The Dutch cycling association NTFU is introducing a system to signpost the difficulty of mountain and trail bike routes in the Netherlands, in an effort to stem a surge in injuries.

According to research by safety group VeiligheidNL, the number of mountain bike injuries soared by 68% last year, compared with 2019, and that this is not only due to the increased popularity of the sport.

To make it clear what level of difficulty each route has, the NTFU is placing boards indicating a green, blue, red or black route at popular mountain bike locations. It hopes to expand the network nationwide within two years.