Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong initially missed out on a ticket for the World Cups in Japan and China with a sixth place in the 3000 meters on Saturday in Heerenveen. But after Elisa de Jong’s disqualification, she can still travel.
The Frisian was standing in the press zone in Thialf, disappointed, explaining why she had not performed well as the reigning Dutch champion and former world champion in the 3000 meters. At that moment, one of the trainers of her Jumbo-Visma team whispered in her ear that Dul had been disqualified. The Albert Heijn Zaanlander skater who finished third was removed from the results during the World Cup Qualifying Tournament (WCKT) and her fast personal record of 4:00.56 was thrown into the trash.
As a result, Rijpma-De Jong moved up from sixth to fifth place with her time of 4.02.41. That was good for the last starting ticket for the first two World Cup races. The 3000 meters was won in a lightning fast race by Ireen Schouten (AH Zaanlander). The 31-year-old North Holland Olympic champion at this distance rode the fourth fastest time ever with 3.55.89. She stayed ahead of teammate Marijke Groenewoud (3.58.08) in a direct duel. In the final stage, Joy Beune from the Groningen Team IKO and Sanne in ‘t Hof, a physiotherapy student at the Hanzehogeschool Groningen, skated to two World Cup tickets with 4.01.69 and 4.02.32 respectively.
This is not funny. For me this is a bit ambiguous
When she heard of Dul’s disqualification, Friezin Rijpma-de Jong reacted somewhat bewildered. ,,This is not funny. For me this is a bit ambiguous,” she responded. “I’m happy that I can now ride in Japan and China, but I’m not up to date with the way in which I do it.” Dul was removed from the results because she had crossed a line. Competitor Rijpma-de Jong had already explained why she is not yet riding great.
“I wasn’t really good,” she said. “It’s not quite there yet. I had to skate really hard at the start to get there, but I just couldn’t. Over the years, the three kilometers become a little more difficult for me. It wasn’t a great ride. Technically things are not going well yet. Then I am punished more quickly in the three kilometers than in the 1500 meters.”
Arianna Pruisscher comes sixteenth
Arianna Pruisscher (4.13, 36) from Nieuw-Dordrecht, who has been riding for AH Zaanlander since this season, finished sixteenth and Aveline Hijlkema (4.14.48) from Groningen finished nineteenth. Former European champion Esmee Visser (4.09.14) took eleventh place.
Patrick Roest was the fastest in the 1500 meters at the World Cup qualifying tournament last season. The 27-year-old skater from Reggeborgh stayed ahead of Kjeld Nuis (1.44.28) and Wesly Dijs (1.44.58), who had recovered from illness, with 1.44.04. Roest passed under his direct opponent Dijs in the last corner with three laps in 26 seconds. The hard-starting Olympic champion Thomas Krol gave up too much during his final lap, finishing fourth in 1.44.77, while the last starting ticket went to Louis Hollaar (1.45.02).
Dai Dai N’tab from Groningen will no longer be in action this weekend during the World Cup Qualifying Tournament. The Team Jumbo-Visma sprinter is suffering from back problems and has withdrawn from the 1000 meters on Sunday afternoon. “It is frustrating if you cannot get the most out of it due to physical problems,” says De Stadjer. “I feel very fit, but my back prevents me from skating freely. I can’t lose my strength on the ice.”
I’m disappointed about this, but recovery is number one
The multiple Dutch champion in the shortest sprint distance finished in a disappointing fifteenth place on Friday in the 500 meters. As a result, N’tab has to miss the first World Cups of the season. “I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to compete against the international top in the coming weeks, but for now recovery is my number one priority. I will do everything I can in the near future to show the best version of myself at the National Championships.”