If that hunt fails, Jumbo-Wizma’s tall rider will at least have a good outlet to channel his emotions so that he can begin the bridging period for next season after being reset. A week after the World Distance Championships, Grohl boards a plane with his girlfriend to explore Australia. Or rather, a ‘species of discovery’, as his holidays usually are: tightly planned to see as much as possible. Last year, after six months of skating, the destination was Mexico, specifically a love affair with sun, sea and beaches.
“Cancun wasn’t a success for me,” Grohl says immediately. “Good for relaxing, but it’s been a bit hectic. I’m really excited about Australia. Melbourne, the Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, Sydney… we’re going everywhere in three weeks. My girlfriend (Ramona Westerhuis, ed.) makes it all happen; I She’s good at sorting out the whole itinerary. She comes with a bag at the airport because I arranged everything months ago. This week has been nice and quiet in terms of training and I’m getting ready for the competition.”
The holiday plans will in no way disrupt the 2019 and 2021 world champion’s run in the 1500m. On Saturday Thealf awaits the distance where he is the Olympic champion (1000 meters) and on Sunday Kroll will take his place on the starting line for the skating mile. “Jordan Stolz, Hein Otterspierre and Kelt Nooyis are favourites. I have to try to beat them. It would be nice to win, but I have to be realistic after such a season, which – judging by the performance – could be called a lost year. I learned a lot of lessons, especially on a physical level. I’d like to change that with Jack (Orie, coach, ed.). To be honest, I’m already looking forward to the next season.
Rost has strong doubts about participating in the 1500m
Patrick Rost will decide to ride both the 1500m and ten kilometers on Sunday after Thursday’s 5000m at the world championship distances. The 27-year-old skater from Regeborg has punched her tickets for the World Cup in the 1500m, 5000m and 10km. “I’ll see how I recover after five kilometers, but as it stands now, I won’t run the 1500m,” he said on Tuesday.
If he misses the 1500m, Wesley Diggs could go to work. He says his teammates in the Green Brigade will be hearing from him soon. “If Wesley finds out in time, it’s good for him. It’s a tough choice, and I don’t want to rush it. But I’m not going to wait until the last minute, because Wesley wants the best product.”
Then it’s important to get his content back so he can continue to trump rivals from previous winters. “I’ll go into the summer with full breath, that’s for sure. Then I’ll be physically stronger than I am now. Things I tried after the successful winter games didn’t work out so well,” he admits. “You’re always looking for something to cheer yourself up. Doing the same thing every year stops progress. But this Trial and error, one works better than the other. We have evaluated and analyzed and now we know what to do.
If you ask if he will drag another season like this, he cannot answer. “I can’t decide that. I don’t like it this winter. I add: I’m not participating just to qualify for the World Cup. I have to win. The same applies to next weekend, although I notice that I don’t have what I should have. I’ll be the first to make sure it’s back. Like, I can decide what it will look like when I’m as good as I can be.
When the time comes, it can be compared to, for example, the American all-rounder Stoles, which occasionally spins through the circuit like a kind of tornado. Kroll agrees with the characterization The next level For a teenager, but at his own age. “Yes, last week he lost to Wesley Diggs in the World Cup,” he explains. “I think it’s very special that he can run such a good five kilometers and open 500 meters in 9.7 or 9.8 seconds. I find that very attractive. Other than that, I don’t think he’s invincible. How Stolz deals with that makes him cool. .” “I like Stolz skiing five kilometers. I am focusing on 1500. Besides, I don’t think he can connect everything. He does his thing, I do mine. Let’s see on Saturday and Sunday.”
All information about the World Championship can be found here.
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