CALGARY | On much slower ice than in previous years, Laurent Dubreuil did not come close to his personal best of 33.77s set here last year and the world record of 33.61s, but he did reach his number one goal, which was to win gold.
• Read also: A medal and an asthma attack
• Read also: Long track speed skating: Dubreuil and Maltais on the hunt for the record
Starting in the last pair, Dubreuil set a time of 34.01s on Saturday to win gold in the 500m event at the World Cup in Calgary. The 30-year-old skater thus won a second title in a row and signed the sixth victory of his career in the World Cup.
“It’s been a dream start to the season,” said Dubreuil of his four medals, including two gold in five races. It’s my best career start. Summer training with Yuma [Murakami] partly explains my start to the season. We helped each other. His attitude and professionalism pushed us. It’s the same for Christopher [Fiola] which is having a very good start to the season. »
Dubreuil still believed in his chances of victory even if he did not have the desired start.
“My first steps weren’t great and my first corner wasn’t the best,” he explained. I fell behind Wataru Morishige in the first few meters but came back strong and was excellent in the last 300 meters. It’s still a very good race. My last corner was really good. It’s one of my strengths. »
Confidence to the max
Building on his successes over the past three years, Dubreuil is hopeful of winning even if he does not have an excellent race.
“Having a good race, I know I can win. It takes the pressure off not having to aim for perfection. I’ve never been so good and the field is less tough than last year with the absence of the Russians and the Chinese Gao [Tingyu]. I can make some mistakes and win. »
“I’ve said before that I wasn’t good enough to be disappointed with a bronze medal, added Dubreuil, but that’s no longer the case. To be fully satisfied now, I have to cross the finish line first. »
Dubreuil celebrated his victory by raising his arms to the sky like a hockey player after a goal.
“Good players score 40 goals a year and they can relax a little on the celebrations, he illustrated. We have six World Cups. If we win six, we are perfect. I imagine it’s more difficult than scoring a goal. Even though I expect to win, I’m still happy and I don’t take anything for granted. »
Ice slower
If he wanted to break the world record of 33.61 s when he landed in Calgary, Dubreuil has made a line on this objective by seeing the times achieved, Friday, during the first events.
“It put me off and I forgot the world record. The ice is quite slower than last year. Pavel Kulizhnikov would not have set his record in conditions like here. It remains possible if the stars are aligned, but it will be less and less likely to achieve records in Calgary. »
Shinhama back in force
Dubreuil found his opponent of recent years Tatsuya Shinhama, who was playing his first World Cup of the season and who was skating in the first pair. Second in the World Cup standings last year, the Japanese won silver with a time of 34.18s. Korean Jun Ho Kim completed the podium with a time of 34.19 seconds.
“Shinhama was ahead of me after 300 meters, but he hesitated on the last corner, which made the difference,” he explained. I’m not surprised by his performance and to see him on the podium. I knew he hadn’t gotten bad in a year. In the Japanese selections, the caliber is high and the margin for error is slim. This is not my case in Canada. »
Hope to get on the podium in the 1000m
CALGARY | If the 500m remains his favorite event, Laurent Dubreuil can compete with the best in the 1000m this year.
Silver medalist at the first World Cup of the season, in Stavanger (Norway), Dubreuil believes in his chances of a podium in Calgary. The 1000m will take place on Sunday, closing the event.
“I’m not the favorite, but I’m good enough to aim for the podium in every race, mentioned the silver medalist in the 1000m at the Beijing Olympics. That’s my goal even though I know I won’t win a medal in every race. »
Two goals
Dubreuil has two goals in mind for the final race of the weekend.
“I would like to set a personal best and beat the Canadian record,” he said. My personal best is 1:06.76 achieved at the 2020 worlds in Salt Lake City when I won bronze. It was not my best career race. I had a better race [1 min 08,32 s ] in Beijing at sea level.”
Set in 2017, the Canadian record of 1:06.72 still belongs to Vincent De Haître, who will also be in action on Sunday. This will be his first 1000m of the World Cup season and he will race in Group B.
New schedule
The new World Cup schedule is better suited to skaters competing in both events. Last year, there were two 500m races at each World Cup and the sprinters had only 90 minutes of rest before starting the 1000m.
“With six days of rest between the two races, it’s no coincidence that I managed my best 1000m in Beijing,” he said. I am better than last year and I start on an equal footing with the other skaters who did not do the 500m. I only have three career medals in the 1000m in the World Cup and I would like to add one or two by the end of the season. »
In addition to the silver at the Beijing Games, Dubreuil has two medals in the 1000m at the world championships.
Dubreuil wants to avoid clashes as was the case during his last two starts over 1000m. At the last World Cup in Heerenveen, American Jordan Stolz crashed in front of him and ruined his chances.
In Quebec, during the Four Continents Championship, American Conor McDermott-Mostowy cut Dubreuil in the 400m crossover. The 30-year-old skater nevertheless won gold, but the level was not the same as in the World Cup.