Fietselfstedentocht, a 235 km one-day ride through Friesland
Stamps, wind and an Elfstedenkruisje at the finish.
- Answers
- What is the Fietselfstedentocht in Friesland?
- Topics
- bike · data · heart · lifestyle · sensors · sport
- Full article on willem.com
- https://willem.com/en/2023-05-31_impact-of-training/
Summary
It is a single-day ride through the Dutch province of Friesland in which about 16,000 riders collect stamps in towns along the route. In 2023 I rode the 235 km edition and earned my Elfstedenkruisje.
Full text
At the finish your stamp card is verified and, if everything is in order, you receive the Elfstedenkruisje, a highly collectible medal registered to your name. There is special attention for riders who have completed the tocht many times, some more than 60 times. The open and often windy countryside of Friesland makes it a serious endurance ride: the 2022 edition was gruesome, with only 9,661 finishers out of the 16,000 who were eligible to start. The 2023 edition, my sixth, was friendlier, with fair weather and favourable wind on large segments of the 235 km route. I rode it on my fixed gear bike together with my brother and brother in law, recording the day with a Garmin Edge 1030 Plus head unit and a WHOOP strap.