Patrick Roest was second in the 10,000 meters.
He was only 0.47 behind in the half distance 5000 meters but now the margin was 13.85, an ocean of time.
- I did not expect Nils to go below the world record by two seconds.
I was just trying to do my best and could only wait for what Nils would do, says Roest who had to wait quite a long time for van der Poel according to Reuters.
"Something you have to respect"
The Dutchman went in the second pair and while van der Poel came in the fifth - with a rewind of the ice in between.
- It was very impressive what he achieved.
He sets a world record again on a lowland course.
It's amazing and something you have to respect.
The reigning Olympic champion Ted-Jan Bloemen, who also held the world record before van der Poel started ravaging the ovals, came in the final heat.
Before the Canadian went out on the final lap, it was time for Poel.
If they had ridden in the same heat, he would have been rotated, a symbolic change of power.