Kjeld Nuis (NED) competes in the Men's 1500m during the 2022 ISU World Cup Speed Skating Final in Heerenveen, Netherlands.@ ISU
The second World Cup in Heerenveen (NED) will feature the comeback of Kjeld Nuis (NED), who got a wildcard after missing out on qualification due to injury at the Dutch trials in October. The Olympic 1500m Champion will face an interesting battle with Jordan Stolz (USA). In Nuis’ absence, the 18-year-old Wisconsin prodigy dominated the Men’s 1000m and 1500m at the first World Cup in Stavanger (NOR) last week.
Jordan Stolz (USA) competes in the 1000m Men Division A, during the 2022 ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Stavanger, Norway.@ ISU
But past results don’t guarantee future performance, as Olympic Champions Miho Takagi (JPN) and Irene Schouten (NED) found out in Norway. They’ll hope to bounce back at the Thialf Stadium in Heerenveen.
New kid on the block
The Men’s middle distances used to be a two-horse race between Nuis (NED) and compatriot Thomas Krol (NED) over the past couple of seasons. At the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Krol took the 1000m gold and Nuis retained his 1500m title.
In Stavanger (NOR), Jordan Stolz (USA) made clear that the Dutch dominance in the middle distances is far from evident this season. The new kid on the block skated a track record in the 1500m, and won the 1000m with an 0.49s lead over runner-up Laurent Dubreuil (CAN). He didn’t want to consider it a breakthrough though: “I know that everybody is not [doing] their best performance now. Once we’re at the end of the season and I’m still winning, you could say it’s a breakthrough.”
To challenge Stolz in Heerenveen, the other skaters have to get back into a better shape quick. In Stavanger, Krol did not even come close, finishing 16th in the 1500m and fifth in the 1000m. The Olympic 1000m Champion is struggling to find his rhythm on the ice.
Thomas Krol (NED) competes in the 1000m Men Division A, during the 2022 ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Stavanger, Norway.@ ISU
His arch rival Nuis suffered a groin injury just before the start of the Dutch trials and missed out on Stavanger.
The Men’s 1000m is scheduled for Friday night and the 1500m is on Sunday.
No Olympic guarantees
Like Krol and Nuis, Miho Takagi (JPN) also found out that an Olympic title doesn’t give you any guarantees for next season. The Japanese Olympic 1000m Champion was beaten by silver medalist Jutta Leerdam (NED) in Stavanger, after an awkward moment on the final backstretch.
Jutta Leerdam (NED) during the medal ceremony after competing in the Men's 1000m during the 2022 Speedskating World Cup 1 in Stavanger, Norway. @ Getty Images
Leerdam is the most powerful skater in the Women’s 1000m, but Takagi usually has a faster last lap. In Norway, the two skated in the same pairing, and Leerdam took full advantage of her fast start. The Dutchwoman was so far ahead, that she could cross in front of her Japanese opponent on the final backstretch. Takagi had to hold back and the Japanese was convinced that it had cost her the win. In Heerenveen, Takagi will be eager to show what she can do without such a hiccup.
Min-Sun Kim of Korea competing in the Women's 1000m during the Speedskating World Cup 1 on November 13, 2022 in Stavanger, Norway. @ Getty Images
Takagi eventually finished third in Stavanger on Sunday, because Min Sun Kim (KOR) managed to take silver. The Korean sprinter had also won her first individual World Cup gold in the 500m on Friday, and she’ll definitely challenge Leerdam and Takagi again in Thialf.
The 1000m is scheduled on Friday in Thialf and the Women will take on the 500m on Sunday.
Schouten hopes for tight race at Thialf
Irene Schouten (NED) was yet another Olympic Champion struggling to find back her winning ways in Stavanger. The queen of the Beijing Olympic Oval, with gold in the 3000m, the 5000m and the Mass Start, had to bow her head for Ragne Wiklund (NOR) in the 3000m and for Ivanie Blondin (CAN) in the Mass Start.
“I just had a very bad race and she [Wiklund] a very good one,” Schouten commented. “Of course, I don’t come here to finish second, but she is a beautiful skater and a good skater, so if I’ve got to lose, then it’s good to lose against her. I hope she’ll be good again next week, and if I’m back to normal it’s going to be a tight race.”
