(Calgary) Laurent Dubreuil is not world number one for nothing. The Lévis speed skater proved again that he was the fastest on the planet on two blades by winning the 500m at the World Cup in Calgary on Saturday afternoon.
Starting in the final pair, the 30-year-old clocked the distance in 34.01s to claim his second consecutive gold medal on the circuit after that in Heerenveen last month. He dethroned the Japanese Tatsuya Shinhama who had taken the lead from the first pair with a time of 34.18 s. South Korean Yun-Ho Kim completed the podium in 34.19s.
Dubreuil thus increases his lead at the top of the World Cup standings. He now holds a 31-point lead over his Japanese friend Yuma Murakami, fourth in 34.2s.
The Quebecer achieved the fifth opening (first 100 m) thanks to a time of 9.58 s. He completed the fastest lap in 24.4 seconds thanks to a final corner that was close to perfection.
On a track that was obviously slower than last year, when he clocked a personal best of 33.77s, he no longer believed in his chances of making a world mark.