The Netherlands relived the glory of its iconic Elfstedentocht ice-skating race on Friday, even as climate change makes a real-life edition increasingly unlikely. The Dutch public broadcaster NOS marked the 40th anniversary of the 1985 race by re-airing the full 12-hour broadcast of the grueling 135-mile trek across frozen canals and lakes.
The Elfstedentocht, or Eleven Cities Tour, captures the Dutch imagination like few other events. Thousands of skaters brave the pre-dawn cold, embarking on a demanding journey across the northern province of Friesland. While only a small fraction contend for victory, the majority simply strive to complete the course. The last race took place in 1997, and rising temperatures threaten the future of this cherished tradition. Ironically, as the nation revisited the icy spectacle of 1985, the temperature in Leeuwarden, the finishing city, reached a balmy 14C (57F).
