At a sold-out Thialf in Heerenveen, Krol took gold in the men’s 1000-meter race, crossing the line in 1:08.35. Kai Verbij ended up in second place (1:08.53) and Dai Dai N’tab finished third: 1:08.87. Hein Otterspeer set the fourth time (1:09.04), but was disqualified after the race, because he crossed the line in one of the corners.

Krol had already won a gold medal in the men’s 1500-meter race on Saturday, finishing in an impressive time of 1:43.86. After winning three silver and two bronze medals, Krol finally succeeded to win gold at the Dutch Single Distance Championships.

"Two national titles. This is the result I was hoping for, so there is no reason to complain. This is amazing", Krol said after his race. "I also clinched tickets for the European Single Distance Championships and World Single Distance Championships, so this is a very good weekend. Today my race did not go as well as yesterday’s race. I had some little mistakes in the corners, but I won. That is the only thing that matters."

Earlier on Sunday, Roest won a silver medal in the men's 10.000-meter race. He set a time of 12:48.59, finishing behind winner Jorrit Bergsma (12:45.04). The other Team Jumbo-Visma speed skaters, Kars Jansman (13:22.25) and Chris Huizinga (13:47.84), ended up in eighth and ninth place. Sven Kramer and Douwe de Vries decided not to race for different reasons.

For Roest, it was his third medal of the tournament. On Friday the 24-year-old speed skater of Team Jumbo-Visma had already seized gold in the men's 5000-meter race, with his teammate Sven Kramer finishing second. On Saturday, Roest took a silver medal at 1,500 meters, ending up behind Krol.

"I have some mixed feelings about today", Roest admitted. "My 10,000-meter race went well, but Jorrit was simply better. I gave everything, but this is all I had. It is too bad I was not able to win today. I am still happy with my results this weekend. I earned three tickets for the World Single Distance Championships and two for the European Single Distance Championships, so I have to be satisfied."

At the first distance of the day, the ladies’ 5000-meter race, Achtereekte earned a bronze medal. The reign Olympic champion at 3,000 meters set a time of 6:55.04, ending up behind Irene Schouten (6:54.87) and winner Esmee Visser (6:50.96). It was Achtereekte’s second bronze medal of the weekend, after finishing third at 3,000 meters on Saturday.

"Right now, I am disappointed", Achtereekte said. "It is just not going the way I want it to go. A third place at the Dutch Single Distance Championships is fine, but it is not what I am here for. I want to win."

On the first day of the tournament, Jan Smeekens and Joy Beune had already won a medal for Team Jumbo-Visma. The 32-year-old speed skater won a silver medal in the men’s 500-meter race with a time of 34.81, while Beune took bronze in the ladies’ 1500-meter race (1:55.87) on Friday.

European Single Distance Championships (Heerenveen, the Netherlands) (January 10-12):
500m: Smeekens;
1000m: Krol;
1500m: Roest, Krol and Beune;
3000m: Achtereekte;
5000m: Roest and Kramer.

World Single Distance Championships (Salt Lake City, United States) (February 13-16)
500m: Smeekens;
1000m: Krol;
1500m: Roest, Krol and Beune;
3000m: Achtereekte;
5000 m: Roest and Kramer;
10.000 meter: Roest.

World Allround Championships (Hamar, Norway) (February 28-March 1)
Ladies: Antoinette de Jong;
Men: Roest and Kramer.

Pictures: Stephan Tellier