So here’s another story about the Dutch and cycling. When there is a storm coming, you plan the national championship ’tegenwindfietsen’, riding headwind. Because what is not to like about a championship which measures who has the strongest legs to go against a storm with gusts between 100 and 120 km/h on the standard Gazelle bike.

Funniest thing: storm Ciara became too strong mid-championship, so the Oosterscheldekering (part of the Delta works that keeps our feet dry) on which the event took place had to be closed. Nevertheless two winners were announced.

Even The New York Times was impressed.