“A sheer perfect race”, said Norway coach Bjarne Rykkje after Sander Eitrem, Peder Kongshaug and Sverre Lunde Pedersen (NOR) broke the Team Pursuit world record to seize gold on the opening day of the ISU European Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands on Friday. After the Norwegian display of power, Kjeld Nuis (NED) relied on experience to keep his young teammates Jenning de Boo and Tim Prins at bay in a Dutch 1000m podium sweep.
Norway celebrate their European Team Pursuit title win in a world record time in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
Norway’s speed never stopped
In the second of three pairings, Norway skated an incredibly even race all 200m split-times between the first and the final lap only 0.1 apart. Finishing in 3:34.22, they beat the 2021 Salt Lake City world record set by the United States by 0.25.
The Norwegian team swept to European gold in 3:34.22 in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
Skating behind the tall and strong Eitrem and the fast Kongshaug, the experienced Pedersen was the last wagon of the well-oiled Norwegian train. He knew they were going fast, but never realized they were on world record pace:
“When I'm back there, I cannot see anything. So I didn't know the lap times or anything. I just stay and follow the rhythm. That’s not easy, when you skate that fast together, the adrenaline is pretty high afterwards.I felt that the speed just kept going and never stopped. To skate a world record is pretty amazing.”
After Norway’s exploits, Italy (Andrea Giovannini, Davide Ghiotto, Michele Malfatti) beat the Netherlands (Marcel Bosker, Chris Huizinga, Bart Hoolwerf) in the final pairing. Both teams ended up far behind Norway, with Italy finishing 6.25 adrift and the home nation 7.14 behind.
Italy claimed Team Pursuit silver at the 2024 Europeans in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
Ghiotto (ITA) was really impressed by the Norwegian display:
“When I saw the time of these guys I thought, wow, the ice must be really, really fast, but when we started and I felt the ice, it actually was very tough.After they skated a world record, we felt like: okay, we’ll skate for second place.”
Bosker (NED) was impressed too:
“I had not expected the Norwegians to be able to skate a time like that. That was just a very good race. For us this bronze medal was the best we could get today.”
His coach Rintje Ritsma agreed:
“We’ve had a couple of bumpy rides [in the Team Pursuit] this season so far, because of skaters being not available at times. That’s difficult. Now we’re back on track. At the World Cup in Poland [last November] we were four seconds off the podium, now we’re competitive with Italy again. That’s a big step ahead.”
Netherlands settled for European Team Pursuit bronze on home ice in Heerenveen © ISU
Experience key for golden Nuis
Triple Olympic Champion Kjeld Nuis (NED) avenged his defeat by teammate Jenning de Boo (NED) at the Dutch national championships last week, winning the 1000m European title in 1:07.87 ahead of the 19-year-old.
Kjeld Nuis triumphed in the 1000m to take the European title in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
Experience was key to keep de Boo and Nuis’ other young teammate and bronze medalist Tim Prins (NED) at bay. When Nuis took the ice, de Boo had already skated 1:08.14.
Nuis said: “I wasn’t really impressed by his time, but I was impressed with his first 600m. I saw he got knackered in the final lap and I thought: if I just skate a neat first 600m, I’ll be able to bridge the gap in the final lap.”
“Jenning is faster than me, but I’m able to maintain the pace just a little longer. It’s about keeping composure, and I think that stamina was important as well.”
Kjeld Nuis led a Dutch 1-2-3 in the 1000m at the 2024 Europeans in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
De Boo agreed:
“I made more mistakes than last week and Kjeld just shows incredible class. Making mistakes is due to inexperience. I haven’t started many 1000m races from the inner corner, which is very different [from starting in the outer lane]. My second inner corner was not so good, although it was still a pretty good race.”
“It’s about experience. I can skate very fast, but he [Nuis] has all the extra ingredients you learn year by year.”
Jenning de Boo took silver behind teammate Nuis at the 2024 Europeans in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
Twenty-year-old Prins was impressed with the atmosphere.
“It’s great here in Thialf. The crowd cheers for me as if I’m a multiple World Champion, whereas I’ve just come up. I’m very happy with the bronze. Kjeld relies on experience, years of training and pure class.
“It’s different for Jenning and me to come into this arena with all those people cheering. For us that’s all new and he has already seen that so often. That makes it easier to stay focused.”
Tim Prins celebrated European 10000m bronze on home ice in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
European Championships program
The European Championships resumes with the men’s Team Sprint, the women’s 500m, the men’s 5000m and the women’s 1500m on Saturday and the busy Sunday schedule comprises the women’s Team Pursuit, the men’s 1500m, the women’s 1000m, the men’s 500m and the Mass Start for both genders.
For schedules and results of the ISU European Speed Skating Championships, please visit the webpage here.
Where to watch
Viewers will be able to watch via their national broadcaster/channel.
For countries where there are no broadcasters, the ISU will offer a live stream with English commentary on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. You will find the full list on the Where to watch webpage here.
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For all information about the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series, please visit the webpage here.
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World Cup Standings - Women
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