Merijn Scheperkamp has his first international title in his pocket. The skater from Hilversum won the team sprint at the European Distance Championships together with Kai Verbij and Tijmen Snel.
In the first stage, Scheperkamp, Verbij and Snel drove to a time of one minute, nineteen seconds and 71 hundredths. The opening of Scheperkamp was especially strong. Verbij and Snel then went on together, after which Snel only took care of the last lap.
Norway came very close to the Netherlands in the third and final stage. Thanks to a strong sloping round, the difference was only twelve hundredths. Poland took the bronze in Heerenveen.
Scheperkamp will drive the 500 meters at the European Distance Championships tomorrow. That is the distance he will also drive at the Olympic Games in Beijing. The team sprint is not an Olympic event.