Coach Peter Ritsma is prioritizing endurance for the Dutch speed skating team as they prepare for the semi-final against Italy in the team pursuit event.
Schaatsen.nl, a Dutch speed skating news platform, reports on the team’s strategy adjustments ahead of the upcoming race.
Following disappointing times in the preliminary rounds, Ritsma has opted to field the skater with the strongest endurance for the semi-final race. Instead of relying on fast starter Bosker, the coach aims to begin the race at a steadier pace, hoping to reduce performance decline during the closing laps. This tactical change results in Ted-Jan Bloemen making his Olympic debut in the team pursuit, marking only his second team pursuit event since December 2018.
Bloemen, aged forty, recently demonstrated strong form by securing a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters behind younger competitors Metodej Jilek and Vladimir Semirunniy. Despite this, the longer 25-lap distance differs significantly from the intense eight-lap team pursuit, which demands consistent quick turns. Ritsma’s decision to rely on the veteran is based on his endurance capacity.
In the preliminaries, Bosker provided a strong start for the Dutch trio but struggled to maintain pace and effectively support his teammates in the later stages. The team ultimately finished just over three seconds behind Italy, a margin that needs to be addressed if the Netherlands wants to contend for the gold medal. However, Italy’s team is highly experienced and well-coordinated, with skaters Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini, and Michele Malfatti demonstrating seamless teamwork, especially on their home ice.
Ritsma has indicated that if the Dutch team falls too far behind during the race, he may preserve their energy by focusing on securing a bronze medal instead. In that scenario, there is a possibility of reintroducing a rested Bosker for the bronze medal match. The coach faces ongoing challenges in balancing team composition and tactics to maximize the Netherlands’ medal chances against a formidable Italian team.
