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Jorien ter Mors (NED) was happy to be back at the top of the podium when she won the ladies 1000m in Erfurt on Friday. Marrit Leenstra (NED) took silver and Yekaterina Shikova (RUS) grabbed bronze.
In the seventh of 10 pairs Ter Mors was the first to skate under one minute and 16 seconds, when she stopped the clock at 1:15.20.
Ireen Wüst (NED) had set 1:16.22 in the fifth pair. She had hopes of a medal until the final race, when Shikhova finished in 1:15.91. Leenstra had set 1:15.55 in the penultimate pair.
Ter Mors, who has been plagued by injuries this season, failed to qualify for the Olympic 1500m at the Dutch trials in December. She therefore will not be able to defend her Sochi 1500m title, but she will be present for the 1000m in PyeongChang.
“I don’t have to think about the 1500m anymore, because I will not skate that distance at the Olympics anyway. I focus on the 1000m and that distance is going well. I still want to improve bits and pieces to be at the top of my game in Korea,” Ter Mors said.
“This was a good race. The start was all right, the only slight mistake I made was to put my hand on my back at the cross-over. I shouldn’t have done that, it put me off rhythm for a second. But otherwise this was just a good and solid race.
“Physically, I’m all right at the moment. My back still bothers me, but that’s something I’m able to deal with.”
Nao Kodaira (JPN), who was absent in Erfurt, still leads the ladies 1000m World Cup with 305 points. Leenstra climbed to second place with 270 points. Shikhova also has 270 points in third place.
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