Today it is exactly 25 years ago that the last Elfstedentocht was held. Many people remember that Henk Angenent won and Erik Hulzebosch came in second. The question of who came third is a lot more difficult. The answer: Bert Verduin from Heemskerk.
More often than the later numbers one and two, the 57-year-old flower grower was tipped as the winner. “Not surprising”, Verduin looks back, “because I was in the shape of my life. A few days before the Elfstedentocht I became Dutch champion on natural ice. I thought: a handsome boy who will keep me from winning the Elfstedentocht .”
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Bert Verduin, Eleven Cities Tour – NH Nieuws
On that particular day, January 4, 1997, Verduin indeed showed his best form on the ice between the eleven Frisian cities. He was constantly at the front and was there when a leading group of five skaters arose.
Because he didn’t have a razor-sharp sprint in his legs, Verduin had to try to escape. “I tried that several times. On the last straight I thought: I’ll try it one more time. And damn, I punched a hole. Then you see the light and the finish cloth in the distance and you think: I am now very close to the victory… But then I saw Angenent and Hulzebosch come next to me for the same money, but fortunately Piet Kleine (later removed from the result due to a missed stamp) and Henk van Benthem not over me anymore.”
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Verduin would of course have liked to win, but is not jealous of the life that awaited the winner. “A lot of interest, many obligations, always in the spotlight. I heard from Evert van Benthem (winner in 1985 and 1986) that people came to his yard uninvited to catch a glimpse of the Elfstedentocht winner. Well , then I prefer a slightly quieter life. It’s fine that way. It has given me the opportunity to further develop my company and that has always been the most important thing to me.”
Two numbers three in Heemskerk
Bert Verduin is not the only resident of Heemskerk who has made a name for himself in the Elfstedentocht. Jos Niesten was part of the leading group in 1985. Evert van Benthem won the match. Niesten came in third.
Verduin and Niesten rode for the same club, IJsclub Kees Jongert from Heemskerk. “The fact that we have two numbers three of the Elfstedentocht in our ranks is quite special,” says Bert Verduin. “With a little luck it would have been two number one.”