CCB

When and take the last spots, the pots for the draw will be: Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4 In that case we already know that Netherlands will play for sure against Australia. JPN + SWE/ENG + BRA/CAN + NZL/ZAM/CMR USA + SWE/ENG + CHN + NZL/ZAM/CMR NED + AUS + BRA/CAN + ZAM/CMR

This week will be the week of truth for me. Wednesday I am officially going to ask for time off during the Olympics. Because I don't have a replacement within the company (a new job), I am a bit afraid of the answer. Otherwise I have to watch sports at night and work during the day (thank God we work from home most of the time ). Then it will be two tough weeks.

I think you are underestimating . They have a very balanced team and play 'another type' of handball. I'm curious about the Japanese team. Latest tournaments they did really well (and also play a very quick game, like Korea). Netherlands struggled against these Asian teams, so nothing is sure. But normally and will finish in the top 4.

I am very curious about the draw that will take place tomorrow. On the one hand I hope for a difficult group with and so that the quarterfinals are not too bad. But on the other hand an easy group is also attractive. Let's hope for a good mix.

Draw for the handball tournament is 1st of April. Incomprehensible that organiser Japan has the prerogative to assign itself to a group of their choice, after 10 of the 12 team are drawn into a group. I think it's unfair.

I don't understand the qualification process. But if I understand correctly, there is no quota for Bas Verwijlen ? Yesterday Dutch media reported that he has to win the European Qualification Tournament now? Strange, as he is worlds number 7.

Congratulations Hungary ; I expected them to qualify. They have so much talent! For me, Hungary can be the great surprise in Tokio!

When is the drawing of lots for the Olympic tournament? After the women's qualification I guess?

We will see. The 400m hurdles is less stacked for sure, but she will have to battle with very strong Americans and Jamaicans. She said a few days ago she will run the 400m by now and then, but will have full focus on the 400m hurdles the coming years.

Bol only competes in the 400 hurdles. And the 4x400 women's relay. Maybe as well in the 4x400 mixed relay, but at this point Netherlands is not allowed to start in that event.

It gives a distorted picture, because only the 400, relays and 60m hurdles went well. We had a lot of disappointments on Thursday and Friday. But however, an unbelievable result for Dutch athletics, eh ... Dutch 400 meter project! And Bol the new Schippers? No way, it will be very hard to achieve what Dafne achieved in her career.

What happened with Dopheide? Especially the second round of Lisanne de Witte and Femke Bol were impressive!

Exactly what happened to Joris van Gool, one of our biggest medal hope, in the 60 meter. He should have a yellow card, not a disqualification.

Indeed, it's a shame they reversed the disqualification. I don't like the Norwegian anyway (way too full of himself), but that's not the point. What about Jordier (400), Mišmaš and Vastenburg (3000)? Completely ridiculous!

With the exception of Bol, the three 400 meter men and Schilder (shot put, Olympic standard), the Dutch athletes are very disappointing in Torun. All 6 800 meter runners ran tactically dramatically today and were eliminated. Yesterday in the 1500 meters as well. Broersen jumped three times invalid in the long jump and Vastenburg was disqualified in the 3000 meters.

Team Netherlands Men Joris van Gool (60m) Raphael Bouju (60m) Liemarvin Bonevacia (400m) Jochem Dobber (400m) Tony van Diepen (400m) Thijmen Kupers (800m) Djoao Lobles (800m) Jurgen Wielart (800m) Koen Smet (60m Hurdles) Bram Anderiessen (1500m) Valentijn Weinans (1500m) Mahadi Abdi Ali (1500m) Mike Foppen (3000m) Menno Vloon (polevault) Pieter Braun (heptathlon) Rik Taam (heptathlon) Ramsey Angela (4x400 relay) Nout Wardenburg (4x400 relay) Women Jamile Samuel (60m) Naomi Sedney (60m) Femke Bol (400m) Lieke Klaver (400m) Lisanne de Witte (400m) Suzanne Voorrips (800m) Britt Ummels (800m) Bregje Sloot (800m) Nadine Visser (60m Hurdles) Zoë Sedney (60m Hurdles) Maureen Koster (3000m) Jip Vastenburg (3000m) Jessica Schilder (shot put) Nadine Broersen (pentathlon) Marit Dopheide (4x400 relay) Andrea Bouma (4x400 relay) Eveline Saalberg (4x400 relay)

Not yet, but there are rumours ...

