Dutch Speed Skating Team Makes Late Roster Change for Olympic Pursuit
The Netherlands men’s team pursuit squad will witness a shift in its lineup for Tuesday’s semifinal against Italy at the Olympic Winter Games. Jorrit Bergsma will replace Marcel Bosker, according to reports from NU.nl and RTV Noord.
Bergsma will skate alongside Chris Huizinga and Stijn van de Bunt. Bosker will serve as the team’s reserve. The decision comes after the Dutch team qualified fourth in the quarterfinals on Sunday, while Italy posted the fastest time.
“We are going to try to place the Italians under pressure with a bit more ‘Ausdauer’ in it,” said head coach Rintje Ritsma, referencing the endurance of his skaters, as reported by Eurosport. “And then we will at least have a fresh man left over for the finals. We will determine if that is necessary, which also depends on how those guys receive through it.”
Ritsma also indicated the team may be strategically focusing on a potential bronze medal finish. “If we go, we will go down fighting, but tactically,” he stated. “If the gap becomes too large, it makes no sense to keep riding. Then it’s a matter of breaking down, continuing to glide and sort of saving energy. Then you really have to go for bronze.”
Should the Netherlands win a medal, all four skaters – Bosker, Huizinga, Van de Bunt, and Bergsma – will receive one, according to team officials. The other semifinal will pit the United States against China.
