Grand Prix 1 in Sweden

Written by T Dobbin

Yesterday was the first day of the 5 Grand Prix races in Falun, Sweden. The ladies skated a 60 kilometer race and the men an 80 kilometer race. Results are below:

Women 60km Results

1st Carla Zielman (Hoolwerf)
2nd Mariska Huisman (Viks)
3rd Maria Sterk (DSB Bank)

Men 80km Results
1st Martijn Kromkamp (Kooyenga)
2nd Gary Hekman (Nefit)
3rd Rob Hadders (BAM)
4th Ruud Borst (Team Care Group)
5th Rene Ruitenberg (Safan)
6th Jeroen de Vries (DSB Bank)

Everyone now has one day rest before the next race tomorrow with the ladies an 80 kilometer and the men 150 kilometer. The program of the Grand Prix's in Sweden are below:

5th February Grand Prix 1 (Ladies 60k/Men 80k)
7th February Grand Prix 2 (Ladies 80k/Men 150k)
9th February Grand Prix 3 (Ladies 100k/Men 100k)

After the 3rd Grand Prix the ladies Natural Ice races are finished and some of the men come back to the Netherlands to prepare them for the finish of the KNSB Cup marathon races and the Dutch National Championships.

From DSB Bank Shane Dobbin, Ingmar Berga and Arjan Smit are included in coming back to the Netherlands after the third Grand Prix. Shane Dobbin will be skating in the Heerenveen World Cup on the 14th & 15th of February and Ingmar Berga will be racing in the Open race at the Heerenveen World Cup on the 15th of February. The remaining two races in Sweden are below.

12th February Grand Prix 4 (Men 100k)
14th February Grand Prix 5 (Men 200k)

Keep posted for more results and updates.