Erfurt / Germany

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Denis Yuskov (RUS) maintained his unbeaten 1500m World Cup record this season when he won gold in Erfurt on Friday. Sverre Lunde Pedersen (NOR) took silver and Marcel Bosker (NED) secured his first career World Cup podium with the bronze medal on his 21st birthday.

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Yuskov clocked 1 minute 45.33 seconds, just 0.01 short of Denny Morrison’s (CAN) 2009 track record. Pedersen set 1:45.76 and Bosker stopped the clock at 1:46.28.

Pedersen said he was happy not to have skated at the top of his abilities. 

“I felt like I was skating in slow motion a little,” he said. “I do not have 100 percent power and the legs were not really fast. That gives me a good feeling towards the Olympics. Being at top level now, would not be good. I have to improve towards the Olympics.”

Bosker will not skate at the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Games next month. The Dutch prodigy did not qualify, but he has different goals this season.

“I will skate the Dutch Allround championships next week and I could qualify for the World Allround Championships if I win,” he said. “That would be great.”

Already a multiple junior World Cup medalist, Bosker was happy to have captured his first senior medal as he came of age in style.

“I would not have thought I’d be on the podium here. I thought top-10 would be great, but all those faster men failed to beat my time. Maybe they are in a training block at the moment, but then again, being on the podium here feels great.”

Yuskov retains the lead in the 1500m World Cup with 400 points. Koen Verweij (NED), who finished fourth in Erfurt, is second with 312 points and Joey Mantia (USA), who was absent in Erfurt, is third with 250 points.

Full results and classifications. Follow the discussion on social media by using #WCSpeed and #SpeedSkating and watch the live stream on the ISU Skating Channel.