Canadian skaters Ivanie Blondin, Carolina Hiller and Béatrice Lamarche flew through the team sprint to climb to the top of the podium on Sunday at the World Cup in Calgary.
The maple leaf trio set off at the conclusion of the long track session, against the Chinese selection, while Blondin, Hiller and Lamarche recorded a time of 1 min 24 s 9/100. The two teams were neck and neck until halfway through the race when the Canadians stepped on the accelerator.
A final effort from Blondin allowed the local favorites to maintain their lead and move towards the coveted medal.
We really had a great race. There is always a little stress to be well coordinated at the start, but it went well. Subsequently, the exchanges went well, and Ivanie finished the work
said Lamarche.
We are a young team, and there are always things to improve, but overall it was very good, she continued. It’s a race where we have to trust our instincts, and when we manage to improve our starts, we will be even faster.
The Polish team (+1.12 seconds) and the Kazakh team (+1.46 seconds) accompanied the representatives of the maple leaf on the podium at the end of the event.
Just a few minutes later, Laurent Dubreuil, Anders Johnson and Connor Howe jumped onto the ice in hopes of imitating their teammates in the team sprint. They finished in 4th place.
Ivanie Blondin 4th in the mass start
Two Canadians participated earlier in the day in the mass start. Blondin obtained the best result by finishing at the foot of the podium, less than four tenths of a second from the top 3.
The Ottawan occupied 13th position at the end of the 11th lap, then she increased the pace in the last five to make up part of her gap. Her compatriot Valérie Maltais took 8th place.
The American Greta Myers largely dominated, finishing the event almost eight seconds ahead of her closest pursuer, the Chinese Wenjing Jin. German Michelle Uhrig completed the podium.
-Jordan Stolz wins in Calgary
American Jordan Stolz won the 500m event. The 20-year-old skater has yet to lose a race in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m this season.
Stolz was perfect in three events in Calgary, capping his weekend with a time of 33.85 seconds.
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Jordan Pride
Photo: The Canadian Press / Todd Korol
The Wisconsin prodigy will try to extend his streak at the World Cup in Milwaukee, United States, from January 31 to February 2.
Quebecer Laurent Dubreuil took 5th place.
The Dutch Femke Kok won the women’s event over this distance.
With information from Sportcom and The Canadian Press
