Ted-Jan Bloemen (CAN) became the first Canadian to win a World Cup race in Quebec City, wrapping up the 5000m in a track record time of 6:13.87 against Davide Ghiotto (ITA). The Italian took silver to secure the World Cup Trophy, redeeming himself after missing out on the trophy after a disqualification last year. Jordan Stolz (USA) struck gold again in the 1000m, beating Ning Zhongyan (CHN) in a face-to-face battle. Finishing third, Ning held on to first position in the World Cup classification to take home the season’s trophy.
Ted-Jan Bloemen set a track record while winning gold at the ISU World Cup in Quebec, Canada © ISU
Gold for Bloemen, trophy for Ghiotto
Facing Ghiotto in the penultimate paring, Bloemen got the draw he wanted for the final long distance World Cup race of the season.
“I’ve been waiting to race against Ghiotto or Roest the whole year to see where I stand. Ghiotto is a formidable opponent. You know he’ll always start fast with the lap times gradually going up, but he holds on to it really well. The race panned out perfectly for me today. I thought: if I keep him a little in front in the beginning, I can take advantage (of the draft) a few times at the backstretch, and then I’ll attack halfway through the race. It went so well. I had so much energy in the second half of the race, the momentum just kept coming.”
Bloemen passed Ghiotto at the 2800m split and went on to break his own 2022 track record by more than two seconds. He also became the first Canadian in the history of speed skating to win a World Cup race in Quebec City. The first and only World Cup event in Quebec City was 32 years ago, with Bart Veldkamp (NED) and Johann Olav Koss (NOR) winning gold.
Bloemen enjoyed the atmosphere.
“We were all so excited to have the World Cup here. I could feel how excited everybody was today.”
In the absence of Patrick Roest (NED), who had won all 5000m World Cup races so far this season, Ghiotto was in the driver’s seat to take home his career first World Cup Trophy, but the Italian was nervous. He entered the final World Cup race in a similar position last year, but was disqualified after an irregular change-up with pairmate Sander Eitrem (NOR).
“It feels good, but after one or two laps into the race, I felt that Ted-Jan was at my side and I said to myself keep calm. Ted-Jan started a little slow. He was (coming from) inside and I was outside (having priority), there was no problem, but I remembered last year. Every lap I told myself, keep calm and just try to finish the race well.”
Ghiotto did finish the race in regular order, stopping the clock at 6:17.18 to hold off Hallgeir Engebråten (NOR) for second place by .38 seconds.
David Ghiotto (left) took silver Friday with Hallgeir Engebråten earning bronze in the 5000m at the ISU World Cup in Quebec, Canada © ISU
Engebråten said he was happy to be back on the podium.
“It was pretty nice. I’ve been sick for almost the whole of January, so it’s nice to be back. It shows that I’m in very good shape and I hope to get better towards Calgary (World Single Distance Championships Feb. 15-18).”
Stolz and Ning share 1000m podium
With Kjeld Nuis (NED) recovering in Salt Lake City after a nasty crash in the 1000m at the Utah Olympic Oval last week, the 1000m battle was a two-horse race between world record holder Stolz and 1000m World Cup leader Ning for the World Cup Trophy.
Jordan Stolz (right) won the race but Ning Zhongyan (left) won the 1000m World Cup Trophy Friday in Quebec, Canada © ISU
The two were paired together in the draw, setting up the climax in the penultimate group. Stolz went out fast and surprised his opponent at the first cross-over. The two ended up level and coming from the outside lane with more speed, Stolz got priority. Ning had to hold back and Stolz went off to win the race in 1:07.96. Stolz said he could have been faster.
“I think it cost me a little bit of energy to try and get around him. I had to really kind of sit back down and get out of my rhythm to pass him, but I think he slowed down a bit for me. It kind of burned me in the second lap a bit, but overall it was a good race.”
Ning finished in 1:08.49 and was eventually pushed to third place by Tatsuya Shinhama (JPN), who skated 1:08.34 in the final pairing. Third place was enough for Ning to stay three points ahead of Stolz in the ranking, and the 24-year-old was able to carry home his first World Cup Trophy.
“I'm happy to be the best of the season.”
Ning Zhongyan secured the World Cup Trophy by taking bronze in the 1000m in Quebec, Canada on Friday © ISU
Ning said the cross-over might have cost him the race on Friday.
“Jordan was very fast in the first 200m and I was a little slow. I saw Jordan really close and he was fast so I slowed down to let him get past. Maybe I could have skated a 1:08.2 something.”
Stolz finished second in the World Cup ranking, while Shinhama was thrilled to place third.
“I started the 1000m in the B Division this year and I would never have thought to be on the podium by the end of the season.”
Tatsuya Shinhama drew Håvard Holmefjord Lorentzen of Norway in the men's 1000m at the ISU World Cup in Quebec, Canada © ISU
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Where to watch
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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
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