Ragne Wiklund heads the favourites on home ice at the ISU World Cup in Stavanger, Norway © ISU
After a spectacular start to the season in Asia, the ISU World Cup Speed Skating moves to Europe and Stavanger (NOR) from 1-3 December. The Japanese and Chinese skaters who thrived on home ice in Obihiro and Beijing, hope to continue their winning ways in Norway this weekend. The endurance specialists will look forward to Stavanger with specific interest, because it’s the only World Cup with a 10,000m for men and a 5000m for women instead of the 5000m and 3000m respectively.
Wiklund nervous about 5000m
Ragne Wiklund (NOR) won the first two 3000m race of this season’s World Cup in Obihiro and Beijing. The Norwegian 3000m World Champion is looking forward to competing on home ice in Stavanger, but the 5000m is something different. She explains:
“I’m quite nervous. I just skated one 5000m this year and that was a very tough experience outdoor in Bjugn (Norwegian Championships), when it was very cold. Then, on the other hand, the last 5000m I skated at the World Championships was a lot of fun.”
Ragne Wiklund has won both 3000m races so far this season in Beijing and Obihiro © ISU
Wiklund took silver in the 5000m World Championships in 2023, with gold going to Irene Schouten (NED). The Dutch Olympic 3000m, 5000m and Mass Start champion will not compete in the 5000m A Division in Stavanger, however. After skipping the Obihiro World Cup, Schouten had a disappointing start to the season in Beijing, finishing eighth in the 3000m and thus getting relegated to the B Division.
Wiklund’s main rivals in Stavanger include Martina Sáblíková (CZE) and Han Mei (CHN), currently ranked second and third in the long distance World Cup ranking, and Marijke Groenewoud (NED), who got promoted to the A Division after skating the fastest time of the day in the B Division 3000m in Beijing. Joy Beune (NED), the current number four in the 3000m ranking, has decided to skip the Stavanger World Cup.
Martina Sáblíková is one of Wiklund's main rivals in Stavanger this weekend © ISU
Roest expects battle versus Ghiotto
The men’s 10,000m will be an interesting battle between reigning World Champion Davide Ghiotto (ITA) and long distance World Cup leader Patrick Roest (NED).
Patrick Roest leads the long distance standings after two 5000m wins this season © ISU
Roest won the first two 5000m World Cup races convincingly, but he thinks that the dynamics between himself and Ghiotto might be different in the 10,000m.
“I want to skate a good race (in Stavanger) obviously, but it’s going to be difficult. Ghiotto shows good shape in the 5000m and the 10,000m is his better distance, so it’s going to be a battle.”
Other contenders in Stavanger are Sander Eitrem (NOR) and Jorrit Bergsma (NED). Eitrem is currently ranked third in the long distance World Cup and the Norwegian hopes to be in the mix for 10,000m gold on home soil too.
Sander Eitrem is going for gold on home ice in Stavanger © ISU
Bergsma is the big question mark at the Vår Energi Arena Sørmarka, because it will be his first international competition this season. The former Olympic 10,000m Champion and triple World 10,000m Champion did not qualify for the 5000m World Cup races at the Dutch national trials in October but did manage to seize a ticket for the 10,000m.
Jorrit Bergsma makes his season debut in the 10,000m in Stavanger © ISU
Dubreuil and Gao hope to challenge Japanese rivals
Wataru Morishige, Yuma Murakami and Tatsuya Shinhama (JPN) are first, second and third in the World Cup 500m ranking after powerful outings in Obihiro and Beijing. Having won three of the last four World Cup races this season, Morshige is the man to beat in Stavanger.
Wataru Morishige already has three 500m victories under his belt this season © ISU
Laurent Dubreuil (CAN), who has won the World Cup classification for two consecutive seasons, shook off some rust at the first two World Cups. He took his first podium spot this season with silver in the second 500m in Beijing.
“It’s the first race I've done this year where I finished and I was happy. I had a knee injury in August-September, tendinitis, and I couldn't really skate or lift weights or do much, so I really fell behind in my preparation. In October, it was fine again, but I missed a little bit of time.”
Although the knee injury was healed, he suffered from back issues in Obihiro. Taking silver in Beijing was a relief and a sign for him that he’s on the way back up.
