Davide Ghiotto (ITA) in the Men's 5000m in the ISU World Cup Speed Skating at Arena Lodowa, Poland © ISU
Davide Ghiotto (ITA) beat Patrick Roest (NED) to win his career first in the 5000m on Saturday. The Italian endurance specialist had already won the 10,000m World Cup race in Calgary earlier this season, but World Cup leader Roest had not lost a World Cup 5000m race so far this season.
Earlier on Wataru Morishige (JPN) won the 500m, ahead of World Cup leader Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) and second-ranked Yuma Murakami (JPN).Groenewoud executes plan to perfection
Ghiotto learned to skate the 5000m
Davide Ghiotto never really considered himself in the mix for gold in the 5000m. After winning the 10,000m World Cup race in Calgary last December, he said:
“The 5000m is not my best race. I need to improve my technique and speed. The 10,000m is my better distance, because I can skate hard in the corners and relax on the straights.”
After Calgary, he had worked on his speed, and in Tomaszów Mazowiecki it clearly paid off. The 29-year-old Italian got Roest as pairmate, and left the World Cup leader trailing from the start, finishing 0.82s ahead in 6 minutes and 17.45s.
“I tried to stay with Patrick [Roest] from the first lap,” said Ghiotto, “and I tried to attack him in the middle of the race and stay in 30.0 in the last lap.
“It’s a great result for me going towards the World Championships in Thialf [2-5 March], because in the 5000m you need to skate very fast from the beginning and I prefer to start slowly for the 10,000m.
“One or two months ago, I tried to skate the 5000m in relax mode and I think that’s been good for my results.
“I try to start a little bit faster. I look at the times that are skated in the pairs before me, and try to stay under their split times. Today when I looked at the split times on the scoreboard, I thought OK, maybe it’s my day and I can try to win.”
Roest made a big effort to catch up with Ghiotto in the final laps, but couldn’t make up enough lost ground to win the race. He had no regrets, however.
Patrick Roest (NED), left, and Davide Ghiotto (ITA) post competition in the Men's 5000m © ISU
“Of course I’d rather have won, but I knew Ghiotto was strong,” said Roest. “He’s already beaten me in the 10,000m this season, and for me, this was the best I could do today.
“I skated three distances flat-out at the Dutch national Championships last week, and yesterday a 1500m and a Team Pursuit. I wanted to give it my all today, but with the fatigue in my body I just lacked sharpness.
“Tomorrow I’ll go home, rest and prepare for the World Single Distance Championships.”
Sander Eitrem (NOR) finished third in 6:18.45. The Norwegian youngster made up for messing up his 1500m due to a broken blade in training this week. Adapting to his new blade was difficult. Eitrem ended up 15th in the 1500m, but managed to regroup in the Team Pursuit, which he won together with Peder Kongshaug and
Sverre Lunde Pedersen (NOR).
Eitrem said: “The 1500m felt terrible, but in the Team Pursuit I got used to the new blades, but for today I changed the rocker and the bend and that was a lot better.”
Morishige (JPN) makes the difference in the full lap
Wataru Morishige surprised World Cup leader Laurent Dubreuil and second-ranked Yuma Murakami in the 500m on Saturday. After a mediocre opener in 9.71, the Japanese sprinter skated the fastest full lap of the field in 25.06s, to stop the clock at 34.78s. Dubreuil came second in 34.87 and Murakami third in 35.03.
“This win gives me a good feeling, and it gives me a lot of confidence towards the World Championships,” Morishige said.
Wataru Morishige of Japan in the Men's 500m ISU World Cup Speed Skating © ISU
Dubreuil was quite surprised about how the race had unfolded.
“I opened faster than him [Morishige] and his lap was better than mine, while usually I expect to have the fastest lap of the field,” said Dubreuil. “I think it is because I tried too hard, and I didn't allow myself to just skate, which meant I kind of missed my lap a bit.”
Yuma Murakami (JPN), top, competes against Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) in the Men's 500m © ISU
The Canadian had been paired to friend and rival Murakami, who commented:
“I’m always happy with the pair against Laurent [Dubreuil]. Me in the inner and him in the outer lane is a good situation. I always open faster and then he has a draft on the backstretch.
“But today my opener was not so good and Laurent was also not so good in the lap.”
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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