The marathon speed skating team led by brothers Ronald and Joël Haasjes has been finalized and will compete this winter in the Top Division under the name Okay – Interfarms.
Schaatsen.nl, a Dutch news outlet, reported on the team announcement.
The new formation also includes a women’s team headed by Kim Talsma and Lianne van Loon. The restructuring resulted from challenges in recruiting primarily regional riders who the Haasjes brothers initially intended to bring together. Edward van Dijk noted that a team cannot be formed with only two members, prompting the addition of promising riders from the developmental squad.
The expanded men’s team now features Mathijs van Zwieten, Matthé Pronk, and Ids Bouma, all eager to compete at the Top Division level. Bart Swings will also be part of the group, continuing as the sixth skater as he was in the previous season. With no Olympic Games this year, there is optimism that Swings will be able to participate more frequently.
The team will compete under the Okay – Interfarms name, fielding two competitive squads on the ice. The management expressed confidence in Joël Haasjes, highlighting his potential for further development. For the women’s side, the lineup benefits from the proven successes of Lianne van Loon and Kim Talsma, the latter finishing as the number one in the Marathon Cup.
The team compositions are as follows: Top Division men – Ronald Haasjes, Joël Haasjes, Mathijs van Zwieten, Ids Bouma, Matthé Pronk, and Bart Swings; Top Division women – Kim Talsma, Lianne van Loon, Mayke Vriesinga, and Sophie Kraaijveld; Development men – Jurrian Haasjes and Joan Bloemert.
