Speed Skating Discussion | Qualification to Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 Road to Milano Cortina 2026

[NearPup 3,586]

4 minutes ago, SalamAkhi said:

I'm not really worried for the USA actually  I know the Dutch men won't be favorite either way but they could at least play a role in there, which from my point of view is one too much. So let's just stay opponents and focus on individual events shall we 

Who do you think has a stronger team in the men's team pursuit? They have not lost all year. They set the world record this season. Nobody has gotten within a second of them all year.

 

Edit: oh, for the USA xD

 

Ya, but that's part of why the Dutch aren't going to be too bothered by the men's team pursuit I think. Even if they threw everything at the TP at this point it's probably too late to develop a team that can compete against the , so the gold is pretty much gone anyway.

Edited December 30, 2025 by NearPup

[Josh 11,666]

19 hours ago, heywoodu said:

My personally favourite system would be something where there is a certain set of high criteria to be pre-selected (like winning at least all but one of the World Cups in a certain distance before the trials), which would really only pre-select the absolute top - disadvantage is that you're somewhat forcing them to be in peak shape for one and a half month or so, which isn't good for Olympic performance, although they can choose to go for the trials of course. Rest of the spots would then be done by trials.

 

That too would have it's drawbacks though. Focus on the World Cup qualifiers would be almost the same as it is for trials now, as one would need to qualify to have a chance of being pre-selected.

That's what Canada is doing 

 

For us anyone who finishes top 8 in the World Cup standings doesn't have to go through Olympic Trials, obviously the standards would have to be a lot higher, the Dutch team is much more stacked. 

[heywoodu 16,127]

As, unfortunately, one could expect, Tim Prins has been royally fucked over by the commission, who did indeed decide to go for Marcel Bosker because of the team pursuit and kick Prins out of his spot.

 

I don't wish ill on the riders who will do the team pursuit, it's not their fault, but for the commission/federation I hope they'll be like 7th there.

Edited January 1 by heywoodu

[Dennis 762]

Yeah, stupid decision. Marcel Bosker is not the ticket to a final in the team pursuit

[Noorderling29 203]

As expected: Leerdam will start in the 1000 metres

[Noorderling29 203]

14 hours ago, Noorderling29 said:

As expected: Leerdam will start in the 1000 metres

To add: Beune not nominated for the 1500. Rationale seems to be that the three others are all potential medal winners in this distance. Which is true in itself, but of course not relevant for whether or not what happened was a calamity. If the relevant criterium is the chance of winning a medal, just skip the OKT and let the selectors choose.

[Noorderling29 203]

By the way, I just noticed that van de Bunt is also nominated for the mass-start.

[clemsonbeav 234]

Jordan Stolz proves he is human.  Falls in the opening 100m of the 1000m Olympic Trials.  (But he was pre-qualified, and he still finished 3rd overall.)

[heywoodu 16,127]

9 hours ago, clemsonbeav said:

Jordan Stolz proves he is human.  Falls in the opening 100m of the 1000m Olympic Trials.  (But he was pre-qualified, and he still finished 3rd overall.)

So basically he competes just for fun?

[clemsonbeav 234]

4 hours ago, heywoodu said:

So basically he competes just for fun?

I think technically he had to start the race in order to get the official qualification.