Patrick Roest will not be available for the Dutch pursuit team for the time being next season. The leader of Team Reggeborgh wants to work with a smaller permanent team and not with a larger selection, as national coach Rintje Ritsma envisions.
“Patrick has decided not to be part of the pursuit team now,” says Ritsma. ,,He prefers to work with a small team, a World Cup team. In his opinion, he now also has to participate in training sessions that are less efficient. That costs him too much energy.”
Ritsma does not think it is an option to work with a small team. ,,Patrick is an important force, but not always available. For example, he was not there last season in Calgary”, Ritsma continues. ,,In the run-up to the Olympic Games, I want to fish from a large pond. We are vulnerable with a small team.”
Roest has not definitively thanked for the pursuit team. Ritsma: ,,He has indicated towards the Games that he wants to be involved.” The next Winter Games will be in Milan in 2026.
At the previous Winter Games, in 2022 in China, the Dutch pursuit teams disappointed. The men ended up next to the podium and the women took bronze. Ritsma was appointed as the new national coach in October last year.
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss a thing of the stars.