UPDATE DAY
Hoping to finish his race strong, Laurent Dubreuil bet on a different strategy that did not pay the expected dividends today at the FIFA World Cup. long track speed skating contested in Tomaszow Mazowiecki in Poland.
True to form and leading after the first 200m with an opening time of 16.27s, Dubreuil reduced the pace on his lap in hopes of finishing the 1000m strong, but found himself at the final in 10th position.
“I put the switch to “off” and I was not able to put it back to “on” for the last 400 m, illustrated the author with a time of 1 min 10 s 29. I I haven't been able to regain the intensity of the start. My strategy of keeping myself juice until the end was a failure and I will not do it again for three or four years. I had a lap that was too relaxed and I did not finish stronger. »
There was a very specific reason why the Lévis skater changed his game plan. “Ice scared me,” he said. The ice is very, very, very slow and made me doubt. A slow ice like in Poland is difficult for everyone, but it is even more difficult for a skater with my profile. I always break in the 1000m, but it's even more pronounced in these circumstances. »
“As my trainer (Gregor Jelonek) told me, it will basically be my Léon next week, added Dubreuil. It will hurt more in the end. I will turn the page and learn from my mistakes. »
True to form and leading after the first 200m with an opening time of 16.27s, Dubreuil reduced the pace on his lap in hopes of finishing the 1000m in force, but ended up in 10th position in the end.
Otterspeer in very good shape
His 10th place combined with the victory of Hein Otterspeer (1 min 9 s 25) practically confirms that the Dutchman will be crowned champion in the cumulative classification. He holds a priority of 35 points over Dubreuil who nevertheless retained his second place with only one event on the calendar.
“I won't think about the title and I will postpone this objective for next year, he indicated, but I know that I am capable of doing a better race and winning a medal like I did in twice since the beginning of the year. »
The American Jordan Stoltz, who destroyed everything during the world juniors this weekend and the Dutchman Thomas Krol, who wanted to take a break, did not take the start.
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Gélinas-Beaulieu near the podium
Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu continues to surprise himself in the 1000m. After his first career individual medal at the first World Cup in Calgary in December, he finished 4th today, just 0.06s behind bronze medalist and local favorite Damian Zurek.
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“We are back from a bike camp in Spain and I had no expectations given that my last 1000m was in December, explained the author of a time of 1 min 9 s 91. I just wanted to work on my technique. I managed a big race and I am very satisfied. My performance shows that I have the potential to win a World Championship medal. »
With his performance, Gélinas-Beaulieu gained three places in the general classification and climbed to 4th position just two points behind the Japanese Ryota Kojima. Will he want to finish on the overall podium at the last World Cup next weekend?
“I have a winning formula by not putting pressure on myself since the start of the season and I'm going to keep it,” he said. My plan B was helpful. Given the absence of a few top skaters, I knew I could climb the standings if I had a good race. »
Ivanie Blondin medal
Ivanie Blondin won the mass start silver. “We spoke before the race and it paid off for Ivanie,” explained Valérie Maltais, who finished in 11th place. I had a good race too, even if I'm not happy with the result. A very dangerous sprint from the Italian, who was not disqualified to my surprise, cost me a few places. »