SPEED SKATING
Huizinga (NED) takes gold but Eitrem (NOR) wins long-distance showdown
01 Mar 2025
The big showdown for the men’s long-distance Trophy finished with Sander Eitrem (NOR) on top of the season ranking and Davide Ghiotto (ITA) finishing second. But it was Chris Huizinga (NED) who took home gold in the last 5000m race. In the men’s 1000m, Jenning de Boo (NED) took his career second World Cup victory after his maiden gold in the 500m on Friday. The World Cup Trophy in the distance went to Jordan Stolz (USA), who didn’t have to skate because he already had an unassailable lead after five races.
Eitrem wins long-distance battle of attrition
Before the final showdown between top contenders Davide Ghiotto (ITA) and Sander Eitrem (NOR) in the sixth and seventh of eight pairings respectively, Chris Huizinga (NED) had taken the ice in the third pairing and set a strong time.
The 27-year-old Dutchman was unbeaten in national races at Thialf Stadium this season, but his best World Cup placing had been fourth place in Beijing in December. In front of a home crowd in his home arena, he finally managed to step onto the international podium.
Finishing in a time of six minutes and 8.07s, Huizinga set a bar that not even Ghiotto and Eitrem could match.
Chris Huizinga (NED) finally made it onto a World Cup podium, and leapt straight to the top step with victory in the 5000m. © ISU
“The goal was winning,” Huizinga said. “I didn’t expect it because Eitrem and Ghiotto have been really good the whole season.
“When I saw my time, I said to my coach that I left a little in the last lap, but then I saw that everyone just hit the ceiling at some point. The conditions are tough and it’s still a 6:08 finish. That’s a great confidence boost for the World Championships.”
Ghiotto (ITA) was eager to defend his World Cup Trophy title and even came up with an innovative twist, wearing an aerodynamic helmet to try and shave a few vital tenths of seconds off his time.
“We saw Ted-Jan Bloemen (CAN) using a helmet [in Friday’s B Division 1500m race], and we spoke with Maurizio [coach Maurizio Marchetto, ITA] this morning. We thought: why not? The track is fast. It's the last chance before the World Championships and a helmet is more aerodynamic.”
The helmet didn’t seem to help Ghiotto much, however. The Italian finished a disappointing 12th in 6:17.47, blowing his chances of taking home the Trophy.
Davide Ghiotto (ITA) hoped his aerodynamic helmet would carry him to long-distance Trophy glory but the second-ranked skater could only finish 12th. © ISU
“Today it's a s**t day for me. I don't know,” said a disappointed Ghiotto. "I hoped to close the World Cup in a better position and a better time, but this is speed skating. It’s competition, it’s a race and yeah, I tried to skate fast in the first part, but just was not enough.”
When Eitrem (NOR) saw Ghiotto’s time, he knew that he had a good chance of winning his career first World Cup Trophy, but it turned out to be tougher than he thought.
“This was my main goal today, to win the World Cup overall,” Eitrem said.
“But it was a bit harder than usual today. After a couple of laps, I felt a little bit tired already, so with five laps to go, I was just thinking about beating Ghiotto and I knew his lap times. The last two or three laps I was a little bit worried, but I managed to do it.”
Eitrem eventually finished 2.03s behind Huizinga to take silver in Saturday’s race.
Sander Eitrem (NOR) finished second in Saturday's 5000m to secure the long-distance Trophy ahead of Ghiotto and Beau Snellink (NED, right). © ISU
Beau Snellink (NED) took bronze in 6:10.34, and finished third behind Eitrem and Ghiotto in the ranking.
“I have been on the podium in every national and international 5000m race this season, so I think I’ve got a very good level,” Snellink commented.
De Boo at the double
Jenning de Boo (NED) concluded Saturday’s action by clocking a time of one minute and 6.05s to take gold in the 1000m.
“From zero to two in two days,” he smiled afterwards. The Dutch youngster had already won his maiden World Cup gold by beating Jordan Stolz (USA) in the 500m on Friday.
Jenning de Boo (NED) followed up his maiden World Cup win in Friday's 500m with gold in the 1000m on Saturday. © ISU
After Friday’s disappointing fifth place in the 1500m, Stolz decided to skip the rest of the World Cup weekend to recover fully from the strep throat and pneumonia infections he picked up a couple of weeks ago.
Having won all five 1000m World Cup races before Heerenveen, Stolz had already sealed the World Cup Trophy in the distance last week.
De Boo had finished second behind Stolz in the 1000m four times this year.
“That was not so much a frustration as it was a motivation,” the Dutchman explained.
“Of course it’s a pity Stolz is absent because you want to beat everyone, but it’s still a World Cup victory.”
Cooper McLeod (USA) finished second in 1:07.87, and completely agreed with De Boo.
“I've been fourth, fifth place a whole bunch of times this year, so I knew I was close.
“It helps Jordan is not at 100%, so he decided to sit out today. But it’s a strong field either way, so I was happy to finally close the last couple of tenths that were needed to get to the podium.”
“Two of the top guys weren't there today [the injured Kjeld Nuis (NED) also skipped the race]. That obviously makes it easier, but not to say that I couldn't have beaten them if they were there. You never know. It's not like anybody went slow today.”
McLeod was rewarded for his consistent season with third place in the overall ranking behind Stolz and De Boo.
Jordan Stolz (USA, center) chose not to race today but had already won the 1000m Trophy ahead of De Boo, left, and Cooper McLeod (USA, right). © ISU
Tim Prins (NED) took third place in Saturday's race in a time of 1:07.98.
“My 1000m has been a bit disappointing the past couple of weeks, but then again, I’m still on the podium,” he said. “I do look at my own times, however, and I’ve been faster than this in Thialf about eight times already.”
Prins did not qualify for the 1000m at the World Championships in Hamar (NOR) on March 13-16, but he may get to skate anyway because he’s the first reserve and will step up if Nuis does not recover in time.
Heerenveen program
The Heerenveen ISU World Cup Speed Skating will start with the first of two 500m races and the 1500m for both genders on Friday, February 28th, 2025. The program on Saturday March 1st comprises the 1000m for both genders, followed by the 3000m for women and the 5000m for men. On Sunday March 2nd, both genders will skate the Team Pursuit, the second 500m, and the Mass Start, before the event concludes with the Mixed Gender Relay.
ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series events 2024/25:
Nov 22 - 24, 2024 Nagano / JPN
Nov 29 - Dec 01, 2024 Beijing / CHN
Jan 24 - 26, 2025 Calgary CAN
Jan 31 - Feb 02, 2025 Milwaukee / USA
Feb 21 - 23, 2025 Tomaszów Mazowiecki / POL
Feb 28 - Mar 02, 2025 Heerenveen / NED
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