Joy Beune (NED) and Jutta Leerdam (NED) started the international speed skating season with gold medals in the 3000m and the 1000m respectively on the first day of the ISU World Cup in Salt Lake City (USA). With a personal best time of 3 minutes and 53.69s, Beune left runner-up Valérie Maltais (CAN) 2.84s behind. Leerdam edged out Dutch sprint rival Femke Kok (NED) by 0.08s in an exciting head-to-head battle. 

Beune shakes off illness with big personal best

Before the start, Joy Beune (NED) didn’t really know what to expect of her first World Cup race this season.  The world champion had skipped her 3000m race at the Dutch national championships because of illness two weeks ago but quickly found her rhythm on the fast ice of the Utah Olympic Oval.

With time of 3:53.69, Beune took 2.03s off her previous personal best.

Joy Beune (NED) missed the 3000m at her national championships through illness but returned to smash her personal best in the ISU World Cup opener. © ISU

“I didn’t really know what to aim for,” Beune said. “I haven’t skated many races because of the illness, so I just didn’t have a clue. I did know that the speed came relatively easy during training. 

"I hoped for a personal best, but I hadn’t expected this.”

Beune even got close to the world record (3:52.02, Martina Sáblíková, CZE), but that proved to be a little too much in the last two laps.

“I knew I was on a good one, and I was happy that my coaches stayed calm. They just kept telling me the lap times and told me I did well. That I break down in the final two laps, was not too bad. It had to come at some point, because I haven’t skated many races yet, but this is a great start.”

After Beune’s exploit, last year’s long distance World Cup winner Ragne Wiklund (NOR) took the ice in the last pairing against Valérie Maltais (CAN), who gave the Norwegian endurance specialist a run for her money.

Not being able to catch up with Beune’s pace, Wiklund and Maltais fought a tough battle for silver, with the latter coming out on top in 3:56.53 versus 3:57.19 for Wiklund.

Valérie Maltais (CAN, left) beat Ragne Wilkund (NOR, right) to silver with a personal best time in the final pairing of the day. © ISU

Being more of a mass start specialist in the past, Maltais was delighted with her performance in the classic 3000m.

“It feels amazing to be on the podium and to do a personal best by three seconds," she said. "I’ve won bronze [in the 3000m] twice, but this is the first silver."

Maltais had been confident before the start.

“I was really feeling calm in my head today. I felt that it was simple, but I was stressing myself. I was feeling strong,” she added.

“I had a great summer of training, and I know the field is really strong, so wanted to start the season off strong and build from that for the Olympics.” 

Wiklund had enjoyed the battle with Maltais.

“It's been going very smoothly. It's been a very long time since I did a competition, so it's just nice to get started,” she said.

“I'm very happy with third, for sure, although I was obviously going for more, But then a few laps in, I didn't really feel that strong, so it was nice to have her [Maltais] to push me.”

Leerdam edges out Kok in Dutch sprint rivalry

Femke Kok (NED) had set the season’s best 1000m time before heading to the Salt Lake City World Cup, and she had also beaten Jutta Leerdam (NED) at the Dutch national championships two weeks ago. 

At the Utah Olympic Oval, Leerdam had the chance to hit back in a face-to-face battle. The Dutch sprint rivals took the ice in the eighth pairing with Kok going out strong. Despite holding a 0.26s advantage at the 600m split, Kok had to bow her head on the finish line.

Leerdam stopped the clock after 1 minute and 12.35s, with Kok finishing just 0.08s later.

Jutta Leerdam (NED) avenged her defeat by Femke Kok at the Dutch championships, beating her teammate to gold by just 0.08s. © ISU

“The start was good,” Kok said. “But then I made quite a few mistakes. I had a mis-stroke the penultimate corner, so I entered the crossing awkwardly and therefore I didn’t cut into the final corner well. 

“It was a personal best time anyway, so I’m happy with that. But I think I can be faster.”

Kok had enjoyed her battle with Leerdam.

“It’s good to be paired in the draw. When we face each other, we know it’s going to raise the level. We have been pushing the level in the 500m and 1000m in the Netherlands over the past year.”

Going against Kok in Salt Lake City, Leerdam had lowered her expectations due to a groin injury that hampered her at the Dutch national championships.

“This year, she [Kok] is pretty good in the 1000m. So I didn't really expect anything. I was like: well, she's better, but I'm just going to do a good race for myself.”

Leerdam was surprised by her own progress since the Dutch championships.

“I didn't expect to make this big of a step within two weeks. Two weeks ago, I didn't really hit it yet, and now, all of a sudden, I really hit it, and it goes really fast. Now I'm looking at the race and think: that's pretty close to the world record, and it wasn't even perfect.”

Behind the two Dutchwoman, Béatrice Lamarche (CAN) took her career first World Cup podium in a personal best time of 1:12.77.

Femke Kok (NED, left) said being paired with Leerdam (center) raises both their levels. Canada's Béatrice Lamarche (right) took the bronze. © ISU

“A big personal best,” Lamarche smiled. “So right after my race, I was very happy, just for the time, and then seeing that I got third, I couldn't believe it. 

“I was not expecting that. It feels surreal, but at the same time very real. I'm just looking forward to the rest of the weekend and the season. My first goal is obviously to make the Olympic team, because I've never been to the Olympics yet.”