CREATE TABLE table_204_554 (id DECIMAL, "rank" DECIMAL, "name" TEXT, "nation" TEXT, "time" TEXT, "speed" DECIMAL, "note" TEXT)

who finished before ellen van dijk ?
SELECT "name" FROM table_204_554 WHERE "rank" < (SELECT "rank" FROM table_204_554 WHERE "name" = 'ellen van dijk') ORDER BY "rank" DESC LIMIT 1
SELECT "name" FROM "table_204_554" WHERE "rank" < (SELECT "rank" FROM "table_204_554" WHERE "name" = 'ellen van dijk') ORDER BY "rank" DESC NULLS LAST LIMIT 1