A Czech, an Italian and a Frenchman: that was the top 3 in the 10,000 meters on Saturday at the World Cup races in Heerenveen. Then a Norwegian followed. Only in fifth place was the first Dutchman: Jorrit Bergsma, 39 years old, Olympic champion in 2014. “Just good, in my opinion,” is how he characterized his ride afterwards. “It’s still going according to plan.”
For decades, the Dutch were dominant in the five and ten kilometers, the long distances in men’s skating. At the Olympic Games the question was not whether a Dutchman would win the distance, but which Dutchman. But in the run-up to the upcoming Winter Games, which will take place in Milan in February, the Dutch long-distance men are competing in the margins – and it is highly questionable whether that will be different in two months.
The 5,000 and 10,000 meters have been providing a compelling spectacle all season, with track and world records and strong riders from many different countries. And that was no different this weekend at the World Cup in Heerenveen. The win went to Metodej Jilek, a 19-year-old prodigy from the Czech Republic. Second came the Italian Davide Ghiotto, the specialist in the 10,000 kilometers and his nation’s hope for gold in Milan. Third place went to Timothy Loubineaud, a relatively unknown Frenchman who out of nowhere set a world record for the five kilometers in Salt Lake City three weeks ago.
In the years of Dutch dominance, there were sometimes fears for the Olympic future of the 10,000 kilometers: too long, too boring, too predictable. But that has completely changed: the contenders for gold in Milan are numerous and come from all over the world. Especially when you consider that the fastest time this weekend in Heerenveen was not even set by winner Jilek, but by 22-year-old Vladimir Semirunniy from Poland. He took action earlier in the day in the so-called B group – and promptly set a new track record. “We really couldn’t have imagined this level eight years ago,” said Jorrit Bergsma afterwards. He had no choice but to conclude that the five and ten kilometers were “flourishing”.
But that does not apply to Dutch long-distance men. Patrick Roest, the country’s standard bearer in the five and ten kilometers after Sven Kramer’s skating retirement, was missing in Heerenveen: he has been in a deep sporting crisis since last season and was unable to qualify for the World Cup competitions. In this Olympic year, the responsibility rests on the shoulders of veteran Bergsma, veteran Chris Huizinga (28) and Beau Snellink (24). Bergsma finished fifth in Heerenveen, Huizinga eighth and Snellink tenth (out of twelve participants).
Private route
Where does that struggle come from? In addition to the stiff international competition, Huizinga suggested afterwards, it also has to do with the private route that the Dutch skaters follow in the run-up to the Olympic Games. Unlike other countries, the KNSB skating association does not use the World Cup competitions as an individual qualification for Milan – that will happen during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OKT) at the end of December in Heerenveen.
The OKT is the peak moment for Dutch skaters. But in the meantime, points must be earned in the first four World Cup competitions of this season to secure as many starting places as possible for the Netherlands in Milan. And the KNSB has aimed for the maximum: nine men, nine women. The result is that the skaters continuously balance between two goals: individual interests and national interests. Being good at the World Cups and later peaking at the OKT is almost impossible, Chris Huizinga said on Saturday after the 10,000 meters. “We need the training [voor de individuele kwalificatie] cram in between the World Cups, and then you sometimes miss the boat.”
Jorrit Bergsma finished fifth in the 10,000 meters during the World Cup races in Heerenveen.
Photo Vincent Jannink/ANP
The quest for Olympic starting permits is proving more difficult for the Netherlands than might be expected from the world’s strongest skating country. The spots for sprint distances and the 1,500 meters are in (they were already after the first two World Cup races, in Salt Lake City and Calgary), but they have not yet been secured for the long distances – even after the World Cup in Heerenveen. The women again did not complete a crushing 5,000 meters, and the men’s team pursuit is also not yet certain of a starting ticket in Milan.
Norway
After this weekend, the long-distance men just met the criteria for Milan: three in the first fifteen in the 5,000 meters, two in the first nine in the 10,000. But it is far from certain. Next weekend is the fourth and decisive World Cup competition, in Hamar (Norway). At the start of the season, the KNSB had hoped that all Olympic starting places after Heerenveen would be available and that most riders would be spared the trip to Norway – so that they could fully train for the OKT. That will not be the case, at least on long distances: the expectation is that the Netherlands will travel with a large delegation.
Chris Huizinga will definitely be present in Hamar, he said on Saturday. He travels “with a good feeling”: “I have done what I had to do in recent weeks.” Bergsma is also there. Does he feel the pressure because of the starting spots? “I try not to worry too much about that, that is up to the coaches and the KNSB. I just try to ride my rides as best as possible, the rest I have no control over.”
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