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Jordan Stolz (USA) performs during the 2023 ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating in Inzell, Germany. © ISU
Coming off the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Inzell (GER), Jordan Stolz (USA) returns to the senior ISU World Cup Series in Tomaszów Mazowiecki (POL) with a suitcase full of silverware. In the Women’s tournament Jutta Leerdam (NED) is back to give Miho Takagi (JPN) a run for her money in the 1000m World Cup ranking.
Jutta Leerdam (NED) competing on the Women's 1500m during the 2023 Dutch Single Distances Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. © BSR/Getty Images
Howe (CAN) in pole position for 1500m Trophy
Stolz was second in the 1500m World Cup ranking, fourth in the 1000m and fifth in the 500m, before he left for Inzell last weekend. He still is a contender for the 1500m World Cup, but Connor Howe (CAN) is in pole position. Last week the 22-year-old Canadian retained his first place in the ranking with a fourth place behind Kjeld Nuis (NED), Peder Kongshaug (NOR) and Patrick Roest (NED).
Connor Howe (CAN) reacts in the Men's 1500m during the 2023 ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland. © ISU
Only five points behind Howe in second place, Nuis is Howe’s main challenger. Third ranked Roest decided to skip the last World Cup. Sitting in sixth place, Stolz is 51 points behind, with 60 available for first place on Friday. Even if Stolz wins, both Nuis and Howe need to have a DNF for the American to take home the Trophy.
Dubreuil wants to be the best again
In the 500m and the 1000m, Stolz doesn’t even have a theoretical chance left to win the Trophy. Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) leads the 500m ranking and hopes to win his second consecutive Trophy in the shortest distance, an important prize for the 30-year-old Canadian. After coming second behind Wataru Morishige (JPN) last week he said: “If you win the World Championships, but you don’t win anything during the year, you can’t really call yourself the best skater in the world right? The best skaters in the world win on a regular basis.”
Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) competes in the Men's 1000m during the 2023 ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland. © ISU
Dubreuil won two 500m races this season, and was on the podium in all five previous World Cup events. His biggest rival for the Trophy is his good friend Yuma Murakami (JPN), who is second at 42 points with just one race to go.
In the 1000m, Dubreuil comes second in the ranking at 35 points from Hein Otterspeer (NED), who hopes to bag his career’s first World Cup Trophy at age 34.
Ghiotto (ITA) gears up for long distance trophy
Davide Ghiotto (ITA) seems to be dealt the best hand to take the long distance World Cup. After beating Patrick Roest in the 5000m last week, the Italian is trailing the Dutch leader in the ranking by 26 points, but Roest doesn’t compete in the final event because he wants to prepare for the ISU World Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen (NED) (March 2-5, 2023).
Patrick Roest (NED) and Davide Ghiotto (ITA) look on after competing in the Men's 5000m during the 2023 ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland.© ISU
Leerdam (NED) taking on Takagi
In the Women’s competition, the 1000m World Cup is the only real battleground left apart from the mass start. With a 59 point lead over Vanessa Herzog (AUT) in the 500m ranking, Kim Min Sun (KOR) is as good as certain of taking home the Trophy, while Miho Takagi and Ragne Wiklund (NOR) already secured the 1500m and long distance Trophies last week.
Min-Sun Kim (KOR) competes in the Women's 500m during the 2023 ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland.© ISU
Takagi did not manage to win the 1500m race last week, but came second behind Marijke Groenewoud (NED). She also did not manage to win the 1000m, but still passed Jutta Leerdam on top of the ranking, thanks to a second place behind Kimi Goetz (USA).
Leerdam, who won the first four 1000m races of the World Cup season, was absent last week, but she will be up for the battle with Takagi in the final World Cup this weekend. The Dutchwoman needs to make up 13 points on the Olympic Champion to take home the Trophy.
Swings up for fifth mass start Trophy
In the mass start, Bart Swings (BEL) is en route to win his fourth consecutive World Cup Trophy and his fifth in total. After last week’s win over Andrea Giovannini (ITA) and Livio Wenger (SUI) in the final bunch sprint, he defends a 20-point lead over the Italian and a 55-point lead over his Swiss rival. With points being awarded both in the semi-finals and the final, a lot can happen on the final this Sunday still.
Bart Swings (BEL) reacts in the Men's Mass Start final during the 2023 ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland.© ISU
With leader Marijke Groenewoud (NED) and third ranked Irene Schouten (NED) absent, second ranked Ivanie Blondin (CAN) is in pole position to win her career’s third World Cup Trophy in the mass start.
Program
The second of two back-to-back Tomaszów Mazowiecki World Cups events starts with the 1500m and the Team Sprint for Men, and the 500m and 3000m for Women on Friday. On Saturday, the Women will skate the 1500m and the Team Sprint, 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 Short Track 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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