Essent Cup 7 Amsterdam

Written by T Dobbin
Last night was the 7th Essent Cup race held in the open air ice rink in the Netherlands, Amsterdam. It was a cold night which lead to some good ice for racing in Amsterdam.

The men's race was the first event of the evening in Amsterdam. Two of the sprint finishers did not start in Amsterdam Karlo Timmerman (Eco2 Renault) & Arjan Stroetinga (BAM) as well as strongman Willen Hut (BAM) becuase they were in a training camp in Tenerife it left a hole in their teams for this weekend's race.

Throughout the race Bob de Vries (BAM), Douwe de Vries (Adformatie) and Cedric Michaud (Nefit) sprinter for the sprint points every 20 laps to race for the Gold Jersey. There were many attacks in Amsterdam with the serious attack right before the final 20 laps for the sprint finish.

The men's race finished with a breakaway in the last 8 eight laps with approximately 6 skaters including Sjoerd Huisman (Nefit). With Bob de Vries (BAM) chasing down the breakaway Sjoerd Huisman (Nefit) made his sprint for the finish with one and half laps to go and it was Sjoerd that crossed the line in first taking his second victory for the season. Bob de Vries (BAM) just behind by the finish line catching the rest of the brakaway group with Geert Plender finishing in third place who was in the breakaway with Sjoerd Huisman. Unfortunately Ingmar Berga (DSB Bank) crossed the finish line in the 8th place but because it was his second yellow card for the season, when you receive your second you are disqualified.

Men's Marathon Results
1st Sjoerd Huisman (Nefit)
2nd Bob de Vries (BAM)
3rd Geert Plender (Safan)
4th Roy Boeve (Safan)
5th Bart de Vries (Schuurman Schoenen)
6th Douwe de Vries (Adformatie)
7th Cedrick Michaud (Nefit)
8th Roel van Hest (Kooyenga groep)
9th Cees Juffermans (TNT Express)
10th Jan van Loon (Eco2 Renault)

The ladies race finished in a sprint finish with Elma de Vries (DSB Bank) crossing the finish line in first place but because she received a yellow card which was her second she was disqualified from the event as well as her team mate who is currently in the Gold Jersey Maria Strek (DSB Bank) because of her own offences and received her second yellow card. This left the results as follows:

Ladies Marathon Results
1st Mariska Huisman (VIks)
2nd Margo can de Merwe (Team de Sprinters)
3rd Yvonne Spigt (Foekens)
4th Andrea Sikkema (Van der Wiel)
5th Helen can Goozen (Frisia)

For full results go to: http://www.knsb.nl/content/marathon/wedkal_detail.asp?ID=307

For more photos go to: http://www.fotohdeboer.nl/