KNSB Cup 10 Breda

Written by T Dobbin

Last night was the 10th KNSB Cup in Breda. Breda was a very difficult ice track with at each corner every lap the peleton breaking the ice and big ice chunks came flying out. Because of the ice being so bad, each lap in certain places of the corner people were crashing after their clap would hit the holes. It made it a very difficult race for everyone.

The ladies race finished in a sprint finish with the Amercian Chris Witty (Landjuweel) taking her second victory in two days. Full results from the ladies below:

Ladies Marathon
1st Chris Witty (Landjuweel)
2nd Elma de Vries (DSB Bank)
3rd Mariska Huisman (Viks)

The mens race was one of the toughest races seen this winter. The team of BAM skated a very strong race with Bob de Vries (BAM) lapping the peleton two times and then again lapping the breakaway group one time. The breakaway group finished in a sprint with DSB Bank's Arjan Smit lunging at the line just missing out on podium to finish in fourth for the DSB Bank team. See below the mens marathon results.

Mens Marathon
1st Bob de Vries (BAM)
2nd Arjan Stroetinga (BAM)
3rd Sjoerd Huisman (Nefit)
4th Arjan Smit (DSB Bank)

Shane Dobbin had to sit out of the KNSB 10 in Breda because of his shoulder but after just one day already a huge improvement with his recovery and will be back on his skates in no time. Tonight the race is in the home city from the team of DSB Bank. The head quarters of DSB Bank are in Alkmaar and it will be an important race of their team. Keep posted for results.

KNSB Cup 9 Groningen

Written by T Dobbin
Wednesday was the first of the five days cup held in Groningen. The ladies race started at 18:30 followed by the men at 19:30. It is the first race of a long five days with races held all over the Netherlands.

The ladies race started off to a hard start with Maria Sterk from DSB Bank crashing early on in the race. She skated most of the race off the back trying to catch back up to the peleton while everyone was off the front trying to make it a hard race. The ladies ended in a sprint finish with the American Chris Witty just crossing the line in first place with the race victory. See below for the ladies results.

Ladies Marathon Results
1st Chris Witty (Landjuweel)
2nd Elma de Vries (DSB Bank)
3rd Maria Sterk (DSB Bank)
4th Bianca Roosenboom (CadoMotus)

The mens race started off fast, and by the half way point the deciding breakaway had already formed and taken a lap over the peleton. In the leading breakaway were all the top sprinters from each team including Karlo Timmerman (Renault), Arjan Stroetinga (BAM), Sjoerd Huisman (Nefit) and Ingmar Berga (DSB Bank).

In the final sprint for the peleton Shane Dobbin (DSB Bank) went around the outside to pass with one lap to go for the pack sprint and ended up crashing into the wall and dislocating his shoulder. Unfortunately this accident ended Shane's starts in the KNSB Cup and his marathon season for 2008-2009 having to take at least a few days rest before getting back into training.

With Ingmar Berga (DSB Bank) crossing the line right behind Sjoerd Huisman (Nefit) in second place, the jury decided that because he skated across the line lunging with the front of his foot in the air he was relegated to fourth place. The final results for the first race of the men are as follows:

Mens Marathon Results

1st Sjoerd Huisman (Nefit)
2nd Arjan Stroetinga (BAM)
3rd Karlo Timmerman (Renault)
4th Ingmar Berga (DSB Bank)

Tomorrow is another day with the marathon racing heading to the South of Netherlands in Breda. Shane Dobbin will be taking a full rest tomorrow and heading to the physio for treatment to get back on his skates as soon as possible.

KNSB 5 Days Announcement

Tonight is the first race of the KNSB 5 days. It's the final races of the season in the KNSB cup with just one marathon race after the 5 days which is the National Marathon Championships. Shane Dobbin of DSB Bank will be starting in four of the five races over the next five days.

Elma de Vries of DSB Bank is currently in the Gold Jersey with 176.5 over her team mate Maria Sterk with 153.2 points. Elma de Vries will racing the next five days to make sure she secures her place in the Gold. In the mens top division Arjan Stroetinga from BAM is in the Gold with 181.4 points, followed by Karlo Timmerman (Renault) with 147.1 points and in third place Bob de Vries (BAM) with 142.1 points.

KNSB 5 Days Calendar
18th February - Groningen
19th February - Breda
20th February - Alkmaar
21st February - Haarlem
22nd February - Hoorn

Keep posted over the next 5 days for full results from the KNSB 5 days.