The sour aftertaste of last night washed away Irene Schouten today. The skater from Wervershoof was, as expected, the best in the 3000 meters. More surprising was the World Cup ticket for Merel Conijn from Edam. She finished fifth in this distance.
On the second day of the World Cup qualification, Schouten was the eighth pair in action. Her opponent was Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong and the West Frisian started a bit slower. She kept up with Rijpma-de Jong until the end and struck in the last 400 meters. She recorded the best time (3:59.21). The skater had to survive two more rides, but her profit was no longer in danger.
Conijn did not have to qualify for the World Cup at this distance from her new coach Jac Orie. Because of a corona infection, she did not have an ideal preparation. Nevertheless, she started and surprised with the fifth fastest time. That gave the right to the last ticket for the World Cup competitions in Stavanger and Heerenveen.