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Groenewoud day 2

Marijke Groenewoud (NED) in the Women's 1500m at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating at Arena Lodowa, Poland © ISU

Marijke Groenewoud (NED) took her career first World Cup win when she beat favorite Miho Takagi (JPN) in the 1500m on Saturday. Ragne Wiklund (NOR) was also faster than Takagi, but the 28-year-old Japanese secured the World Cup trophy with bronze in the penultimate race of the season. The Canadian women secured their fourth consecutive World Cup trophy in the Team Pursuit, wrapping up their third consecutive perfect season with a narrow win over the Netherlands and Team USA. 

Groenewoud executes plan to perfection

“It was a good race, but not everybody was at the start here. Then again, I can’t beat the one who doesn’t start,” Groenewoud laughed.

The 24-year-old referred to Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong (NED), ranked second in the 1500m World Cup, who decided to skip the first weekend of the doubleheader in Tomaszów Mazowiecki.

Contrary to Rijpma-de Jong, World Cup leader Takagi was present in Poland and Groenewoud was paired to the World Cup leader in the draw.

The Dutchwoman had a plan and executed it to perfection.

“I expected her to start a little faster, to be trailing a bit more after 300m,” said Groenewoud, “and my plan was to be ahead at the 700m split, which I managed pretty well.”

Takagi opened in 25.85s and Groenewoud was just 0.14 behind at the 300m split. After the first full lap the Dutchwoman had built a 0.51 lead. Takagi tried to fight back with a slightly faster second full lap, but Groenewoud was almost a second faster in the final lap, finishing 1.35s ahead of Takagi in 1 minute and 56.67 seconds.

Despite securing the World Cup trophy with a 74-point lead over second-ranked Groenewoud, Takagi was not happy with her display on Saturday.

Takagi Day 2 1500

Miho Takagi (JPN) in the Women's 1500m at Arena Lodowa, Poland  © ISU

 

“That’s not my goal this season [winning the World Cup Trophy]. My goal is to win in the World Single Distance Championships [2-5 March in Heerenveen], and at the moment I’m still trying to figure out what I should do [to find the right shape].”

Looking back at her race, she was struggling to find an explanation for her disappointing performance.

“I don’t know what happened. I couldn't make speed in the first lap, already after 300m. Even before 300m my speed was going down. 

“I’m still trying to figure out why, but I have no answer yet.

“My technique - and skating ini general - is still not as good as in the first four World Cups.

“I didn’t have any races in a long time, so my body is still trying to find the good tension and the racing routine.”

Finishing second, after already having won the 3000m on Saturday, Wiklund did not have any doubts about her skating towards the World Single Distance Championships.

Wiklund Day 2

Ragne Wiklund of Norway competes in the Women's 1500m at Arena Lodowa, Poland  © ISU

 

“I’m quite happy with the race today, I finally had some speed as well,” Wiklund said, “so it’s a really good feeling. 

“I thought it was a really good time, and I knew it was going to be hard to beat, but I had the same feeling I had yesterday that it was quite similar to Stavanger [Norwegian national championships in January]. I knew that I was able to do around 1:57, but I knew also that it was going to be hard.

“I had more speed than I had earlier this season, so I think for faster tracks that is positive.”

Canada never gets bored winning the Team Pursuit

Isabelle Weidemann, Ivanie Blondin and Valérie Maltais (CAN) have been rock solid in the Team Pursuit for years. They have not trained very much on the ice together since the World Cup race last December, so the Canadian women needed to dust some rust off the engine, but their time of 3 minutes and 0.97s was enough to keep their challengers at bay. 

 

Team Canada Day 2

Team Canada compete in the Women's Team Pursuit during the ISU World Cup Speed Skating at Arena Lodowa © ISU

 

“The three of us have skated together for so long, and our strategy slightly changes here and there, but mostly stays the same,” said Blondin.

Maltais added: “The ice is difficult and we always wonder how are we going to race – what’s the best strategy? So we tried to be conservative, and build some speed smoothly. It was good enough to win, but I think when we're going full blast, our gap would be bigger, so we can learn from that.”

Despite concluding a third consecutive perfect season, the Canadians are still very much motivated for every race. 

“We're always a little bit surprised, every time we come out on top. It’s exciting, we're never bored of skating the team pursuit. It's always a challenge.”

The Netherlands (Joy Beune, Robin Groot, Elisa Dul) finished second by 0.77s and Team USA (Brittany Bowe, Mia Kilburg and Giorgia Birkeland) came in third at 3:04.01.

The Dutch ladies skated their first race in this particular line-up. 

“I think we’re a good train,” said Beune. “We adapt well to each other and we know what to do.

“We already talked about [skating in this line-up] at the World Championships, but that’s up to the national coach. We have shown what we can do, we’re close to Canada and I think we can beat them.”

Team USA also garnered confidence from taking home a medal. 

“It was a tough race today,” said Bowe, “but conditions are tough for everyone. We stuck together, we worked hard and have been working hard at it all year. So to not feel great in the race, and to still land on the podium, is definitely a win for us.”

“We've had two races under our belts as a team, and as a unit, and we've been on the podium both times,” added Kilburg. “So I'd say we have a good trajectory going into World Championships. We learn something new each time – we’re continuing to build.”

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

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 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