Picture of Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Race, Netherlands)

Somewhere at the end of the day - the toughest is still to come

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Decidedly the most spectacular and peculiar event in the Netherlands is the 11 Cities Race.
For a very long time, the tour was not held and for an entire generation, it seemed impossible it would ever be held again. I was one of those born after 1963, the last, memorable and historic tour in which only around 1 percent of all participants actually finished. Ever after, winters were mild, and it seemed that 1963 was the last time the event could be held. But then, in 1985, there was so much ice, temperatures dropped so far below zero for such a long time, that in the end, just before spring would start, the tour was organized. I was one of the lucky ones to participate and I will never forget the atmosphere during the whole day, the audience in the towns and villages on the way from Leeuwarden to Leeuwarden.
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