The Alternative Elfstedentocht
As has been mentioned before, the climate change has had its consequences for long distance speed skating. In the eyes of the Dutch population the most serious consequence has been that the Elfstedentocht of 200km on natural ice could not organized any more in this century and probably never again.
An obvious substitute for the Elfstedentocht was to organize races on natural ice in Nordic countries. However also these possibilities have become more and more limited due to the climate change so that at the moment the only possible option is to organize an alternative Elfstedentocht is in Austria on the Weissensee. Except in two years it was always possible to organize an race over 200 km.
The winners of these races of these races and mentioned blow with their winning time
An obvious substitute for the Elfstedentocht was to organize races on natural ice in Nordic countries. However also these possibilities have become more and more limited due to the climate change so that at the moment the only possible option is to organize an alternative Elfstedentocht is in Austria on the Weissensee. Except in two years it was always possible to organize an race over 200 km.
The winners of these races of these races and mentioned blow with their winning time
Note: In this table the time of Petra Grimbergen in 2002 is incorrect it must be 5.54.02.
Interesting is in this respect that till 2007, when the race could not take place, mainly male skaters of the last Elfstedentocht were the winners. This was not true for the female skaters.After 2007 the winners were participants in the marathon competition on artificial ice in the Netherlands.
Another point of attention could be that such a distance of 200 km was done with a speed of around 38 km/hour.
Not the least remarkble is that the difference in time of the men and women winners is rather small,, less than 25 minutes, tilll 2007. After 2007 the difference in time is mostly more than an hour. The reason for this change I explained in an earlier story (see here).
Finally we don´t see in this table one male skater, who was yje strongest during a longer period. On the basis of my personal experience skating on the Weissensee I think that the probability that one end up in the first group one year after the other is rather small. During 200km there are many reasons why one will lose the contact, for example by an accident on this natural ice.
On the otherhand we can see that Petra Grimbergen won the race from 2002 till 2005 four times after each other which contradicts my explanation.She must have been a very strong skater to realize this result. She also skated these 200km rather fast in average in 5 and a half hour. Unfortunately I could not find any further information about her except that she was also active in cycling.
Although this race is a very special event, we have to say that this alternative Elfstedentocht never got the enthousiat attention of the Dutch population as the original version. The reason is ofcourse that this race did not take place in the Netherlands.
Another point of attention could be that such a distance of 200 km was done with a speed of around 38 km/hour.
Not the least remarkble is that the difference in time of the men and women winners is rather small,, less than 25 minutes, tilll 2007. After 2007 the difference in time is mostly more than an hour. The reason for this change I explained in an earlier story (see here).
Finally we don´t see in this table one male skater, who was yje strongest during a longer period. On the basis of my personal experience skating on the Weissensee I think that the probability that one end up in the first group one year after the other is rather small. During 200km there are many reasons why one will lose the contact, for example by an accident on this natural ice.
On the otherhand we can see that Petra Grimbergen won the race from 2002 till 2005 four times after each other which contradicts my explanation.She must have been a very strong skater to realize this result. She also skated these 200km rather fast in average in 5 and a half hour. Unfortunately I could not find any further information about her except that she was also active in cycling.
Although this race is a very special event, we have to say that this alternative Elfstedentocht never got the enthousiat attention of the Dutch population as the original version. The reason is ofcourse that this race did not take place in the Netherlands.