(Quebec) The American Jordan Stolz won the first round of the “battle of Quebec”, ahead of local favorite Laurent Dubreuil in the first 500 meters of the World Cup presented at the Gaétan-Boucher oval, Saturday afternoon .
Starting in the seventh pair, Stolz clocked a benchmark time of 34.51 sec, a phenomenal achievement considering he had also won gold in the 1500m around fifty minutes earlier.
Two pairs later, Dubreuil put up a good fight against the young 19-year-old American, finishing on the second step of the podium in 34.59 sec (+0.08). The Japanese Yuma Murakami took the bronze in 34.67 sec.
In the cumulative ranking, Dubreuil nevertheless closed to 19 points behind the leader, the Japanese Wataru Morishige, who had to settle for seventh place in 34.96 sec. The Quebecer will have one last opportunity to surpass him during the second 500m in Quebec on Sunday.
Bronze for Howe in the 1500m
Stolz, who was looking forward to a duel “against Quebec” at the start of the week, had already won the 1500 m. He therefore has three gold medals in three races so far in the national capital, having won the 1000m on Friday.
After an “average” 1000m the day before, where he felt a little ill, the Canadian Connor Howe found some color for the 1500m, heading towards the bronze medal. His time of 1 min 45.73 held up until Stolz and Zhongyan Ning took the stage.
The American phenomenon and the Chinese engaged in a gripping duel, until Stolz made the difference in the penultimate straight. His time of 1 min 44.09 earned him gold and a track record, which until then belonged to Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu, 10e in 1 min 46.23.
Zhingnyan Ning took silver in 1 min 44.79, putting her on top of the season overall, four points ahead of Stolz, who missed one event.
Fourth in Salt Lake City last week, Howe was looking forward to his first podium of the campaign. “I perhaps modulated my effort better and skated a little better technically,” assessed the 23-year-old Albertan, 15e the day before over 1000 m. “I took my time, which allowed me to finish stronger. »
Faced with Stolz, an athlete “from a generation, it’s quite hard to compete…” And this, no matter over what distance.