Stavanger / Norway

Hein Otterspeer (NED) looked to run away with his first career 500m gold, but Håvard Holmefjord Lorentzen (NOR) edged him out by 0.02 seconds in the final pairing. The Norwegian grabbed his second career World Cup gold.

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After last weekend’s maiden World Cup victory in Heerenveen, Netherlands, Lorentzen confirmed his status as one of the big guns in the 500m on home soil in Stavanger. He finished in 34.64 seconds.

“It certainly feels better than last year. I hope I can be up there for the rest of the season,” he said.

Lorentzen did not feel any extra pressure skating in the final pairing on home ice.

“I don’t really have a lot of stress before races,” he said. “I did not feel any extra pressure either. I was in the final pairing last week too, and I’ll be in the final pairing again in today’s 1000m.”

Otterspeer had finished in 34.66s in the seventh of ten pairings. He ended up in second place, ahead of Artur Was (POL), who finished in 34.74s. 

Despite missing the gold medal by just 0.02 seconds, the 29-year-old Dutchman was satisfied with his performance,having been hampered by injuries for years.

“It’s been a long time ago that I was able to skate a 24-second lap and it feels very good to be back this season,” he said.

“I’m not the youngest anymore and I’m glad that I’m able to show this level of speed skating again.”

Russian world record holder Pavel Kulizhnikov withdrew with a groin injury on competition day. 

Full results and classifications here

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