Tour of 1940
Over 3,000 participants, but only 152 reached the finish.
The 1940 Elfstedentocht saw thousands of skaters take to the ice despite severe cold and a fierce easterly wind. Participants began by walking 4 kilometres from De Harmonie (theatre) and De Beurs (stock exchange building) to the starting point at De Zwette, as the ice on the city canals was too weak.
The race
Most skaters reached Stavoren without major issues. In Sneek, the fire brigade had flooded the streets, allowing skaters to avoid walking and continue skating. The leading group - Jongert, Van der Duim, Westra, Keyzer, Adema, and Geveke were the first to reach Stavoren, where Jongert received the first stamp. From Stavoren, the headwind was relentless, and temperatures plunged to -15°C. By Tjerkwerd, the group had consolidated their lead.
In Franeker, the lead group shrank to five: Adema, Van der Duim, Jongert, Keyzer, and Westra. Adema won the sprint to the checkpoint, where they were welcomed with the Frisian anthem.
After Franeker, skating became nearly impossible due to thick snow on the ice. The bitter cold, snow, and strong winds turned the journey into a backbreaking ordeal, often called "the hell of the north." Many skaters failed to reach Dokkum. At the Drost inn in Dokkum, the lead group stopped to warm up. Jongert proposed crossing the finish line together, referencing the dual winners of 1933. Given the harsh conditions and the narrow, snow-covered path after Bartlehiem, the group agreed, forming the "Dokkum Pact."
Upon arriving in Leeuwarden, solidarity nearly dissolved. Adema began a sprint, believing he had crossed the finish line first. However, the crowd surged onto the ice, obscuring the finish line and creating chaos. Adema and Keyzer claimed victory in the sprint, while Jongert insisted he was the first to be stamped. The race committee ultimately declared all five skaters joint winners.
For the touring skaters, the finish was set in Wier due to the extreme weather. Those who reached Wier were deemed to have completed the Elfstedentocht. Only 5% of all participants made it to Leeuwarden.
