The 200km races from 1974-1984
As was indicated before the races over 200 kilometers could only occasionally be organized in the Netherlands, therefore, they were held in different countries in the North of Europe where it was more certain that an "Alternatieve Elfstedentocht" could be organized. Jan Roelof Kruithof and Lenie van der Hoorn have been the king and queen of these marathon races over 200 kilometers between 1974 and 1984. They won nearly all the races that were longer than 100 kilometers in that period. To give an impression how demanding these races were we present a part of a video of these races in the North of Europe. Jan Roelof Kruithof mentions that these races are much more demanding than the Elfstedentocht itself because you don´t go through cities and there is little public to sheer you up, you are alone in the country site, it is very cold and the ice is in general not very good. He says that he got warm feeling under these conditions which is a strange reaction.
In total Jan Roelof Kruithof won 11 races over 200 kilometers in 10 years. By all these results he became rather famous. There was also a story that contributed to his fame. It says that he prepared himself for these races in a cool cell of a company. Videos of these trainings were shown. Recently he has told that he only did this for the press. He never did such trainings without the press present but people believed he did so. When the real "Elfstedentocht" finally was held in 1985 he was not the best. One difference was that in that race he had to run parts of the route on his skates (klunen) and at one point in the race he fel twice and lost the contact with the first group but became still number 12 in the ranking.
Lenie van der Hoorn won at least as many times as Jan Roelof Kruithof but for her it was much more difficult to get recognition for her results because women were not expected to participate in such races. In order to avoid definite refusals, she often registered not with her fuill name and asked her husband to pick up the registration papers. In this way she participated in many races till the participation of women was also accepted in these races. Normally she skated in the peleton of the men as she also did on the artificial ice tracks.. There are no videos of her but in the foto aside we see her skating with the men.
LIke Jan Roelof Kruithof she also participated in the Elfstedentocht of 1985. In contrast with him she was able to win also that 200 kilometers race. In this case also she did not get the recognition for her succes as she deserved. There was nothing organized for the winner of the women´s race. Fortunately a party was organized for her in the town where she lived as can be seen below.
Lenie van der Hoorn won at least as many times as Jan Roelof Kruithof but for her it was much more difficult to get recognition for her results because women were not expected to participate in such races. In order to avoid definite refusals, she often registered not with her fuill name and asked her husband to pick up the registration papers. In this way she participated in many races till the participation of women was also accepted in these races. Normally she skated in the peleton of the men as she also did on the artificial ice tracks.. There are no videos of her but in the foto aside we see her skating with the men.
LIke Jan Roelof Kruithof she also participated in the Elfstedentocht of 1985. In contrast with him she was able to win also that 200 kilometers race. In this case also she did not get the recognition for her succes as she deserved. There was nothing organized for the winner of the women´s race. Fortunately a party was organized for her in the town where she lived as can be seen below.