Long-distance speed skaters face added pressure at the upcoming World Cup event in Thialf, which is the only World Cup of the season to feature the women’s 5,000 meters and men’s 10,000 meters races, making it particularly important for these specialists.
According to NOS, a Dutch news outlet, the third and penultimate World Cup of this Olympic season is set to begin Friday evening with the women’s 5,000 meters, followed by the men’s 1,500 meters and women’s 1,000 meters, while the men’s 10,000 meters race will take place on Saturday afternoon.
The competition weekend comes after a week of rest for the long-track skaters. Merel Conijn, the Dutch champion in the three and five kilometers, will return to the ice after skipping the World Cups held in North America. Her decision to avoid travel to Salt Lake City and Calgary was part of her strategy to prepare for the Olympic qualification tournament scheduled for late December. Conijn and her team, Zaanlander, recently spent time training in Tenerife before returning to the Netherlands just days ago.
The Dutch skating federation included Conijn in the national team because she is seen as a valuable competitor who could secure Olympic starting spots for the country. The situation in women’s long-distance events remains uncertain, and Conijn’s ability to score points against international rivals is considered crucial. The upcoming World Cup in Thialf is the second-to-last qualifier for the Olympics in Milan, adding significant stakes for the athletes involved.
Jorrit Bergsma, a teammate of Conijn and 2014 Olympic champion, highlighted the challenge faced by skaters who must balance risk and consistency in their performances. He explained that the pressure to secure points forces him to compete conservatively rather than freely. Currently, Bergsma holds the ninth position in the combined 5,000 and 10,000 meters standings, just enough to qualify but with little margin for error.
Other teams, such as Reggeborgh, also took advantage of the break after North American events by training in the sun, with skater Femke Kok continuing her impressive streak of victories in the 500 meters, having won nineteen consecutive races. Kok will compete in the 1,000 meters on Friday, an event where she secured her first World Cup win earlier this season in Calgary.
Meanwhile, American skater Jordan Stolz aims to extend his winning streak in the 1,000 meters, currently at eleven consecutive World Cup victories. Should he win again on Saturday, he would match the record of his compatriot Shani Davis, who won twelve in a row between 2009 and 2010. The longest winning streak in World Cup speed skating remains with Gunda Niemann, who won 24 straight races in the 3,000 meters from 1991 to 1996.
This weekend is expected to draw a record number of participants in the men’s 10,000 meters, with 55 skaters registered, reflecting the increased competition for Olympic qualification spots. Among them is Vladimir Semirunniy, who won silver at the World Championships last season but has struggled this year, ranking below the top qualifiers. His performance in Thialf will be critical if he hopes to earn an Olympic starting position for Poland. His coach has noted that the pressure does not seem to be negatively affecting his training currently.
