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Miho Takagi (JPN) competes during the 2022 ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Calgary, Alberta. @ISU
The fifth and sixth leg of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Tomaszów Mazowiecki (POL) are the last two stops for the international Speed Skating elite, before the World Championships (2-5 March, 2023) in Heerenveen (NED). The Polish doubleheader provides Miho Takagi with the opportunity to go on top of Japan’s best all-time World Cup medal table in Speed Skating.
Takagi‘s possible milestone
Miho Takagi (JPN) collected 35 career World Cup wins so far, adding 22 silver medals and 9 bronzes. Only the recently retired Nao Kodaira won more World Cup races (37G, 21S, 26B). If Takagi wins both the 1000m and the 1500m this weekend, she will equal Kodaira’s wins and pass her on the list with one more silver medal.
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Miho Takagi (JPN) reacts after the 1000 meters during the 2022 Speed Skating World Cup Final in Heerenveen, Netherlands. @Getty Images
Looking at the field, Miho Takagi is favorite for both distances. The Japanese ace leads the 1500m ranking and sits second in the 1000m ranking, and her main rivals in both distances are absent. Both Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong (NED), second in the 1500m ranking, and Jutta Leerdam (NED), leader in the 1000m World Cup, decided to skip the first weekend in Poland.
Deep field in Men’s 1500m
The first weekend at the Arena Lodowa starts with the Men’s 1500m. Connor Howe (CAN) leads the World Cup ranking ahead of Jordan Stolz (USA), who is absent in Poland because he’ll compete for the ISU World Junior Championships title in Inzell, Germany, this weekend.
Connor Howe (CAN) competing during the 2022 ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Calgary, Canada. @Getty Images
In absence of the American, Howe still faces tough competition from a large Dutch contingent, China’s Ning Zhongyan (CHN) and Norwegian youngster Sander Eitrem (NOR), who managed to beat Patrick Roest (NED) in the 1500m at the European Championships in Hamar last month.
Sander Eitrem (NOR) and Patrick Roest (NED) after competing in the Men's 10000m during the 2023 ISU European Allround Speed Skating Championships in Hamar, Norway. @Getty Images
Roest himself surprisingly beat Olympic Champion Kjeld Nuis (NED) to win the 1500m at the Dutch national single distance championships last week. Behind Roest and Nuis, Wesly Dijs (NED), who won the third World Cup race this season, is another contender, while Thomas Krol (NED) decided not to skate at the first weekend in Tomaszów Mazowiecki.
Schouten leaves it to Wiklund and Weidemann
In the Women’s long distances, World Cup leader Ragne Wiklund (NOR) will not face competition from second ranked Irene Schouten (NED), who decided to take some rest in preparation of the World Championships.
Ragne Wiklund (NOR) competes during the 2023 ISU European Speed Skating Championships in Hamar, Norway. @ISU
Third ranked Isabelle Weidemann (CAN) will probably be Wiklund’s main rival when the women take on the 3000m on Friday night.
Patrick Roest (NED) is the Men’s long distance World Cup leader. The Dutchman showed excellent form at the national championships in the Netherlands last week. Roest won all 5000m World Cup races this season, but had to bow his head for Davide Ghiotto (ITA) in the 10,000m at the second Calgary World Cup in December.
Davide Ghiotto (ITA) reacts after competing on the Men's A Group 10000m during the 2022 ISU Speed Skating World Cup 4 in Calgary, Canada @Getty Images
Ted-Jan Bloemen (CAN), who skipped the first two World Cups and got a disqualification after a false start in the 5000m at the first Calgary World Cup in December, will be eager to show what he’s got in the 5000m, especially because he has a fight on his hand to secure a third starting slot in the 5000m for Canada at the World Championships.
Qualification battle in Mass Start
In the Mass Start events for both genders, there will be a tough battle to grab starting slots for the World Championships too. Louis Hollaar (NED) has to secure a second ticket for the Netherlands, while Shen Hanyang and Sun Chuanyi (CHN) are chasing two starting slots for China.
Hanyang Shen (CHN) competes during the 2022 ISU Four Continents Speed Skating Championships in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. @ISU
World Cup leader and Olympic Champion Bart Swings (BEL) will probably head for the World Championships on his own, but his compatriot Daan Van Der Elst also skates the Mass Start event in Tomaszów Mazowiecki this Sunday.
In absence of Irene Schouten (NED) her teammate Marijke Groenewoud is favorite in the Women’s Mass Start. Among others, Ainoa Carreño (ESP), Abigél Mercs (HUN) and Eva Lagrange (SWE) are fighting for a ticket to the World Championships.
Eva Lagrange (SWE) competes in the Women's Allround 1500m during the 2023 ISU European Speed Skating Championships in Hamar, Norway. @ISU
Canada and USA favorite for Team Pursuit rankings
The Team Pursuit World Cup ranking will be decided with the third and last race in the penultimate weekend. In the Women’s competition Canada leads the ranking after winning the first two races, and in the Men’s competition the United States are in pole position, also having won twice.
Program
The first of two back-to-back Tomaszów Mazowiecki World Cups starts with the 1500m and the Team Pursuit for Men, and the 500m and 3000m for Women on Friday. On Saturday the Women will skate the 1500m and the Team Pursuit, while the Men take on the 500m and the 5000m, and the Sunday schedule features the 1000m and Mass Start for both genders.
For all information about the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series, please visit the webpage here.
World Cup Standings - Men
World Cup Standings - Women
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 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
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