Nikki Noordergraaf and Fleur Hartveld: European Championship start in inline skating!

Nikki Noordergraaf and Fleur Hartveld: European Championship start in inline skating!

The anticipation for the European Inline Skating Championships is increasing! It starts on July 5th and the two Dutch athletes Nikki Noordergraaf and Fleur Hartveld have the honor of representing their country. While Noordergraaf is taking part in the senior class for the second time, it is the first European Championship experience for the talented Hartveld, who will only compete in the junior B category.

Nikki Noordergraaf has already attracted attention in the past. Last year she took 13th place in the 500 meters at the European Championships and unfortunately had to admit defeat in the 1,000 meter and relay disciplines. Two weeks ago, however, she made heads turn with two podium finishes at the national championships. A good tailwind that gives hope for successful participation. Her teammate Fleur Hartveld recently celebrated her first title as Dutch champion in the Junior B category over 500 meters, raising great expectations.

A strong team for the European Championships

The team, led by national coach Valentina Berga-Belloni, has high goals. Its main protagonist, Lianne van Loon, who became European marathon champion in 2022, will be supported by Jet Fransen and Nikki Noordergraaf in the short and long disciplines. The added talents are intended to help win medals. Fransen will actively support the team in the challenges, even though Fleur Veen, an experienced athlete, has said goodbye to this competition.

A total of eight athletes from the Netherlands will take part in this prestigious event in Groß-Gerau, Germany. The male representatives are a strong group, consisting of national champions Glenn Nijenhuis (200 meters), Teun de Wit (1,000 meters) and Ruben Ligtenberg (points race), complemented by Ronald and Christian Haasjes. However, the exact choice of discipline will be determined by Berga-Belloni shortly before the competition.

The importance of the European Championships

The European Inline Speedskating Championships are no ordinary tournament. They take place annually and not only offer competition, but also an important platform for qualifying for the World Championships. As the [Wikipedia](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inline-Speedskating-European Championships) points out, the sport has developed rapidly over the years. In the 90s, inline skates replaced classic roller skates, and today they are indispensable for competition. Competitions are held on both track and road courses, providing additional flexibility and challenge.

With an exciting competition just around the corner, expectations are high and it remains to be seen how the athletes will fare in the coming days. So let's wait eagerly for the spectacle! With the participation of Noordergraaf and Hartveld, the chances of success for the Netherlands are at least promising!

You can find out more about this exciting sport and the upcoming competitions at Schaatsen.nl and Studio Kaagen Braassem.