Patrick Roest started the hunt for his first national all-round title on Saturday. The three-time world champion won the 500 meters in Thialf.
The 24-year-old Roest, who is participating in the NK all-round for the first time in four years, was nine hundredths faster than number two Tjerk de Boer (36.56) with a time of 36.47 seconds. The 500 meters is the shortest distance from Roest on paper, the top favorite for the title.
Koen Verweij finished third in 36.59. The champion of the 2013/2014 season drove his first race this autumn after recovering from a hernia. Defending champion Jan Blokhuijsen (36.96) was fourth and Marcel Bosker, the number two of the past two years, set the fifth fastest time (37.02).
Bob de Vries (35) became by far the oldest debutant ever at the NK all-round on Saturday. The stayer set a personal record with 39.56, but he was more than a second slower than Jorien ter Mors, who won the shortest distance in the women in 38.32. De Vries was just a bit faster than his brother Bart (39.67).
Six-time champion Sven Kramer had a bit of the flu this week and signed up for the NK on Friday.
The men will drive the 5 kilometers later on Saturday. The 1,500 and 10,000 meters will follow on Sunday. The winner of the NK qualifies for the European Championship all-round, which is scheduled for January 16 and 17 in Heerenveen.
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