Patrick Roest ‘dances’ towards the World Cup with three distance titles

Patrick Roest rode his laps of honor in Thialf with a broad smile. As the first skater since Sven Kramer in 2009, he had won three men’s titles at the NK distances. Champion over 1,500 meters, five and ten kilometers: it is only reserved for the very best all-rounders. But Roest had more reason to be satisfied. After a difficult European Championship in Hamar, where he narrowly won against the young Norwegian Sander Eitrem, he now ‘danced’ lightly over the ice again. “Very good form,” he described it himself at the NOS. “I’m glad the World Cup is coming up pretty soon.”

After his switch from Jumbo-Visma to Reggeborgh, Roest (27) started this season strongly. But where in other years he often decreased during the season, he now seems to be improving in the run-up to the World Championship distances in Heerenveen at the beginning of March. His teammate and training buddy Marcel Bosker also rode a strong Dutch Championship and qualified for the World Championship distances in the 1,500 meters and five kilometers.

Roest’s win on the 1,500 meters on Saturday was especially striking. In 1.44.55 he defeated reigning world champion Thomas Krol (1.44.86) and two-time Olympic champion Kjeld Nuis (1.44.89). Both are normally faster on the skating mile. Roest drove a flat race after a mediocre start, with a lightning-fast final lap of 27.01 seconds. “The end time may not be great, but it was not an easy ice cream either,” said the winner afterwards. “Then you have to be in very good shape to keep going.”

For Roest, a luxury problem threatens at the World Championship distances. As national champion he can start at three distances, and national coach Rintje Ritsma also likes to select him for the team pursuit. Participating in four parts is tough, especially because 1,500 meters and ten kilometers are on the same day. Roest, who was ahead of Jorrit Bergsma on Sunday at the longest distance, said afterwards that he tends to only start on the five and ten kilometers. He would then let the 1,500 meters go. If Roest does not start, the World Cup ticket on the skating mile will go to his teammate Wesley Dijs.

Schouten in tears

Three-time Olympic champion Irene Schouten won the five kilometers on Sunday in 6.50.36, ahead of Sanne in ‘t Hof (6.51.79). The day before, after she had narrowly placed third in the three kilometers for the World Championship distances, Schouten tearfully said that she was going through a difficult time after her Olympic success. The win in the five kilometers did her good. “I am especially proud of myself for winning the title at the end. That brings up a bit that I shouldn’t give up.” Schouten is relieved that people now know that she had a hard time. “I walked with it anyway.”

Jutta Leerdam won the national title in the 1,000 meters for the fourth year in a row on Sunday. The 24-year-old skater from Jumbo-Visma was ahead of Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong (1.14.86) and her sister Michelle de Jong (1.14.96) in 1.13.58. Leerdam may also start in the 500 and 1,500 meters at the World Championship distances.