Speed Skating

[Bazile]

Men's 1000 metres long track final .

In the last pairings the dutch skater was in front in the final lap , but dramatically slowed down and did not finish the lap .

It wasn't to do with an injury - the commentators explained that he had to do that , to adhere to the rules ; but i didn't quite hear what they were saying was the reason .

Can anyone explain if you saw it ?

[New Judge]

The skaters were due a lane change (as they do each lap in the long track skating). The rules say that the skater moving from the outside to the inside lane has priority if they are close. So the Dutchman had to give way, thus conceding the race. If he had not done so he would almost certainly have been disqualified.