Tomakomai, Japan

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WCSS JPN Team Pursuit 2018©International Skating Union(ISU) 1068241026

Miho Takagi and Ayano Sato (JPN) Team Pursuit 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Will the Japanese Ladies and the Russian Men be able to bring their season-opening form from the indoor rink at Obihiro to the Tomakomai Highland Sports Center this weekend? The coast city, situated 200 kilometre west from Obihiro on the Japanese Hokkaido island, hosts the first outdoor ISU World Cup Speed Skating event since German Inzell in 2008.

 

Tomakomai features the exact same program as Obihiro, starting with the Team Pursuit events on Friday. The Japanese Ladies hope to extend their winning streak to nine World Cup golds after an immaculate performance by Ayano Sato and the Takagi-sisters Miho and Nana last week. In the Men's Team Pursuit, the season started with a surprise win of the Russian Men, after having come only tenth in last season's ranking. Olympic Champions Norway came third. Håvard Bøkko, Sverre Lunde Pedersen and Simen Spieler Nilsen will be looking for revenge in Tomakomai. 

Empress Kodaira 

WCSS JPN Nao Kodaira(JPN)2018©International Skating Union(ISU) 1068717088

Nao Kodaira (JPN) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

After the Team Pursuit, it's time for the fastest Men and Ladies on ice in the first 500m of the Tomakomai weekend. Nao Kodaira (JPN) led Japan's medal haul in Obihiro, winning both Ladies' 500m races and taking a bronze medal in the 1000m. She’s aiming for her 19th 500m World Cup win and her 22nd World Cup win in total. The only one who came close to the Japanese Empress of the short distance in Obihiro, was Vanessa Herzog (AUT), who finished second twice. The Austrian was only 0.12 seconds behind Kodaira in last week's first run and she gained confidence winning the first 1000m of the season.

WCSS JPN Pavel Kulizhnikov(RUS)2018©International Skating Union(ISU) 1068732742 (1)

Pavel Kulizhnikov (RUS) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 

The Men's 500m is more than a two horse race. Pavel Kulizhnikov (RUS) showed excellent form last week, winning the second 500m race and crushing the opposition in the 1000m, but Olympic Champion Håvard Lorentzen (NOR) won the season opening 500m race edging out Kulizhnikov by 0.04 seconds. Japan's Tatsuya Shinhama was only 0.13 behind in that race, while his compatriot Ryohei Haga was just 0.09 seconds behind Kulizhnikov to take silver in the second Obihiro 500m race. 

Exciting 1500m and Mass Start races

WCSS JPN Prev Brittany Bowe(USA)2018©International Skating Union(ISU) 1068722110 (1)

Brittany Bowe (USA) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Saturday's 1500m races look promising again. Brittany Bowe (USA) leads the Ladies' ranking after she kept home favorite Miho Takagi (JPN) and Olympic Champion Ireen Wüst (NED) at bay in Obihiro. Takagi came second, Russian Yekaterina Shikhova (RUS) was third and Wüst finished just off the podium, at only 0.72 seconds from the winner. There was a big gap between the first four and number five Lotte van Beek (NED) who finished 1.87 adrift.

WCSS JPN Prev Denis Yuskov(RUS)2018©International Skating Union(ISU)

Denis Yuskov (RUS) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

In the Men's 1500m Denis Yuskov (RUS) gave a masterclass in pacing. The world record holder was the only one to skate a sub 28-second final lap to leave Olympic Champion Kjeld Nuis (NED) 0.26 seconds behind. Patrick Roest (NED) claimed bronze at 0.81 seconds from Yuskov.

WCSS JPN Prev Nana Takagi(JPN)2018©International Skating Union(ISU) 1069032792

Nana Takagi (JPN) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

On Saturday the crowd will also be treated to the second 500m races and the always exhilarating Mass Start finals. In Obihiro the Ladies race ended up with Nana Takagi (JPN) on top, accompanied by Irene Schouten (NED) and Bo-Reum Kim (KOR), who swapped their third and second places from the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games, where Kim had taken silver and Schouten bronze. Schouten will be absent in Tomakomai. The Dutchwoman returned home to compete in marathon races in the Netherlands.

WCSS JPN Prev Seung Hoon Lee(KOR)2018©International Skating Union(ISU) 889103620

Seung-hoon Lee (KOR) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

The Men's Olympic Champion Seung-hoon Lee (KOR) also skates marathon races in the Netherlands and in his absence Andrea Giovannini (ITA) took his second Mass Start World Cup win in Obihiro last week. He beat Simon Schouten (NED) and Cheon-Ho Um (KOR) in the sprint. Together with sister Irene, Simon Schouten travelled back home to skate marathon races.

Sunday spectacle in short and long distances

WCSS JPN Prev Esmee Visser(NED)2018©International Skating Union(ISU) 1069096348

Esmee Visser (NED) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 

On Sunday the sprinters will take on the 1000m, after having tested themselves and each other in the 500m races on Friday and Saturday, and they will conclude the event with the Team Sprint event, but the main event on Sunday will be the Ladies' 3000m and the Men's 5000m. This season might produce the definitive changing of the guard in the endurance events. In Obihiro 22-year-old Esmee Visser, last year's surprise 5000m Olympic Champion, won the 3000m to take her first career World Cup gold ahead of Natalya Voronina (RUS) and Martina Sáblíková (CZE).

WCSS JPN Prev Patrick Roest(NED)2018©International Skating Union(ISU) 1068719240 (1)

Patrick Roest (NED) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

In the Men's 5000m last year's World Allround Champion Patrick Roest (NED) conquered the highest podium spot. His team-mate and Olympic 5000m Champion Sven Kramer (NED) decided to pull out before the race due to a back injury. He will also be absent in Tomakomai. Russia's 32-year-old veteran Aleksandr Rumyantsev (RUS) took silver and another Dutch youngster, 21-year-old Marcel Bosker, edged out Patrick Beckert (GER) for bronze in 6:18.12.

For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series please visit: isu.org/speed-skating. Results are here and you can follow the discussion on social media by using #WCSpeedSkating and #SpeedSkating.

The ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series will be available on in some countries on the ISU Skating Channel.