Kjeld Nuis has won the gold medal in the 1000 meters at the European Distance Championships in Thialf. The veteran was too quick for Jenning de Boo, the sensation of last skating weekend, in Heerenveen.
The 34-year-old skater was faster than compatriots and teammates Jenning de Boo and Tim Prins with a time of 1.07.87. They took silver and bronze with 1.08.14 and 1.08.20 respectively.
Two years ago, Nuis had to settle for silver at the European Championships in Thialf behind fellow countryman Thomas Krol, who also won the Olympic title in the kilometer a month later. Krol is missing from this European Championship. He failed to qualify for the National Championships a week earlier.
The Boo slower
Less than a week earlier, De Boo had impressively won the Dutch title with 1.07.37. In the ride against the German Hendrik Dombek, he was unable to complete a lap of 24.4, as he did then. He was also slightly slower in the final round with 27.0 than last week.
Prins came close in the next stage and was even slightly faster in the final lap. It just wasn’t enough to beat The Boo. In the stage against Marten Liiv from Estonia, Nuis faced an opponent who started faster and was still in the lead even after 600 meters. With a much better final round of 26.3, the experienced Nuis was too fast for his teammates this time.
Gold for Groenewoud
The first individual gold medal for women of this skating weekend went to Marijke Groenewoud. Earlier on Friday evening, she surprisingly beat defending champion Irene Schouten and Norwegian Ragne Wiklund in the 3000 meters.