After his successful Eleven Cities Swimming Tour four years ago, former Olympic champion Maarten van der Weijden has a new challenge: the Eleven Cities Triathlon. In two weeks he will try not only to swim the route through Friesland, but also to cycle and walk.
Van der Weijden knows what it’s like to swim the Elfstedentocht. But to also cover it by bike and on foot: that’s a different story. He could handle those distances during training. But the big question is whether he will succeed in doing so in quick succession. “I trained for this for three years, so I think I can handle it,” he says Omrop Friesland.
A few months ago, the former top swimmer, who lives in Vught, still suffered from a stomach bleeding. It was ‘quite intense’ and cut into it quite a bit. He was in hospital for a week, but is now back in top shape. “I’m definitely ready.”
“Everyone knows someone close to them who has or has had cancer.”
Van der Weijden wants to make this triathlon as big an event as possible in order to raise as much money as possible. People can even exercise with him now. “Everyone knows someone in their environment who has or has had cancer. I think it’s great that we can all do something about it together and hopefully make a lot of research possible.”
In each city that is visited, a different cancer research is central. This way people can see exactly what they do sports or spend their money on.
“The cartilage in my knee isn’t that good anymore.”
In contrast to a real triathlon, Van der Weijden has decided not to run the third distance – running – but to walk. “The great thing about walking is that anyone could participate. If you are 70, you could still participate.” The second reason has to do with his own health. “The cartilage in my knee is not that good anymore, so it’s not healthy for me to go running. I can walk.”
The total tour lasts from 18 to 24 June. In between there is time to sleep. “The first time I tried to take the Eleven Cities Swimming Tour, in 2018, I thought sleeping was cheating. But then I found out during the trip that this is not possible without sleep. I will have to sleep to do that last part together. doing.”
READ ALSO:
Maarten van der Weijden in hospital with stomach bleeding
He does it! After 195 kilometers, Maarten van der Weijden successfully completes the Eleven Cities Swimming Tour