Well, instead of South Africa we will have Greece in our group. I would have preferred Japan in our group.

The results of the last World Cup are indeed distorted. Mainly due to the lack of Miho Takagi , Graeme Fish and Zhongyan Ning . Below I indicate per distance which changes I expect. Women: 500 - We missed Nao Kodaira , but the question is how good she still is. She seems to have passed her peak. Your prediction based on the WCH seems realistic. 1000 - We missed Miho Takagi , she is the big favourite in the medium distances. She will fight with Bowe en Leerdam for the gold. 1500 - We missed Miho Takagi , pretty sure she will win this. Wiklund was a very unexpected winner. Next year I expect Bowe , Wüst and Golubeva for the silver and bronze medal. 3000 - We missed Miho Takagi and Ayano Sato . Still I think the favourites for the medals are De Jong , Schouten , Wiklund , Voronina and Sablikoba . 5000 - We missed no one. Big fight next year between Schouten , Sablikova , Weidemann , Wiklund and Voronina . Reigning Olympic champion Esmee Visser may come back next year. Pursuit: Japan will win the gold. 100% sure. Men: 500 - We missed Tatsuya Shinhama , many other Japanese sprinters and Tingyu Gao . They can change the podium, although Russia remains a favorite. 1000 - We missed Zhongyan Ning , who will win a medal in front of his home crowd. Again the Russians are favorite, although I'm not pretty sure if Kulizhnikov may start in connection with his doping history. 1500 - We missed Zhongyan Ning , no way the Dutch will get a clean sweep. Anyway, Nuis and Krol remain the other favorites. 5000 - We missed Graeme Fish . Normally he fights with Van der Poel and Roest for the gold. 10000 - We missed Graeme Fish and TJ Flowers , will be exciting to see them compete with Van der Poel . Pursuit: Japan becomes better and better, I expect a close battle with Norway, Netherlands, Canada and Russia. Mass start: unpredictable!

The draw for the Men's and Women's Olympic tournament is tomorrow right after the final, isn't it?

Tomorrow the last day of the championships and also of the speedskating season. My predictions: 1500 women - Brittany Bowe for sure, she is so much better than the rest at the moment (with the exception of Takagi from Japan) 1500 men - Patrick Roest hopefully for him finally his first individual WC-medal, the harsh conditions are in his favor 5000 women - Martina Sablikova still the best on the longest distance 10000 men - Nils van der Poel

Well @rafalgorka, after my predictions for today it turned out that I'm only human ;-). I only predicted Golikova correctly. She skated a superb 500 meter, although she really was really lucky to be able to take advantage of her opponent at the intersection. Kok finished in the outside lane and could never profit from her opponent. But hey, Golikova deserved the win for sure. The teampursuit was really close. Both winning teams know that Japan would have won, if they had participated. I think therefore the joy was not so great. For tomorrow my predictions: Mass start men: Bart Swings Mass start women: Irene Schouten , if the Canadian ladies don't deliberately bother her again. 1000 men: Pawel Kulizhnikov 1000 women: Brittany Bowe . Very sure about this one, she has the ultimate draw. Inside finish against her biggest opponent, Jutta Leerdam.

Well, at the women's side Femke Kok is the favourite, but like Patrick Roest today she has only something to lose. In addition, she has a bad draw, finishing in the outside lane. I predict Angelina Golikova for the win. The men's competition will be close, but will find Pawel Kuliznhikov on top of the ranking. Laurent Dubreuil also has a good chance. Team pursuit women: for sure. Team pursuit men: .

Nice to read your predictions. For me Antoinette de Jong and Natalia Voronina are the clear favourites at the women's side, Nils van der Poel will win the men's race tomorrow, although I hope for Patrick Roest that he can finally become world champion on a single distance.

World leading 50,81 for Femke Bol , 0,15 faster than last week. Other Dutch athletes: Lieke Klaver 51,73, Lisanne de Witte after her injury 52,82. Unfortunately we don't have a fast number four.