Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu had mentioned that the Canadian team was going to be “dangerous” at the World Long Track Speed Skating Championships. His opponents had proof of this on Thursday when they saw him go for the gold in the team sprint with Laurent Dubreuil and Christopher Fiola, in Heerenveen.
Expectations were high for the three Quebecers who took their places on the starting line, in the typical high-energy atmosphere of the Thialf. They demonstrated why in the three laps that followed, laps they covered in 1:19.26 to become the first Canadian world champions in history in the men’s event.
“It’s a roller coaster of emotions, I try to respond to all those who write to me to congratulate us… it’s quite a job to be world champion! joked Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu on the phone, in an interview with Sportcom.
He brought up the rear and crossed the finish line with a smile when he saw the stopwatch stop. The Sherbrooke resident punched his chest with his fist and raised his arms in the air to celebrate in front of the thousands of spectators.
“Finishing a race like that, all alone as the last soldier standing and when the other two gave their all on the ice just before me, I’ll remember that feeling all my life. »
The podium was then assured, but not the victory. The last pair of the day featured the Dutch and Norwegian formations. Despite strong starts, they were unable to edge out the Canadians, capturing silver (+0.41 seconds) and bronze (+0.54 seconds), respectively.
It was quite a race and we did our job. Chris had a great start, well controlled. We waited for Antoine and when he arrived to hang on, we put all the gum. I had a really good lap and Antoine finished well until the end. For us, mission accomplished!
Laurent Dubreuil.
“It kicks off our Championships perfectly! […] It’s quite an accomplishment, we are world champions! Whether my other races are good or bad, we will still come home with this title,” he added.
This same trio had won the bronze medal in this event at the World Cup in Calgary last December. Dubreuil and Gélinas-Beaulieu then won the gold medal in Poland two weeks ago, along with Anders Johnson.
Minutes earlier Thursday, Canadians Brooklyn McDougall, Carolina Hiller and Ivanie Blondin were also crowned world champions in the women’s team sprint, another historic first for Canada.
PHOTO PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW, REUTERS
Brooklyn McDougall, Carolina Hiller and Ivanie Blondin
“We won in the Mecca of our sport, surrounded by the entire Canadian team and after seeing the girls win as well. It’s a nice melting pot for me to have trouble falling asleep! said Gélinas-Beaulieu, fired up for his next three races.
Valérie Maltais, best Canadian in the 3000m
PHOTO PETER DEJONG, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Quebecer Valérie Maltais (left) was paired with Norwegian Ragne Wiklund.
From the first World Cup of the season, Valérie Maltais spoke of a process to describe the season that awaited her. A process that would guide her to the World Championships at the top of her game. She signed the best result of her career in the 3000m by slipping into the top-5 of this distance.
She finished fifth with a time of 3:59.88, 0.47 seconds from a bronze medal and 3.02 seconds behind gold medalist Ragne Wiklund of Norway. It is also with the new world champion that Maltais formed a pair on Thursday.
“I’m very happy with my race and I’m aware that I’m close to the podium,” shared Valérie Maltais, who was hoping for a time under the 4-minute mark.
Being paired with the World Cup champion, I knew it was going to be a good pair. I didn’t want to let her go and I wanted to give it my all. I feel good physically and I felt ready to believe in a podium. I haven’t come that close in my career, it’s my best race in terms of execution and how I approached it.
Valerie Maltais
The Quebecer took sixth place in the 3000m at the last World Cup of the calendar presented to Tomaszow Mazowiecki, in Poland. She had also won the silver medal in the mass start. Two results that gave him confidence in forecasting the worlds.
“When I arrived in long track, I looked at the girls on the podium and thought they were really better than me. This year, throughout the World Cup, I was looking for the podium and there, I am close, I have reduced this gap with the girls. The medal in Poland broke that barrier in the mass start, all that remains is to do the same thing in the 3000m,” explained the best Canadian skater in this event.
Olympic champion Irene Schouten of the Netherlands took silver, trailing Wiklund by 54 hundredths of a second. The Czech Martina Sablikova (+1.49 seconds) completed the podium, as she did at the Beijing Games last year.
Canadians Isabelle Weidemann (+4.46 seconds) and Ivanie Blondin (+8.58 seconds) placed 6e and 9e.
They will both team up with Valérie Maltais on Friday in pursuit. The Canadian trio, Olympic gold medalists and cumulative World Cup champions this season, will be looking to win their first World Championship title.
The two victories of the day motivate the Quebecer to come full circle.
“It brings good energy for the chase. It’s cool ! Two titles of world champions, men and women, no choice to do the same thing tomorrow. »