Research into the possibility of the Elfstedentocht in corona time

If it gets cold enough, it could happen this winter: the board of the Eleven Cities Association is investigating the possibility of driving an Elfstedentocht in corona time.

The board wants to find a solution “within the limitations” that apply as a result of the pandemic, chairman Wiebe Wieling said this morning at the annual meeting of the Royal Association of the Frisian Eleven Cities.

That is remarkable, observes Omrop Fryslân. Last year Wieling already said in november that there would be no Elfstedentocht in corona time. The difference is that hardly anyone was vaccinated then, but now more than 80 percent of the Dutch population is vaccinated.

The board does not rule out a new tour, but at the same time it is still unclear what measures should be taken to be able to receive skaters and the public safely. Wieling wants to wait for the cabinet measures for January and February. To a question from one of the members whether the QR code will be checked, the chairman replied that everyone is equal for the organization of the Elfstedentocht, vaccinated or not.

Climate change

earlier it has been suggested to disconnect the race from the tour, but the board is not in favor of that. “The tour should be for everyone”, says Klasina Seinstra, who won the last Elfstedentocht so far – in 1997 – together with Henk Angenent.

Aside from the restrictions due to corona, the association also has to deal with climate change. September this year experts calculated that the chance that we will ever experience the journey of journeys again is five percent. Because to be able to ride the Elfstedentocht, a long period of frost is needed, and the winters are becoming less severe due to global warming.

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Seinstra also hopes that it will be possible again. “On a winter day like that, the weather is alive,” she says. “I was walking the dog this morning and there was some ice on the water. Then you have a little itch, like: will it finally come this winter?”

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