Guzman still the best sprinter, another win for Tas, Bont train dominates in Heerde

Some of the best skaters in the world competed at the 5th European cup of the season held in Heerde.

By Jackob Savard

Photo: Thomas Wendt (@freddyrace)

A 300m Time-Trial, a points race, a 500m and an elimination race were skated last weekend in the Netherlands. Being held at the same time as the French and Colombian championships, some big names were absent but still a strong pack of skaters were present both in the men’s and women’s categories.

Guzman Bitar perfect in the sprint

Venezulian Jhoan Guzman Bitar won both the 300m TT and the 500m in Heerde last weekend. He’s had a great European cup season winning distances every weekend and consolidating his strong reputation in the world of inline speed skating. German Simon Albrecht and Etienne Ramali, Chilean brothers Emanuelle and Luca Silva and Belgian Mathias Voste were his closest rivals during the weekend.

Bont train dominated the longer distances

A massive Bont Skates train controlled the long distances events of the weekend leading Portuguese Diogo Marreiros to victory on both races. Daniel Niero collected a 2nd place in the points race and a 4th place in the elimination race. Stefan and Philip, the Due Schmidt brothers from Denmark representing Bont Nordic, were also in great shape finishing in the top ten of both long distances and placing Stefan 2nd in the elimination race. Peter Michael who finished 3rd in the elimination race, Patxi Peula Cabello and Harry Stogdale who had a good points race and Santiago Roumec were the main non-Bont skaters who stood out last weekend.

Tas was challenged but still took the overall win

Belgian Sandrine Tas, who’s been dominant since the beginning of the season, won this weekend’s overall ranking with two wins, a 2nd and a 3rd place.  Italian Francesca Lollobrigida was strong on the longer distances finishing 1st in the elimination race and 2nd in the points race at her first major competition of the season. Colombian Aura Quintana, who’s been getting good results at every European cup this season, had another consistent weekend in Heerde while German Josie Hofmann got a 3rd a 4th and a 5th place. Long track speed skating world champion Vanessa Herzog from Austria won the 300m TT but didn’t skate the other distances.

You can browse the full results HERE

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