It's pouring

The skating version narrowly fell through in February. What is certain, however, is that the Fiets-Elfstedentocht will be held on Whit Monday. The distance is 240 km, starting in Bolsward. This year, this 3-star NTFU tour celebrates its 100th anniversary. What does the cycling stamp shown here, issued on the occasion of the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, have to do with: It giet oan ….. for the Fiets-Elfstedentocht? You can read about that below.

Idea from a general practitioner in Bolsward

In 1912, a doctor from Bolsward thought it might be fun to ride the Elfstedentocht by bicycle. “That man was on the control committee of the Elfstedentocht,” explains Wytze Franzen, the outgoing secretary of the organization behind the Elfstedentocht by bicycle. “They had little to do at the time, and that is how the idea originated,” he laughs. The first bicycle tour was held on May 27, 1912. The only times it was cancelled since then were due to both World Wars and the foot-and-mouth disease crisis at the beginning of this century. A truly strong event, therefore, that Franzen can leave with peace of mind.

Spectacular growth

From the 1950s onwards, the competitive element was dropped from the tour, after which only the touring element remained. At that time, there were only a few hundred participants per year. The number of participants trickled up slowly in the 1960s, but the real spectacular growth took place in the 1970s. The 1000 mark was passed then, in connection with the 60th anniversary in 1972. After that, the number regularly doubled, reaching 10.000 people who wanted to cycle the tour in 1979.

Tough job

Such an ever-growing number of participants naturally required the necessary coordination. Discussions were held with the municipality, police, and fire department, and the upper limit was set at 12.000 participants. That was still manageable. However, there was still room for expansion, as in 1987 the number of participants was capped at 15.000 due to the continued popularity resulting from the two recently held Elfsteden Tours. The organization is massive. You also have to deal with 10.000 other enthusiasts, 750 volunteers, government authorities, police, road managers, and emergency services. Since 2001, the organization has been affiliated with the NTFU. Things are not getting any easier, certainly due to the increasing complexity of regulations and the growing distance between the authorities/emergency services and the event organizers. The organizations are withdrawing somewhat from these events, which the NTFU finds regrettable.

Eleven Cities Tour for professional cyclists

In 1985, the Stadspost of Leeuwarden published the series below on the occasion of the first Frisian Eleven Cities Tour for professional cyclists.

In Leeuwarden, the bicycle is used not only on stamps but also for mail delivery. The city postal service is independent in the production and issuance of stamps. I do not find it strange that the theme “bicycle” and the theme “1st Frisian Eleven Cities Tour for professional cyclists” were chosen in 1985. It is even obvious, …….but I recognized the image!

I just didn't know what it was from yet. I went searching through my albums. And sure enough... I found the stamp issued nine years earlier in Des Afars et Des Issas in the context of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. I think the colors of the Montreal stamp are much more beautiful! I didn't inform the Stadspost in Leeuwarden of my discovery. After all, they already know.

Traditions and modernization

The 100th anniversary edition of the Tour of Tours by bicycle is marked by a big party for the volunteers. There is also a festive mini-version of the Elfstedentocht (40 km, see also http://www.11steden.nl/) and there is plenty of local folklore to see along the way at the various checkpoints, especially for the participants. With the new secretary, the event looks forward to the future. “Traditions must be preserved, but at the same time we are looking for a bit of modernization. For matters such as registration, for example, we could make more use of the internet. There is still quite a bit to be gained there.” Source: Fietssport Magazine (NTFU publication), except for the chapter: Eleven Cities Tour for professional cyclists.