"Completed the tour twice"

When the Tour went ahead in 1985, I panicked, but luckily, I was able to take over my friend’s starting card. My skating buddy Pip Tesselaar wasn’t so fortunate. Wearing an orange armband was required to avoid being considered a free rider. I suggested faking one by cutting a piece off the leg of my father’s orange skating suit. “Absolutely not,” my father said. Relief came when the radio announced that skaters without armbands would not be treated as freeriders.

Elfstedentocht in cross-stitch

After completing the Tour for the second time in 1986, my mother embroidered the Frisian Elfstedentocht for me. When she hung it on the wall, it turned out she had added a personal touch. A thousand thanks for this, Mom! To think that my mother created this masterpiece three times. She spent her life knitting and embroidering, even knitting Norwegian sweaters for our entire family. It was in one of these sweaters that I learned to skate.

On July 31, 2024, I turned 60. I invited my clubmates from the Hera Athletics Club to a BBQ. After a beautiful speech, I was handed my gifts. First, I opened a package containing a special running shirt. The second package contained a very special keepsake: a unique Elfstedentocht medal. It now holds a place of honour in my living room, beneath my mother’s embroidery.

Evert is waiting for me!

In 1986, I decided to carry a banner with a catchy slogan. It read: Evert is waiting for me! 14,733. Along the way, spectators constantly pointed out that Evert was already miles ahead and wouldn’t wait for anyone. My astonishment was great when it turned out Evert had won the Tour for the second time. Many journalists thought I had a gift for prophecy.