Kenya 1:11:20
2013 Edwin Kipyego   Kenya 1:00:05 Laurane Picoche   France 1:11:45
2014 John Mwangangi   Kenya 1:00:26 Jip Vastenburg   Netherlands 1:13:15
2015 Stanley Biwott   Kenya 59:20 Maja Neuenschwander   Switzerland 1:11:08
2016 Edwin Kipyego   Kenya 1:00:27 Minna Lamminen   Finland 1:14:15
2017 Geoffrey Yegon   Kenya 59:56 Fabienne Schlumpf   Switzerland 1:10:17
2018 James Rungaru   Kenya 59:37 Maja Neuenschwander   Switzerland 1:10:46
2019 Cancelled due to adverse weather conditions
2020 Dawit Wolde   Ethiopia 59:58 Joyline Chemutai   Kenya 1:09:44

Wins by country

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Country Men's race Women's race Total
  Kenya 23 14 37
  Netherlands 6 10 16
  Norway 3 1 4
  Belgium 1 2 3
  England 3 0 3
  Switzerland 0 3 3
  Estonia 0 2 2
  Ethiopia 2 0 2
  Germany 0 2 2
  Hungary 0 2 2
  Portugal 0 2 2
  Romania 0 2 2
  Tanzania 2 0 2
  Finland 0 1 1
  France 0 1 1
  Italy 1 0 1
  South Africa 0 1 1
  Sweden 0 1 1

In 2023, Wales’ Sir Dave James set a new Welsh Record in the M60 category, also winning the age group of that year.

In 2023, Wales’ Peter Gillibrand clinched the record for pouring the most amount of lager in his eyes during the race.

References

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  1. ^ a b Michiels, Frieda et al (2011-03-13). City-Pier-City Half Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2011-03-17.
  2. ^ van Hemert, Wim (2011-03-14). Desisa and Chepcirchir take fast Half Marathon wins in The Hague. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-03-17.
  3. ^ IAAF, March 17, 2007: Wanjiru again! World records broken in Half Marathon and 20 km in The Hague
List of winners
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