#SpeedSkating
The Dutch repeated last week’s clean sweep in the Men’s 1000m but the order was different at the second leg of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Stavanger. Thomas Krol (NED), who finished second in Poland, stood on top after what third-placed Kjeld Nuis labelled “the strongest event in Men’s Speed Skating at the moment". Kai Verbij took silver this time while Hein Otterspeer had to settle for eighth place after his victory last weekend.
Strongest event
The top 10 in the 1000m in Stavanger all finished within half a second after winner Krol clocked one minute and 8.66 seconds while Taiyo Nonomura (JPN), in 10th, set 1:09.16.
Thomas Krol © International Skating Union (ISU)
“This definitely is the strongest event (in Men’s International Speed Skating),” Nuis said. “It has changed over the years. Some time ago the 500m was more competitive but many more men are capable of a good 1000m nowadays.
“The real sprinters are able to keep their pace while the 1500m specialists have gained a lot of speed. So it all comes together (in the 1000m).”
Krol versus Nuis classic
When Krol and Nuis got onto the ice in the final pairing Verbij led the field with 1:08.68. The World Champion beat Ning Zhongyan (CHN), who set 1:08.83 to eventually finish fourth.
The battle between Krol and Verbij in the 1000m and the 1500m has become a classic over the years. Last week in Poland they were paired up in the 1500m and were too busy trying to beat each other to skate a good time, finishing sixth and 16th respectively.
This time Krol would not be distracted. He won the race in 1:08.66, keeping Nuis 0.02s behind.
Kai Verbij © International Skating Union (ISU)
“I know I could do so much better,” he said. “Last week’s 1500m was so bad, I could only laugh about it. That was a freak incident.”
Krol had an explanation for his poor 1500m outing.
“Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. I did not make pace, I dug into the ice, I got in trouble with Kjeld on the backstretch, it was a total disaster.
“My explanation would be that there was something wrong with my skate. I sharpened the blades the day before the race but one of the skates was a bit lop-sided in the block… I probably sharpened it a bit crooked which leads to a wrong angle with the ice.”
One day after the 1500m disaster, Krol made amends in the 1000m on Sunday. He beat Nuis but ended up second behind Otterspeer.
Dutch trials
In Krol, Nuis, Verbij and Otterspeer the Dutch have four men who could win Olympic gold in the 1000m, which makes for a thriller at their trials in December.
“It’s super exciting. It’s the four of us and maybe even more. At least one will drop out and the question is who that will be. It’s actually quite sad that one of us has to stay home because we all have a chance at the Olympics.”
Kjeld Nuis © International Skating Union (ISU)
Nuis agreed with Krol and said he’s looking forward to the Dutch trials. ”I’m not worried. I just think it’s cool that the margins are so tight. The three of us within one metre, awesome.
“Thomas and me, we’re lucky that Kai (Verbij) is too lazy to skate the 1500m too because he would be able to compete with us in that one.”
1000m Men
ISU World Cup Speed Skating Standings 1000m Men
The event entry quotas for the individual distances will be determined by the Special Olympic Qualification Classification (SOQC) based on results from the different ISU World Cup Speed Skating Competitions and the full details are available in ISU Communication 2405.
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 #SpeedSkating.
Where to Watch
Viewers will be able to watch either via their national broadcaster / channel and for countries where there are no broadcasters, the ISU will offer a live stream on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. You will find the full list in the Where to Watch news here.
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Highlights, clips, interviews, behind the scenes:
YouTube: ISU Skating
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Twitter: @ISU_Speed
Follow the conversation with #SpeedSkating.
For further information on ISU Speed Skating visit https://www.isu.org/speed-skating
ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series 2021/22:
Tomaszów Mazowiecki (POL) – Nov 12 – 14, 2021
Stavanger (NOR) - Nov 19 - Nov 21, 2021
Salt Lake City (USA) - Dec 03 - Dec 05, 2021
Calgary (CAN) – Dec 10 - Dec 12, 2021
Final – Heerenveen (NED) – Mar 12 - Mar 13, 2022
About ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series
The ISU World Cup Speed Skating is a Series of international Speed Skating competitions which takes place annually. The Series started in 1984 and usually consists of six or seven Events including the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Final. However during the Olympic season the Series consists of five Events.
Skaters can earn points at each competition, and the Skater who has the most points on a given distance at the end of the Series is the World Cup winner of that distance. The World Cup Competitions held from November to December serve as qualifying events for entry quotas at the ISU European, World Single Distances, World Sprint and World Allround Speed Skating Championships and during the Olympic season they are Olympic Qualifying Events. A number of World Cup titles are awarded every season; For Men: 500m, 1000m, 1500m, combined 5000m / 10,000m, Mass Start, Team Pursuit and Team Sprint. For Women 500m, 1000m, 1500m, the combined 3000m / 5000m, Mass Start, Team Pursuit and Team Sprint. For further information please visit isu.org/WorldCupSpeedSkating.
