January 9, 2024 at 7:55 pm Update: 7 hours ago
Harm Visser won the first natural ice marathon of this winter in Winterswijk on Tuesday. The Jumbo-Visma skater scored after a tactical final phase. In the women’s category, Marijke Groenewoud of Albert Heijn Zaanlander won.
Visser was one of eight who lapped the rest of the field during the race. Also in this group were his teammate Jorrit Bergsma and competitor Gary Hekman from Team Reggeborgh, who last year had won the first marathon on natural ice.
In the final phase Visser benefited from Bergsma’s hard work. The 23-year-old Friesian then finished with a ferocious sprint. Christian Haasjes came second, New Zealander Peter Michael came third.
Luc ter Haar looked to have strong credentials one lap from the finish, but finished fourth. Bergsma himself crossed the finish line in seventh place. Hekman had to settle for eighth place. Jorian ten Cate won the peloton sprint and finished ninth.
This is how Visser lived up to his role as favorite. This season he has been the best in a marathon on artificial ice several times.
Marijke Groenewoud was in a class of her own in sprinting. Photo: ANP
Groenewoud dominates in the sprint
During the evening several women attempted a lunge but, as expected, none managed to create a decisive gap. Groenewoud was then supreme in the sprint, meaning that the favorite scored here too.
The 24-year-old Friezin crossed the finish line well ahead of number two Esther Kiel. Lianne van Loon placed third. For Groenewoud it is the culmination of a very successful week. Last weekend in Heerenveen you won three European long track titles.
Not all the big names were present in Winterswijk. In the town of Gelderland, for example, the attraction Irene Schouten was missing. It is not known why she was not there. Schouten had a disappointing European Championships without an individual gold medal last weekend.
Every year it is a race between different places to organize the first marathon on natural ice. Last winter this honor was awarded to the Frisian Burgum. This year it was between Haaksbergen and Winterswijk, with the latter coming out on top.
Image: ANP
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2024-01-09 18:55:06
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