Maaike Verweij from Veenhuizen won the general classification of the Marathon Cup without participating. Groninger Sjoerd den Hertog came second in the men’s category. The day victories were for Irene Schouten and Robert Post from Groningen
Maaike Verweij was unable to participate in the final race of the Marathon Cup in Leeuwarden due to the after-effects of a collarbone fracture. The Drenthe had to watch tensely from the sidelines in a swirling Elfstedenhal on Saturday evening to see if her big lead over number two in the general classification, Esther Kiel, would be maintained. This was possible thanks to the excellent work of her teammates Irene Schouten and Marijke Groenewoud from Albert Heijn Zaanlander in the final match. The stage victory was for Schouten.
,,It was special to just watch and have to hand over control”, said Verweij, who also won the youth classification. ,,I knew that with such a top team at the start, there was a good chance that things would turn out well. My team did everything by the book. Of course I was a little tense. You never know if something unexpected will happen. It’s still a marathon: you haven’t won until it’s over.”
The rider from Veenhuizen had considered participating. “But I was so excited about it. The question was whether we thought the risk was worth it with this injury. In consultation with the coaching staff, I have decided not to drive. It’s good that people think along. As an athlete you tend to drive, while that would not be wise for my health. If my lead over Esther Kiel had been less, I might have made a different choice. But I want to skate for years to come. Then I shouldn’t do anything that could jeopardize that.”
In Leeuwarden, Verweij could count on the efforts of the world champions Schouten (5000 meters) and Groenewoud (mass start), who had no other skating obligations this time. They had to ensure that Kiel (BDM/BTZ) did not collect too many points in the final. This worked well for both classes. They made the race hard, so that Kiel, who lives in the Knipe, could not escape from the peloton to take a lap lead. When it came to the final sprint, Schouten was the strongest with Groenewoud in second place. Kiel came third, too little to knock Verweij off the throne.
According to Verweij, she won the Marathon Cup through consistent performance. ,,I have ridden in the top five in almost all marathons. Next season I hope to be first more often. This team with Schouten and Groenewoud inspires. If you chase good skaters, you will benefit from it.” Now the Drenthe is going on vacation to take a breather. ,,I will visit Rome and Naples in Italy. No, no ice cream this time, haha.”
Dutch champion Schouten won a marathon for the 52nd time. ,,I am in the top three for the most victories.” The record, with 61 victories, is held by Atje Keulen-Deelstra. ,,I thought last season that I would never make it, but I’m getting closer. Nice if I get the record, although I can still get caught somewhere. Next season I will be very busy on the long track and I may not run many marathons. ”
Despite a tough skating season, Schouten and Groenewoud insisted on riding in Leeuwarden to secure Verweij’s victory. ,,If Kiel had won with a lap lead, she would have taken over the standings. We’ve done everything we can to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
For the men, the difference in points between classification leader Harm Visser (22) from Westereen and number two from Groningen Sjoerd den Hertog (Royal A-ware) for the final was only a handful of points. Both ruffs finished in the peloton, from which a leading group of eight had escaped. When the peloton sprinted off, it once again showed how fast Visser is. The young Frisian of Jumbo Visma finished ahead of Den Hertog, who therefore remained second.
The evening became even better for Jumbo Visma when Groningen rider Robert Post took the day victory by beating Daan Gelling from Huizinge in a sprint. Third place was for Jorrit Bergsma, also Jumbo Visma. ,,This is a top victory”, said Post. “We raced hard and bet on two horses. Harm Visser naturally had to take the cup. We have protected them. But if I come out on top like this at the end, I have to finish it. The fact that it works out is fantastic.”