The European Speed Skating Championships will take place this weekend in Poland, featuring a mostly new Dutch team with only one Olympic athlete participating.
AD, a news outlet from the Netherlands, reports that two weeks after intense national qualifiers for the Winter Olympics held in Milan, the Netherlands will compete with a largely fresh roster at the upcoming European Championships.
Following the recent selection battles where Dutch speed skaters competed fiercely for Olympic spots, most of the chosen Olympians are not participating in the European Championships. This event marks an opportunity for other members of the Dutch team to gain international experience and compete for continental titles in the absence of many of the country’s top skaters.
