Rintje Ritsma was beaten here Saturday by fellow Dutchman Ids Postma who skated a new track record of 1 minute, 52.08 seconds for victory in the World Cup speed skating 1,500 meters.
Ritsma, the world's No. 1 all-round speed skater, is stronger over longer distances. He ended almost a full second behind Postma in a time of 1 minute, 52.86 seconds.Canada's Neil Marshall was third in 1 minute, 52.93 seconds.
Germany's Gunda Niemann, the queen of women's speed skating, was also beaten at the Thialf stadium here, ending third in the 3,000 meters behind Dutch skaters Tony de Jong and Barbara de Loor.
De Jong clocked a time of 4 minutes, 17.01 seconds to win, just outside her best-ever time. De Loor, bettered her personal best with a time of 4 minutes, 17.90 to come second.
Carla Zijlstra of the Netherlands, skating hard to catch up with De Jong in the last race of the afternoon, slipped and fell in her penultimate lap to slide out of contention.
Kirstin Holum of the United States continued her good early season form, ending fourth in the women's race behind Niemann.
Holum, the 16-year-old daughter of a former Olympic champion, finished third last week in Germany over 1,500 meters.
In the men's race, U.S. skater KC Boutiette finished fifth in 1 minute, 53.98, just behind world record holder Hiroyuki Noake.
Tim Hoffman of the United States recorded a personal best time of 1:55.62 to finish 14th in the men's 1,500 meter race.