Very friendly by nature, Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu likes to “put on a show”. Every time he’s introduced to the crowd before a race at the Calgary Worlds, he smiles brightly and pumps his fist in the air. On Saturday, when he crossed the mass start finish line in second place to become world runner-up, that smile reached a new level, if such a thing is possible.
This result represents much more than one can imagine for Gélinas-Beaulieu. On the phone, an hour and a half after the race won by the Belgian Bart Swings, the Quebecer recounted his last years to The Press.
At the last Olympic Games, the skater reached the mass start final, but was only able to do better than 15e place. “I had no control over the race. I couldn’t use strategy or my speed because it was going too fast, there were lots of attacks, it was too much,” he recalls.
After the Games, he thought about his future. Was it time to hang up your skates? He decided to continue by putting all his energy into the mass start with a view to the next Games, those of 2026. From the first race of the following season, a “mechanical failure” prevented him from qualifying for the World Cups and at the Worlds.
“It was really hard for me, that moment. I questioned myself a lot. »
Once again, he rolled up his sleeves. This year he qualified. In the World Cup, the season was difficult at the mass start. Gélinas-Beaulieu therefore focused on learning. Every time he lined up on the starting line, he had a “very simple” objective, whether technical or tactical. The podium was only an afterthought.
Gradually, over the course of the races, he felt his strengths grow. His endurance improves.
PHOTO JEFF MCINTOSH, THE CANADIAN PRESS
From left to right: Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu, Bart Swings and Livio Wenger
“Earlier, before the final, my goal was the podium,” he says.
The “immense joy” he felt on Saturday was therefore linked to the feeling of control he felt. He felt in full possession of his means, his tools, after several months of work, learning and patience.
I began to feel in control of something. I made the right moves at the right times, I was intelligent, I had enough endurance. I got the package I wanted to have. Even if I had finished fourth, had done the same race, I would have had the same look on my face because I know I had a good race from start to finish.
Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu
The Sherbrooke resident jumped onto the podium, his fist in the air. The same big, big smile on his face. At 31, he knows he has more years of skating behind him than before. This result, which is added to his two other medals in the sprint and the team pursuit, allows him to believe that he is “on the right track until the next Olympic Games,” he said.
“I know that in my sporting career, I am experiencing my best years. I’m enjoying it, I’m not putting any expectations on myself. I’m here to have fun, continue to learn, continue to be inspired and continue to inspire. »
So close
Laurent Dubreuil believed in it. The Quebecer put in his best 1000m performance of the season on Saturday.
Paired with Pole Piotr Michalski in the third pair to start, he appeared lively from the start. He gave himself a good lead from the first corner. Although he appeared to be suffering in the second round, he crossed the finish line at 1 min 7.04 sec. A time which is close to the best time of his career over this distance, which is 1 min 6.76 s.
After the race, Dubreuil raised both fists in the air, nodded his head and touched his heart, all signs of his satisfaction. Except that nothing was gained.
PHOTO JEFF MCINTOSH, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Laurent Dubreuil
“I was very relaxed, I was just doing my best race possible,” he told The Press. When I saw 1:07.04, I thought, “That’s surprisingly good and has a chance. It could very well win bronze, or it could finish fifth or sixth too.” After that, the stress gradually mounted with each pair, each person who came close and failed. »
Dubreuil occupied the provisional first time for a good while.
World champion Jordan Stolz was part of the last pair to start. Before this duel, Dubreuil was temporary third; his chances of a podium were therefore less. As it happened, the American prodigy did just enough to beat everyone and defend his title, relegating Dubreuil to fourth place.
“ [J’ai] mixed feelings because I ended up believing it. But if I had been told I was going to finish at 1:7.04 [samedi]no matter the outcome, I would have said yes, absolutely. […] I was not in the game all this year. »
In the end, the top three guys won a medal. I did what I could and I’m really proud of my race and my performance.
Laurent Dubreuil
Dubreuil now turns his attention to the World Sprint Championships, which take place in three weeks.
” I’m really looking forward. I’m aiming for a podium again and it would be a great way to cap off my season. But whether I win there or not, it’s still a very good year.
“I’m not getting any younger, in fact I’m defying logic at the moment by winning a medal in my thirties. Every season that I’m going to be able to continue to stay at this level, to win a medal and claim victories, it will be a satisfying season in my eyes. »
Valérie Maltais running out of gas
Valérie Maltais ran out of juice. In a figurative sense, obviously. The Quebecer, one of the favorites to get on the podium in the mass start of the World Long Track Speed Skating Championships in Calgary, finished the final in very last place. Ontarian Ivanie Blondin, double world champion over the distance, pleased the crowd by capturing the silver medal.