Elfstedentocht Blues

The Elfstedentocht (Eleven-Cities Tour) is a gruelling 200 kilometre ice skating race around the 11 cities of Friesland, in the north of the Netherlands. The last time the race - which attracts 15,000 amateur skaters as well as the pros - took place was in 1997. Every year, if it freezes for more than a few days, speculation begins about the chances of the great event taking place.

The Dutch weather bureau, KNMI, says the chance of the race taking place again is shrinking as the earth warms up. With a six degree rise in temperature, only 10 races are likely this century.

So far, 2007 is not looking good for the event to take place. The first 10 days of January this year were the warmest since measurements were first recorded in 1901.

With an average temperature of 8.8 degrees celsius, 2007 will be recorded as the warmest start to a year ever, KNMI said on Monday. The previous record of 8.2 degrees was set in 1921.

So while for us southern hemisphere types the mild weather is a relief, to see this great cultural event would be one of those things we came to Europe for.

Shane