While Suzanne Schulting kicks off the 1000m event on Monday, all eyes in the Netherlands are firmly fixed on Leerdam and Kok. These two women have dominated the major competitions this season and are widely expected to deliver the Netherlands' first medal of the Winter Games.
Among the Dutch favorites, Kok will be the first to compete. In the thirteenth heat, she faces American Brittany Bowe, who secured third place in the 1000m four years ago. "That's a great pairing," Timmer remarked on the Sportnieuws.nl Dromen van Goud podcast. "Bowe is an athlete who can really elevate her performance. She's been at the top for years and has consistently placed in the top six recently."
'They could pull off a surprise'
Leerdam will compete later in the final heat, where she'll face reigning champion Miho Takagi. Takagi was the skater who denied Leerdam gold four years ago, presenting the Dutch athlete with a unique opportunity for revenge in Milan. The 27-year-old Leerdam showcased her peak form at the last World Cup in Inzell, winning with a new track record.
Takagi finished second there, but according to Timmer, the Japanese skater demonstrated that she remains a formidable contender: "Takagi was closing the gap in Inzell. I even spoke with Johan de Witt (Takagi's coach, ed.). She's in excellent shape. Takagi is, of course, a seasoned veteran and has been through this many times before."
The three-time Olympic champion, who won 1000m gold in 1998 and 2006, believes Kok and Leerdam could face a tough challenge: "Both Brittany Bowe and Takagi are capable of pulling off a surprise. So, it's not a given that you'll just walk away with that gold medal."
Kok and Leerdam in the outer lane
Both Kok and Leerdam will start in the outer lane, meaning they'll also have the final outer bend. While this might seem like a disadvantage at first glance, Timmer sees it differently: "I think it's actually favorable because they all start fast. You can then use that first lap on the crossover to your advantage against your opponent."
Timmer cited Leerdam's track record in Inzell as an example: "She had Kok in front of her. That gives you a kind of target to aim for. You can chase that, and it's a great feeling. And that last lap is always tough, so you deal with that when it comes."
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