Sign up for the Telesport newsletter and receive the latest Olympic news daily.
Jorrit Bergsma, Patrick Roest and Sven Kramer come into action on the second skating distance of the Olympic tournament: the 5000 meters.
While Bergsma and Roest have regularly competed for prizes at this distance in recent years, triple Olympic champion Sven Kramer was no longer involved, partly because of back problems. However, the Frisian skater, working on his last Games, can never be erased. When necessary, Kramer can always do something extra.
Sven Kramer during a training session.
Ⓒ RENÉ BOUWMAN
draw
Kramer comes out in the first stage. The three-time Olympic champion in the 5000 meters and title holder has to start against Dane Viktor Hald Thorup in the first of ten stages, that is the outcome of the draw for Sunday’s game.
Roest drives in stage 5, also before the mopping break. His opponent is the Italian Andrea Giovannini. Bergsma comes into action in the sixth stage, immediately after the mopping break. He takes on the Japanese Seitaro Ichinohe.
Top favorite Nils van der Poel starts in the last stage. The Swedish world champion and world record holder will face Belgian Bart Swings as his opponent. In the stage before this, Ted-Jan Bloemen from Canada will compete against the Russian Roeslan Zakharov.
Niek van der Velden
Niek van der Velden will make his official debut at the Games on Sunday in the slopestyle section. Four years ago, the snowboarder in Pyeonchang also attended, but fell during training and suffered a compound fracture of the arm. As a result, his participation went up in smoke. Van der Velden also participates in the Big Air section.
Program Sunday 6 February:
* = medal chances for Team NL
- 05:30 am: snowboard, slopestyle qualification 1: Niek van der Velden
- 6.32 am: snowboard, slopestyle qualification 2: Niek van der Velden
- *09:30 am: speed skating, 5000m (m): Jorrit Bergsma, Patrick Roest, Sven Kramer.
Click on the link below for the full program: