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 #SpeedSkating

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Jutta Leerdam goes one better than her Olympic silver in the 1000m. @ ISU

Olympic silver beat Olympic gold twice in Sunday’s women’s races at the start of a new World Cup season in Stavanger (NOR). Jutta Leerdam (NED) left Miho Takagi (JPN) behind in the 1000m, while Ivanie Blondin (CAN) kept Irene Schouten (NED) at bay in the Mass Start to conclude a spectacular first World Cup weekend. 

Leerdam banks on fast start to turn silver into gold

Having already won the 1500m on Saturday, Takagi faced Leerdam in the penultimate pairing of the 1000m on Sunday. The Dutch sprinter went out fast, leaving her Japanese rival chasing from the start. Takagi did manage to come closer, but had to concede when the pair got onto the final backstretch.

Coming from the outer lane ahead of Takagi, Leerdam had priority on the crossing and Takagi had to get up to avoid a collision. Leerdam went on to finish in 1 minute, 15.60 seconds, and Takagi crossed the line 0.80 seconds later to take bronze. Min Sun Kim (KOR) had already set 1:15.82 in the seventh pair, seizing silver having won the 500m on Friday.

Olympic revenge wasn’t on Leerdam’s mind at first, though.

“I did not feel like that beforehand,” she said. “I thought I’m just going to skate well for myself, but in hindsight I thought, this is actually quite nice.

“I had not expected [crossing on the final backstretch] was going to be that difficult, but it’s only for the better. At a certain point I felt that she was not going to be able to cross ahead of me, so I could close her off by crossing in front. It’s Olympic silver versus gold and I manage to cross in ahead, that’s a great feeling.”

Takagi was disappointed and considered the unlucky crossing to have been decisive:

“I would have won otherwise.”

Blondin sharpest in the corners

The women’s Mass Start had a similar role reversal compared to last season’s Olympic Games, with Beijing 2022 silver medalist Blondin taking gold in Stavanger and Olympic champion Schouten settling for bronze. Marijke Groenewoud (NED) got between them to grab silver.

Heading into the final corner, Schouten tried to position Groenewoud for the sprint, with Blondin patiently sitting at the back of the two Dutchwomen.

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Staying power: Ivanie Blondin (CAN) finally wins gold in her fourth event of the weekend. @ ISU

“We had planned for me to attack at some point during the race, but I did not really find the right moment. In hindsight there was a moment that I hesitated and I can blame myself for not taking the opportunity.

“But then in the final I did everything according to plan, I was going to lead out.”

When Schouten left the floor to Groenewoud, Blondin managed to pass both Dutchwomen on the inside.

The Canadian said: “It was just a perfect setup, going around Schouten and then following. I was very patient as my coach [Bart Schouten, NED] was telling me.

“The tighter turns are a little bit to my advantage too. I'm training with the boys now too, at a higher speed, so going into the turns at higher speeds,

“I'm a little bit more comfortable [In tight corners] this year. I was already very comfortable in the past, but always doing overspeed – we have been training with the speed cable on the inside line in Calgary too – is a huge advantage for me.”

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Fans in Stavanger are treated to a spectacular first World Cup weekend of the season. @ ISU

Despite her confidence in the corners, Blondin was surprised to come out on top in Stavanger, having already skated the 3000m on Friday, the 1500m and the Team Pursuit on Saturday, and the Mass Start semi-finals and 1000m on Saturday.

She said: “It was so much racing this weekend. There wasn't a lot of time to prepare [after the 1000m], but once I got into that [Mass Start] race… halfway through I thought: I don't know about the final sprint.

“But then the last four laps, I actually started to feel really good like the lactic acid was clearing out of my legs.”

The women’s Mass Start race concluded competition at the first of six World Cup events this season. The series resumes in Heerenveen (NED) next week.

For all information about the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series, please visit the webpage here.

 

World Cup Standings - Men

Men 500m

Men 1000m

Men 1500m

Long Distances

Mass Start

Team Pursuit

World Cup Standings - Women

Women 500m

Women 1000m

Women 1500m

Long Distances

Mass Start

Team Pursuit

 

Where to watch

Viewers will be able to watch the World Cup sessions (local time) via their national broadcaster/channel.

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 on the Where to watch webpage here.

 

ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Series events 2022/23:

Nov 11 - 13, 2022                     Stavanger /NOR 

Nov 18 - 20, 2022                     Heerenveen/ NED

Dec 09 - 11, 2022                     Calgary /CAN

Dec 16 - 18, 2022                     Calgary /CAN

Feb 10 - 12, 2023                      Tomaszów Mazowiecki /POL

Feb 17 - 19, 2023                      World Cup Final - Tomaszów Mazowiecki /POL 

 

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 1985 and usually consists of six or seven events including the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Final. The events take place across North America, Europe and Asia.

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 particular distance.

The results from the World Cup competitions in the first part of the season are the main qualifying method for the ISU Speed Skating Championships and also for the Olympic Winter Games.

A number of World Cup titles are awarded every season, for Men: 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, combined 5000 m / 10000 m, Team Pursuit, Mass Start and Team Sprint. For Women 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, the combined 3000 m / 5000 m,  Team Pursuit, Mass Start and Team Sprint. For further information please visit isu.org.