Team Royal A-ware takes first four places in Heerenveen mass start

Team Royal A-ware took the first four places in the mass start at the World Cup qualifying event in Heerenveen, the Netherlands.

The team’s Marijke Groenewoud was among the leading skaters, according to the event results.

A fall during the race startled Groenewoud, who said she would step back from the situation if that happened.

The mass start is a race in which skaters compete together on the ice.

The fall raised concern about the safety of the new mass-start format.

The event was a qualifier for the World Cup, but the available information does not say what happens next or which skaters qualified.