Speed skater Evert Hoolwerf has won the Dutch marathon title on artificial ice. The Reggeborgh skater defeated Robert Post and Sjoerd den Hertog in the sprint after 150 laps on the Jaap Edenbaan in Amsterdam.
It is Hoolwerf’s first national marathon title. He succeeds Jorrit Bergsma, who had to let the leading group go in the final phase. Teammate Gary Hekman won the title in 2020. No Dutch Championships were held in 2021 due to the corona pandemic.
As often this season, the Dutch Championship became a battle between the three major teams in the marathon peloton; Jumbo-Visma, Reggeborgh and Royal A-ware. Defending champion Bergsma exchanged Royal A-ware for Jumbo-Visma last summer. Bart Hoolwerf made the switch to Reggeborgh and became a teammate of his brother Evert.
A group of twelve skaters took a lap ahead of the peloton. Later, five more skaters joined, including Bergsma. Those seventeen skaters entered the final of the last ten rounds. The skaters of the three teams reacted to attackers such as Marco van der Tuin.
Jordy Harink of Royal A-ware took a small lead with four laps to go and forced the Reggeborgh skaters to catch up. The attack by Jumbo-Visma’s Mats Stoltenborg seemed to be the decisive one, but Hoolwerf got him back and stayed ahead of Post and Den Hertog in the sprint.
Long sprint
Hoolwerf was emotional with the NOS shortly after his victory. “I won here for the first time three years ago after a tough time,” he said about his victory in Amsterdam in 2020 after a disappointing season. His team had really focused on this game this season, he said. “This match, that’s what it was all about.”
The 27-year-old skater from Reggeborgh had to make a long sprint due to Stoltenborg’s escape. “I waited until 500 meters and then it was all or nothing. Luckily it was all. I saw Post come out of the corner of my eye, but he didn’t get any further. Then you know it 10 meters before the line. Really cool.”