Noorderling29

Yesterday the first training, but the Bondscoach was absent, since present in Poland. It lasted for a full 20 minutes, so the gold medal is assured. Analysts in the NOS program: the team should have used today’s race to try-out, but of course the personal interest always are deemed more important by the riders.

The fact that Bosker was promoted in lieu of the team pursuit suggested that some serious effort would be put in to that event. Last Tuesday, The first training was scheduled and Bondscoach Ritsma had chartered some serious scientists to monitor the training. But alas, van der Bunt was ill, so the training was cancelled and the Bondscoach complained that he has no data on van der Bunt. The Bondscoach then flew to Poland to attend The European Championships, where a Dutch team pursuit will particpate, but with three riders not on the start list for Milan. OTOH, good to know that, short of a DQ, the team can not finish lower than 8th.

Wonder of wonder: White smoke after all, Schulting selected for the 1500. In Milan will be decided if she will start in other events

Two interviews on nos.nl, National coach Kerstholt and Schulting. Apparantly there has not yet been a conversation with Schulting about what exactly is expected of her. Qualification is apparantly not conditional on particpating in the European Champs next week, and it’s clear she does not want to participate and feels she’s done enough to warrant selection for the games. Kerstholt refused to say much more than that the decision is difficult and needs more time. It’s not clear what more is needed to make the decision. I got the distinct impression that he does not want Schulting and the selection committee does. Perhaps he hopes that v Oorschot will do so well next week, that she will justify her selection that way.

This probably belongs in the speed skating thread

1500 metres has been the weak link this season, so she probably could not do any worse than the other riders. 1000 metres is really only the two Velzeboer sisters, so she could start there. 500 metres is loaded with Poutsma and the sisters, so she definitely would not start there. The relay is only two races, on different days. So not impossible to do with just 4 riders. IIRC, in 2022 we also had the same team in the heat and the finals.

Item on nos.nl: Schulting wants clarity soon, and does not want to wait for the European Championships. If she’s going to add the short track, she needs to plan a trainings block. The other riders talk about how sorry they are for Van Oorschot, how they are supporting her through her uncertainty, and how if Schulting is nominated, they will aproach this professionaly. It’s clear they really don’t want Schulting to join the team. Without Schulting, the team was on the podium in all 4 world cups, won two races and the ranking.

Deltrap is nominated for the 4th position, Schulting can win the 5th place in the coming European Championships (16/17/18 january in Tilburg).

Schulting won the 1500 on the finish line from Michelle V, while Xandra V did not start on the second day. She did not start in the 500. I think she proved she’s a faster racer than v Oorschot and Deltrap, but her races also show that she had not started a race in a long time, as she was rather wobbly at times.So perhaps a risky replacement in a relay that generally has had good results without her.

Schulting 3rd in the 1000 metres, defeating her rivals for selection Deltrap in the semis and van Oorschot in the finals. Daleman rather convincingly beaten in her semis by M Velzeboer, Poutsma and rival v Oorschot.

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

Confirmed that Angel Daleman will also compete today.

Borzov

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.

As expected: Leerdam will start in the 1000 metres