Stage 1: Leeuwarden – Sloten (44.5 km)

The opening stage kicks off in the town of Leeuwarden, where under the gaze of many fans and supporters, athletes from various categories begin their SUP journey. It’s a 44-kilometer stage that, once you leave the city, takes you through medium-sized canals filled with paddlers vibing with enthusiasm for the adventure ahead.

After about 20 kilometers, you enter the town of Sneek, where at kilometer 25, there is a mandatory 15-minute break. This break can be a blessing, or it can break your rhythm, making the restart even harder. After the pit stop, we set off again for the second half of the stage.

The route alternates between canals and town crossings until kilometer 39, where we enter the first lake of the race. For about 4 kilometers, we paddle through a small lake which, depending on the weather, can be very challenging.
This year, for example, strong headwinds and short, choppy waves, combined with the 40 kilometers already paddled, made things very tough, forcing us to dig deep to reach the end of the day. Once out of the lake, we enter the small town of Sloten, where we cross the finish line after 44 kilometers.
As after every stage, we’re welcomed with a nice massage and a hearty dinner to recharge for what will be a demanding week.

Stage 2: Sloten – Workum (43.4 km)

Stage two is the lake stage. Along the way, we cross several open water sections that disrupt the steady rhythm and peace of the canals.

Less than a kilometer after leaving Sloten, we re-enter the same lake that we paddled at the end of stage one. Lakes in the 11 City Tour always have something in store for us, whether it's headwinds or tailwinds, surprises are guaranteed.

The first lake is about 3 kilometers long. Around kilometers 10–11, we face another small lake, and from kilometer 15 to 22, we paddle through two connected lakes.
In this edition, the lakes were like climbing a mountain. The wind and waves made things incredibly difficult for the entire fleet, possibly making it the toughest stage of the whole tour.

The break comes around kilometer 22 in the town of Stavoren, after having crossed all the lakes. From there on, we’re back in the canals until the end of the stage.
This part of the route follows the coastline before heading inland and landing in Workum after just over 43 kilometers. Workum is a charming village, with a small harbor that feels like a pirate cove, but all around there are just fields and farmland. The contrast between maritime and rural life is one of the things that makes this region so magical.

Stage 3: Workum – Franeker (41.25 km)

In my first participation in 2019, the third stage started with a 12 km time trial, followed by a 30 km straight-line race to finish the day. This year, the stage was entirely linear, with the break coming around kilometer 19 in the village of Witmarsum.

After the start, we paddle through Workum for a couple of kilometers before entering the usual network of canals. The first part of the race alternates between canals and small towns. The break in Witmarsum comes fairly early, before halfway, which means there’s still a lot of paddling left after the stop.

From Witmarsum, the route continues through winding canals with multiple turns and direction changes. In our case, the wind shifted depending on our heading, mostly hitting us head-on or from the side.

We continued this way until around kilometer 30, where we entered the town of Harlingen, paddling through it for several kilometers. Finally, at kilometer 34, we entered a large canal that would take us almost all the way to the stage finish. This canal is heavily trafficked by boats, including large vessels, and can be tough due to wind and wakes. Luckily for us, the wind was at our backs, pushing us along at a good pace.

Around kilometer 40, we exit the canal and enter Franeker through a tight double turn and under a low bridge. From there, a couple more kilometers through the town lead us to the end of stage three.

Stage 4: Franeker – Dokkum (42.76 km)

The penultimate stage of the 11 City Tour is known as the “dam stage.” During this leg, we cross two dams, dismounting from the board and doing what the locals call "Klunen."

Leaving Franeker behind, we paddle through a series of narrow canals until we reach the first dam just past kilometer 10. Here, we get off the board and run for about 100 meters before jumping back onto a wider canal.

The stage continues smoothly until the break at Oude Leije around kilometer 22. Here, we cross another dam before beginning the second half of the route.

Next comes a series of narrow, shallow canals where the water feels particularly “heavy.” Then, around kilometer 30, we enter a wide canal that in our case gave us great speeds thanks to favorable wind and current.
For about 12 kilometers, we cruise through this main waterway that leads us into the center of Dokkum. Just before the finish, we pass under a couple of bridges and then spot the large windmill that marks the end of the final linear stage of the Tour.

Stage 5: Dokkum – Leeuwarden (27.2 km)

The fifth and final stage of the 11 City Tour is the shortest, but not necessarily the easiest. For the Race category athletes, it’s a time trial: a staggered start every 30 seconds, racing solo over 27 kilometers without drafting, breaks, or external help. Tour category athletes follow the usual route with a mid-point break.

The shorter distance doesn’t mean it’s less demanding. Strong headwinds (like in this edition), accumulated fatigue, and other factors can make this final stage extremely tough.

This stage also includes athletes who are only competing in the Sunday race, which creates a great atmosphere and a crowd of paddlers in the canals.

After leaving Dokkum, we paddle back through the same large canal we used to finish stage four. Then, after just over 10 kilometers, we turn left into a series of narrower canals. Around kilometer 22, we re-enter Leeuwarden, almost home. The atmosphere in these final kilometers is magical: the weight of everything we’ve endured hits us, along with the emotion and awareness of having completed an epic challenge.

At the finish line, volunteers hang a medal shaped like a cross in the Frisian colors around our necks. Whoever earns it has every right, and even a duty, to feel proud of completing one of the toughest endurance races in the sport.