Bergsma Replaces Bosker in Netherlands’ Team Pursuit Lineup for Olympic Semifinal

Milan, Italy – Jorrit Bergsma will skate in place of Marcel Bosker in the Netherlands’ team pursuit lineup for the semifinal round at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. The decision, announced by Dutch coach Rintje Ritsma, comes after the Netherlands finished fourth in qualification.

Netherlands Faces Italy in Semifinal

The Netherlands will compete against the top-qualifying team, Italy, in the semifinal. According to Ritsma, the coaching staff opted to rest Bosker for this race. The team may be strategically focusing on securing a bronze medal rather than pursuing gold. Eurosport reported on this strategic shift.

Training Session with the Trio

Bosker, Bergsma and Chris Huizinga were observed training together on February 11, 2026, at the Milano Speed Skating Arena, preparing for the Olympic competition. Alamy captured this training session.

Dutch Olympic Delegation

The Netherlands is competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics with a delegation of 39 athletes (20 men and 19 women) across six sports, including speed skating. Wikipedia provides a comprehensive overview of the Dutch team’s participation.

Team Pursuit Details

The Netherlands team pursuit squad consists of 18 speed skaters (9 men and 9 women). Suzanne Schulting is competing in both speed skating and short-track speed skating. As of February 16, 2026, the Netherlands has secured 12 medals: 6 gold, 5 silver, and 1 bronze, ranking third in the medal count.