Dutch Women’s Team Advances to Semi-Finals in Team Pursuit at Milan Cortina 2026

Jochem Uytdehaage expressed concern following the Dutch women’s team pursuit quarterfinal performance at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where the team posted the third fastest time and advanced to face Japan in the semi-finals.

According to Eurosport, the Dutch team struggled with a poor start against Kazakhstan, nearly losing balance due to a collision between teammates’ skates. Uytdehaage, a two-time Olympic champion, noted a lack of power and energy in the race, which resulted in the team posting the third best time instead of the fastest as expected.

Uytdehaage explained that the skaters Jip Rijpma-de Jong and Antoinette de Jong accidentally touched skates, causing them to lose rhythm and balance. Despite this, the team still advanced but will face a more challenging semi-final against Japan. The semi-final is expected to be more competitive, with only half a second separating the teams.

The former champion emphasized the importance of recovery and improvement over the next three days, acknowledging that the Dutch team will need to bring more freshness to their performance. Eurosport also covers the Olympic event live, providing in-depth analysis and commentary during the competitions.