Stijn van de Bunt, the surprise contender at the recent Olympic qualifying tournament in Thialf, has embarked on his first international senior competition while preparing for his debut at the Winter Olympics.
NOS, Netherlands
The 21-year-old speed skater, who earned entry for the 5,000 and 10,000 meters in Milan after dominating the Dutch field at the Olympic qualifying tournament, left his home for a period exceeding five weeks. He is using the World Cup event in Inzell as an opportunity to gain international experience, marking his debut in senior-level competitions. Despite this being his first senior World Cup appearance, Van de Bunt commented that the transition was not particularly daunting as he had competed in similar events at the junior level.
During the event, Van de Bunt will compete in the B-group for the 5,000 meters and the mass start. These races represent the second tier at World Cup weekends and are not broadcast on television. Should he finish in the top three of the B-group mass start, he will be given the chance to race again in the A-group later that same day.
His breakthrough at the Olympic qualifying tournament just weeks ago was unexpected, as he convincingly won both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, securing his Olympic starting spots. The sudden attention was a significant adjustment for the typically introverted athlete. Van de Bunt revealed that after the tournament, he experienced some fatigue and minor illness, which he sees positively as it may reduce the likelihood of falling ill in Milan.
Van de Bunt’s Olympic schedule is demanding. In addition to the individual long distances, he has been selected for the team pursuit and the mass start, the latter being a somewhat surprising inclusion. The mass start is contested by skaters with experience in group racing, and Van de Bunt’s background in inline skating and marathon skating events provides him with relevant skills.
Among his inspirations is teammate Bart Swings, the reigning Olympic champion in the mass start and a fellow inline skating convert. Swings highlighted Van de Bunt’s determination and skill, noting a positive collaborative relationship despite their 13-year age difference.
In the team pursuit, Van de Bunt teams up with Chris Huizinga and Marcel Bosker. Although the three athletes are from different teams, they make efforts to train together whenever possible, focusing on the physically demanding nature of the event that places significant strain on the legs. Ahead of the competitions, a full team training session is scheduled in Inzell on Sunday morning. Prior to that, Van de Bunt aims to build on his success at the Olympic qualifiers with solid performances in the upcoming races.