Irene Schouten (NED) competing during the 2022 Speedskating World Cup 1 in Stavanger, Norway. @ Getty Images
In Heerenveen the Women’s 3000m is scheduled for Sunday. Schouten will therefore start the second World Cup weekend with the Mass Start on Friday. In Stavanger, the Dutch had a different tactics than they used to have last year, when Marijke Groenewoud (NED) mostly lead-out the final sprint for Schouten. The Olympic Champion explained: “We had planned for me to attack at some point during the race, but I did not really find the right moment. In hindsight there was a moment that I hesitated and I can blame myself for not taking the opportunity.”
Marijke Groenewoud (NED) and Irene Schouten (NED) competing on the mass start during the 2022 Speedskating World Cup 1 in Stavanger, Norway @ Getty Images
In the final lap Schouten tried to position Groenewoud for the Sprint, but Olympic silver medalist Blondin left the two Dutchwomen behind with a sharp and fast final inner corner. It will be interesting to see what race plan Schouten en Groenewoud will come up with on home soil, provided that the two of them manage to qualify for the final.
Bergsma back on the ice
Race tactics will be interesting in the Men’s Mass Start on Friday too. Felix Rijhnen (GER) took his career first World Cup gold in Stavanger, carrying an early breakaway with Gabriel Odor (AUT) all the way to the finish line. However, the 32-year-old German knows that this daring race plan doesn’t work too often: “This [an early escape] works maybe once a year”, he said. “The pack will not let me go that easy the next time.”
Felix Rijhnen (GER) competing in the mass start during the 2022 Speedskating World Cup 1 in Stavanger, Norway @ Getty Images
Another reason why an early escape may have less chance in Heerenveen is the return of Jorrit Bergsma (NED). The Dutch veteran skipped the Stavanger World Cup due to injury, but will be back in Thialf, Joining Bart Hoolwerf (NED).
Jorrit Bergsma (NED) competing on the Men's 5000m during the 2022 Speedskating World Cup Qualification in Heerenveen, Netherlands. @ Getty Images
Hoolwerf teamed up with Louis Hollaar (NED), who also skated the 1000m on the same day in the Sørmarka Arena. “We had two sprinters in the final,” Hoolwerf said. “Right from the start, two men jumped away, then you have to react swiftly because if you don’t, you have to chase for a long time. We [Hoolwerf and team-mate Louis Hollaar] were the only team with two men in the final, so everybody is looking at us. Louis did what he could, but after also having skated the 1000m today, he had emptied the tank already.”
Bergsma is not the sprinter-type skater, handing the Dutch more tactical opportunities on home soil, but both men will have to make it to the final first.
Olympic Champion Bart Swings (BEL) will look out for revenge after Stavanger, where he lost the consolation sprint for bronze against Hoolwerf.
Dutch rivalry with Norwegian challenge
After Friday’s Mass Start, Bergsma will also look out for Saturday’s 5000m, where he will take on Patrick Roest (NED), who seized his tenth long distance World Cup win in the 5000m last week. Bergsma switched from coach Jillert Anema (NED) to coach Jac Orie (NED) last summer, whereas Roest left Orie to join coach Gerard van Velde (NED).
Apart from this Dutch rivalry, it will be interesting to see what Sander Eitrem is capable of in the A Division. The 20-year-old Norwegian prodigy won last week’s B Division with a faster time than Roest set in the A Division.
Sander Eitrem (NOR) completes in the 5000m Men Division B, during Day 2 of the 2022 ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Stavanger, Norway. @ ISU
Friendly sprint battle
In the Men’s 500m, which is scheduled for Saturday, it will be interesting to see if last year’s World Cup Trophy winner Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) can beat his friend Yuma Murakami. The Japanese sprinter travelled to Quebec last summer to train with his Canadian rival for seven weeks, which worked out well for both, because Murakami won the 500m in Stavanger, with Dubreuil coming second.
Yuma Murakami (JPN) competes in the 500m Men Division A, during the 2022 ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Stavanger, Norway. @ ISU
Jun-Ho Kim (KOR) was third in Stavanger and will be one of the contenders in Heerenveen too. Coming sixth Jarno Botman (NED) surprised as the best ranked Dutch sprinter in Norway. Merijn Scheperkamp and Dai Dai Ntab, who were ninth and tenth last week, hope to bounce back on home soil.
Program
The Heerenveen World Cup starts with the 1000m and the Mass Start for both genders on Friday. On Saturday the wWmen will skate the 1500m and the Team Sprint, while the Men take on the 500m and the 5000m, and the Sunday schedule features the 1500m and the Team Sprint for Men and the 500m and the 3000m for Women.
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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