Marijke Groenewoud (NED) surprisingly beat Olympic champion Irene Schouten (NED) and World Cup leader Ragne Wiklund (NOR) in the 3000m to win her first international title in a classic distance at the ISU European Speed Skating Championships on Friday. With the Dutch women also snatching gold in the Team Sprint, the home nation won both available female titles on the opening day in Heerenveen.
Marijke Groenewoud celebrates her victory at the European Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
Groenewoud gets rid of eternal second place
Groenewoud started in the final pairing versus Wiklund, after Schouten had stopped the clock at 3:58.70 in the previous heat versus Elisa Dul (NED). Groenewoud attacked her teammate’s time ferociously, skating two sub-30 laps and taking a 1.65 lead over Schouten’s time at the 1000m split.
Marijke Groenewoud skated a personal best to win European gold in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
Despite her lap-times lengthening, Groenewoud continued to build her advantage over Schouten, finishing in a personal best of 3:56.27. Wiklund had a chance at silver after establishing a 1.29 lead over Schouten but had to settle for bronze in 3:59:09 after a difficult final lap.
Victory in the women's 3000m in Heerenveen, Netherlands, is Marijke Groenewoud's first classic distance title © ISU
Groenewoud explained her coach (Arjan Samplonius, NED) taught her how to win races in the classic distances:
“It’s about skating my own race, instead of fighting with the opponent. Just go and stick to your own plan.Coming from inline skating and marathon skating, I’m very much used to racing against opponents, and that’s something I have to get rid of while skating long-track.”
The double World Champion in Mass Start (a bunch race), was relieved to finally win a classical distance (in time trial format).
“I’ve been close, with second places [in World Cup events] this season, and everybody kept reminding me that I was always runner-up, so I really had to get rid of that."
Triple Olympic champion Schouten, who beat Groenewoud in the 3000m at the Dutch national championships last week, was not content with her own skating.
Olympic 3000m Champion Irene Schouten finished runner up at the Europeans in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
“I skated well this morning and I know I’m fit, but when I had to do it in the afternoon, it just didn’t work out. Of course I’m gutted, but the World [Single Distance] Championships [in February in Calgary, Canada] are the most important event this year.
“I haven’t been able to beat Ragne Wiklund this season yet. Today I did, but of course I’d rather have seen that it would have come with a title. I just don’t know why, but it was very bad today.”
Despite being beaten, Wiklund came off the ice with a smile.
“The title for Groenewoud was well-deserved. She’s been after it for so long. Of course I would have wanted to take silver instead of bronze, but today the race was more important.”
Ragne Wiklund skates to the European 3000m bronze in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
Rijpma-De Jong perseveres
Despite a chaotic start, Marrit Fledderus, Femke Kok and Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong (NED) still managed to take the Team Sprint title in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at Thialf Stadium.
Finishing in 1:27.36, the Dutch women beat defending champions Poland (Andzelika Wójcik, Iga Wojtasik, Karolina Bosiek) by 0.70. Norway (Carina Jagtøyen, Julie Nistad Samsonsen, Martine Ripsrud) took bronze in 1:28.83.
Netherlands beat defending champions Poland to win the European Team Sprint in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
Fledderus and Kok had to thank Rijpma-De Jong for hanging in on her own, after she got dropped in the first lap. Rijpma-De Jong explained what happened:
“This was not the way we intended to race. My start was good, but it felt as if I had to hold back a little and at that exact moment, Marrit went full gas.
“I couldn’t do anything and the gap kept increasing. Of course I tried to hang in there, but it would have been better to have used Marrit and Femke’s draft, because they skated a very good first and second lap.”
Fledderus said: “We didn’t see anything; you cannot really look back when you’re at full speed and because of the helmet and the crowd you can’t hear anything either. I just didn’t notice [that Rijpma-De Jong got dropped]. I would have held back of course.”
Netherlands triumphed on home ice despite a tricky start in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
Poland lost their 2022 Team Sprint title, but Wójcik did not look back in anger:
“Any kind of medal and any kind of podium is a dream for us. We’re so glad to be here again and fight with the best teams in Europe so we are happy.”
Poland (left) followed up their 2022 triumph with Team Sprint silver in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU
Norway’s Martine Ripsrud was content too.
“[Bronze} was more than we kind of expected. I thought maybe we could be number three today, that was a goal, so that's good.
“The race didn't work out the way we planned. I was not following the girls at the beginning, but I could follow up on the second lap. Then we did an exchange that everyone else has been doing now [slingshot], and it worked out really well. It’s a good way to start a tournament.”
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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