Just like the day before in Winterswijk, Marijke Groenewoud was the strongest on Wednesday evening in Noordlaren. The Frisian from AH Zaanlander was not in great shape, but won in the sprint. With thanks to the Drenthe tandem Maaike Verweij and Arianna Pruisscher.
In truly winter conditions, the peloton of marathon skaters made it an exciting competition in the biting cold. Afterwards, Marijke Groenewoud, who won three titles at the European Single Distance Championships last weekend, was once again on the highest step of the podium. She was flanked by Lianne van Loon, the number two, and Esther Kiel, who finished third in the sprint.
Groenewoud had to work hard for her victory. “The speed was there from the start,” said the skater from Hallum. “It was never super quiet for a moment. The spectators saw quite a nice match.” It started a little later than intended, because the light poles next to the natural ice rink in Noordlaren failed for a while.
Twenty skaters take a lap lead
After Groningen sports councilor Inge Jongman shot the women away, an exciting race ensued, in which twenty skaters quickly took a lead of one lap over the peloton. “After that, a leading group emerged with my teammate Arianna Pruisscher,” Groenewoud said. “But that was difficult for our team to play out, because she was alone in that group and was not the fastest. That’s why we decided to bring that group back.”
AH Zaanlander’s team play paid off under the leadership of coach Jillert Anema with Groenewoud, who won her second nature competition within two days after Wintersijk. No one was a match for Friezin in the sprint, despite the fact that she felt less strong than usual.
“I didn’t feel great. I was still at Op1 last night and didn’t get home until half past one that night. And early in the morning I was on the radio again. I was a bit tired. I have a lot coming my way. A short night. Plus I rode a tough European Championship. After that I didn’t skate for one day and then immediately the marathons. I can’t always roll a six and just had a bad day. But thanks to my teammates I was still able to win.”
Driving on natural ice is fantastic
According to Groenewoud, the ice was of slightly lower quality in Noordlaren than in Winterswijk. “But it was good to skate on it,” said the AH Zaanlander rider, who had a good time. “Driving on natural ice is fantastic. Very cold, but great with all those hundreds of people along the side.” Her teammate Irene Schouten also missed the second match on natural ice. “That’s why I was the big favorite. Everyone looked at me. I had to finish it. Jillert (Anema, ed.) already said that it is becoming increasingly difficult to win. My team worked very well for me, so I was able to compete in the final fairly fresh.”
According to Groenewoud, she owed the victory to her teammates Arianna Pruisscher (fifteenth) from Nieuw-Dordrecht and Maaike Verweij (seventeenth) from Veenhuizen: “Those girls sacrificed themselves for me and therefore broke their own glasses. I thank them for that.” The question is whether she can still take action on the natural ice with the thaw this week. “In any case, they were two beautiful days, haha,” said the winner.
Maaike Verweij’s battery is empty
A little further away, despite not being on the podium, Verweij could still look back on the skating marathon with a satisfied feeling. “The team interest came before self-interest. It was all hands on deck for our team, because we wanted Marijke at the front. When I managed to get the leaders back, my battery was empty. It’s a shame if Marijke doesn’t win, but now we will win as a team.”
Verweij missed the match in Winterswijk and she was disappointed about that. But there was no other way: “We were at a training camp in Tenerife and did not return to the Netherlands in time. We flew back too late. That was just a shame. I’m afraid that Noordlaren is now the last marathon on natural ice. I’m glad I was able to ride at least one. Now the focus is back on the Marathon Cups and later the Weissensee.”