“It's a good way to finish what was a disappointing trip so far,” he said in Beijing. “I'll be in a good mood the next World Cup.”
Laurent Dubreuil won silver at the World Cup in Beijing, China © ISU
Gao Tingyu (CHN) made his return to the international stage in Beijing after 21 months of injury setbacks. The Olympic champion won his first 500m in the B Division and came fourth in the A Division in the second race. Although he is still struggling with back problems, Gao hopes to skate a full World Cup season.
Stolz versus Nuis
In the men’s middle distances Jordan Stolz (USA) will be back on the ice after skipping the Bejing World Cup.
In absence of the World 500m, 1000m and 1500m Champion, Kjeld Nuis (NED) seized gold in both the 1000m and the 1500m. Going into the Stavanger World Cup, the Olympic 1000m Champion tops the ranking in both distances.
Jordan Stolz returns to action in Stavanger after missing the Beijing World Cup © ISU
Competitive field in women’s 500m
The women’s 500m is very competitive this season. Erin Jackson (USA) won the last two races, but Kimi Goetz (USA) and Femke Kok (NED) each won a race at the first World Cup weekend in Obihiro. Meanwhile last season’s World Cup winner Kim Min Sun (KOR) was back in the mix in Beijing, after a disappointing season start in Obihiro, as she adjusts to her new boots.
Erin Jackson is looking for her third 500m win of the season in Stavanger © ISU
Despite starting the season strong, Kok dropped to eighth in the ranking after suffering from a virus in Beijing. Missing the first 500m, she managed to come ninth in the second still struggling with the side effects of her illness.
Takagi dominates middle distances
Miho Takagi (JPN) leads both the 1000m and the 1500m rankings in the women’s competition. The Japanese Oympic 1000m Champion managed to break the six-race World Cup winning streak set by Jutta Leerdam (NED), beating her Dutch rival by 0.44 in Beijing.
Miho Tagaki ia the woman to beat in the middle distances in Stavanger © ISU
Leerdam had to settle for bronze in the Chinese capital, with Goetz taking silver. The American has won medals in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m this World Cup season already.
Stavanger program
The Stavanger World Cup will start with the 1000m and Mass Start events for both genders on Friday. The Saturday program features the 500m and 10,000m for men and the 1500m for women, and the event concludes with the 1500m for men, the 500m and the 5000m or women and the Team Sprint for both genders on Sunday.
For all information about the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series, please visit the webpage here.
World Cup Standings - Men
World Cup Standings - Women
All Media Accreditations details and deadlines for the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Series can be found here.
Where to watch
Viewers will be able to watch the World Cup sessions via their national broadcaster/channel.
For countries where there are no broadcasters, the ISU will offer a live stream with English commentary on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. You will find the full list on the Where to watch webpage here.
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ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Series events 2023/24:
Nov 10 - 12, 2023 Obihiro /JPN
Nov 17 - 19, 2023 Beijing /CHN
Dec 01 - 03, 2023 Stavanger /NOR
Dec 08 - 10, 2023 Tomaszów Mazowiecki /POL
Jan 26 - 28, 2024 Salt Lake City /USA
Feb 02 - 04, 2024 Québec /CAN
About ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series
The ISU World Cup Speed Skating is a Series of Speed Skating competitions which have taken place annually since 1984. The series comprises six events (four during an Olympic season), with A Division and B Division races. Skaters can earn points at each competition, and the Skater with the most points on a given distance at the end of the series is the World Cup winner in that distance. The four World Cup Competitions held from November to December serve as qualifying events for entry quotas at the ISU European Championships, and the ISU Four Continents Championships. The whole series of six events serves as qualifying events for the World Single Distances Championships, and/or the World Sprint and Allround Speed Skating Championships.
World Cup titles are awarded in 500m, 1000m, 1500m, combined 5000m/10,000m, and Mass Start for men, and 500m, 1000m, 1500m, the combined 3000m/5000m, and Mass Start for women. Both genders also compete for the World Cup titles in Team Pursuit and Team Sprint. New in the 2023/24 program is the Mixed Gender Relay over six laps, in which teams of one man and one woman compete.
(For full explanation of this season’s ISU World Cup (entry rules, formats, qualifying, and prizes: https://www.isu.org/speed-skating/rules/ssk-communications/31562-isu-communication-2587/file)
