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 #SpeedSkating

ROESTMENS

Patrick Roest (NED) takes gold in the Men's 5000m during the Speedskating World Cup (NED) @ ISU

Challenged by three Norwegian youngsters, Patrick Roest (NED) dug deep and found his best self in the 5000m at the ISU World Cup in Heerenveen on Saturday. The Olympic silver medalist shaved almost a second off his own 2021 track record, finishing in 6 minutes and 4.36s. Sander Eitrem and Hallgeir Engebråten (NOR) came second and third, while their compatriot Sigurd Henriksen set a new junior world record in 6:17.67. Earlier on Saturday, Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) took revenge for a failed 1000m on Friday, winning the 500m in a convincing time of 34.34s.   

Redemption for Dubreuil

Dubreuil skated the final pairing against Yuma Murakami (JPN). “That's always special,” the Canadian said. The Japanese sprinter trained with Dubreuil in Quebec last summer. 

“Most of the guys in the circuit are my friends but, of course, having him come over for seven weeks, he's a special friend.”

Last week Murakami won the first 500m, ahead of silver medalist Dubreuil at the first World Cup in Stavanger.

“It was special to be on the podium last week with him, and it was special to skate against him today,” said Murakami.

The faster track in Heerenveen suited Dubreuil better than Murakami, who struggled with the final inner corner in Thialf. 

Dubreiul

Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) in action in the 500m during the second ISU long track World Cup in Thialf (NED) @ ISU

“Last week, I made a few mistakes and today, I didn't make any major mistakes. It was a much better race,”said Dubreuil.

The gold medal felt like redemption today, after he got hampered when pair-mate Jordan Stolz (USA) crashed in front of him in the 1000m on Friday.

“I was disappointed because I had a really good start,” said Dubreuil. “I felt like I could have won a medal yesterday, and it's really frustrating. Today was like revenge, not on Jordan. It's not his fault, sh** happens, but I wanted to go back home with an individual medal here. 

“Yesterday really brought the fire out for me today.”

After his struggles in the final corner, Murakami had to settle for fifth place in Heerenveen. His compatriot Wataru Morishige (JPN) took silver in 34.45s. 

Merijn Scheperkamp (NED) seized his career first World Cup podium with bronze in 34.69s. The 22-year-old Dutchman was inspired by teammate Joep Wennemars (NED), who took his first World Cup medal in the 1000m on Friday. 

“To see him on the podium yesterday, that triggered me,” said Scheperkamp. “I want to be able to compete with the world’s best. That’s what I train for every day.

“The gap [with winner Dubreuil] is still pretty big, but 34.6 is a pretty solid race. [A silver medal] is a success, but I do not consider it winning yet.”

 

Dutch CAMP

Merijn Scheperkamp (NED) competes in the Men's 500m in the World Cup at Thialf (NED) @ ISU

Raising the level with records in long distances

Whereas Dubreuil was triggered by yesterday’s bad luck, Roest was inspired by 20-year-old Sander Eitrem, setting a personal best of 6 minutes and 8.24s in the fourth of seven pairings in the 5000m.

“When I saw Eitrem’s time… I haven’t been faster very often myself. [Beforehand] I actually thought that 6:10 would have been enough to win today,” Roest said. 

“When I saw 6:08, I knew it was going to be a tough one, so I started fast. If he [Eitrem] hadn’t skated so fast, I would not have skated 6:04 today.”

Roest was happy to see a new generation of Norwegian youngsters rising up to the challenge. 

“It makes me nervous, but in the end it only raises the level.”

Engebråten skated versus Roest and managed to keep up well with the Dutchmen, finishing third in 6:09.44. 

He explained the rise of the Norwegian youngsters: 

“Sander and me were in the same club in Hamar. We skated together since we were 13 years old.

“We have a good training method for young kids now. We're in the same age with many of us, so that's pretty good. We're all hungry. It's getting faster and faster, that's the recipe to have a good team.”

A little younger than Eitrem and Engebråten, Sigurd Henriksen (NOR) joins the new Norwegian generation. He broke the world junior record set by Håvard Bøkko (NOR) in 2005.

“He and Sven Kramer (NED) were my idols when I grew up, and he’s had the record for such a long time. It was really a goal for me.”

 

Program

The Heerenveen World Cup starts with the 1000m and the Mass Start for both genders on Friday. On Saturday the wWmen will skate the 1500m and the Team Sprint, while the Men take on the 500m and the 5000m, and the Sunday schedule features the 1500m and the Team Sprint for Men and the 500m and the 3000m for Women.

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