When Yevgeniy Koshkin (KAZ) was promoted to the 500m A Division after winning the B Division race on Friday, his aim was to stay in the top group. The 22-year-old sprinter from Kazakhstan did slightly better than that, skating 0.28s faster than he had done two days earlier to win the A Division gold. In the Mass Start, 2018 Olympic Champion Lee Seung Hoon (KOR) took his first World Cup win in seven years and to conclude Sunday’s action, the USA took Team Sprint gold to earn the season Trophy in that event.    

Koshkin springs surprise in 500m

Coming up from the B Division, Yevgeniy Koshkin (KAZ) started in the second of 10 500m pairings. With a 34.52s finish, he was just 0.02s slower than Jordan Stolz (USA) had been when he won the distance on Friday.

Koshkin was happy, but couldn’t really believe that his time would hold up until Stolz had taken up the challenge in the final pairing, but it did. 

“For me, it came as a big surprise. I felt that I would be capable of winning at some point, but not yet. Mentally I wasn’t ready for the idea,” Koshkin admitted.

Pair after pair bit the dust attacking Koshkin’s time. Eventually, Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) came closest, taking silver in 34.70s. Marek Kania (POL) seized bronze in 34.76s.

Yevgeniy Koshkin (KAZ) stepped up from Friday's 500m B Division to win a surprise World Cup gold on Sunday. © ISU

Jordan Stolz (USA), who had won seven out of eight 500m 2024/25 World Cup races before Sunday, had to settle for fifth place in 34.84s.

“When my name was still on top when the last pair got on, I thought Stolz was going to win, and I was happy to take second or third place,” Koshkin said.

“But when I saw his opener, I thought I might have a chance and then when he finished I couldn’t really believe it.”

Stolz, who had suffered from strep throat and pneumonia after the Milwaukee World Cup three weeks ago, said he felt a bit tired on Sunday.

“The technique feels good, my strength isn’t even bad, but it’s just that I’m not recovering like I used to during competition, it’s probably the antibiotics or something,” he confessed.

The American, who had won three gold medals already this weekend, wasn’t too worried about Sunday’s drop in form.

“I know that I can get back in shape or stay in shape, it’s just being rested while competing that’s going to make the big difference. I’ve got enough time to get it back.”

Before racing, Dubreuil had already seen that Stolz was not in top shape.

“Jordan looked tired the last two days. His 500m [on Friday] was good, but after his middle distances, he looked maybe not quite at his best. I thought [today] was a day to jump on the opportunity, but Koshkin had an amazing race and deserved it,” said the Canadian.

“I knew I needed a perfect race, and I think through 300 meters, I was close to a perfect race, and then I messed up my last corner.”

Laurent Dubreuil (CAN, left) took 500m silver and Marek Kania (POL, right) delighted the home crowd with the bronze. © ISU

Kania was happy to take his career third World Cup medal in front of a home crowd.

“I’m from Warsaw, but we stay here [Tomaszów Mazowiecki] most of the year. It’s our home track. 

“The crowd cheers you on a lot here. That’s why I also like to race in Thialf [Heerenveen, Netherlands], because they cheer for everyone. I like it when you hear that people are interested in the sport. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Lee back on top in Mass Start

The Mass Start produced another surprise, with Lee Seung Hoon (KOR) rolling back the years to take gold. The 37-year-old Korean had not won an international Mass Start race since seizing the Olympic title on home ice in Pyeongchang in 2018, but in Tomaszów Mazowiecki he managed to outsprint the bunch again.

“I’m really happy,” he said. “I don’t necessarily skate for results anymore, I just do it because I really enjoy it, so today was a big bonus for me.”

Lee Seung Hoon (KOR) celebrates his first international Mass Start victory in seven years after outsprinting the bunch in Tomaszów Mazowiecki. © ISU

Bart Hoolwerf (NED) sprinted to second place to climb to the top of the Mass Start World Cup ranking. 

“It was a bit of a chaotic race and I got caught by surprise a little in that final lap, but in the end it was quite good. I’m happy to have my shape from the beginning of the season back,” he said.

Although he got caught by surprise in the final sprint, Lee’s gold came as no surprise to Hoolwerf.

“He’s a real specialist in this event. He can skate such tight corners and he’s got so much speed. It’s always someone to keep an eye on. Now, we didn’t see him the whole race, but then he got a great lead-out for the sprint and he’s superfast. He’s a candidate for the world title.”

Bart Hoolwerf (NED, left) sprinted to silver and the lead in the Mass Start Trophy. Andrea Giovanni (ITA, right) dedicated his bronze medal to his forthcoming child. © ISU

Another candidate for the world title is Andrea Giovannini (ITA), who took bronze in Tomaszów Mazowiecki. It was his first medal of the season.

“I’m really happy because my wife is pregnant and we’re expecting a child in April. I’ve been waiting all season for a result like this, so I could dedicate it to the baby,” he said.

Team USA takes Trophy

Sunday’s action concluded with Conor McDermott-Mostowy, Cooper McLeod and Zach Stoppelmoor (USA) confidently winning the Team Sprint in a time of one minute and 19.27s, and with it the World Cup Trophy in the event.

Korea’s Kim Jun-Ho, Cho Sanghyeok and Cha Min Kyu (KOR) needed 1.20s more to take silver. China’s Zhiwen Xue, Lian Ziwen and Deng Zhihan (CHN) took bronze in 1:20.55.

Conor McDermott-Mostowy leads out Team USA ahead of Cooper McLeod (red band) and Zach Stoppelmoor (obscured) as they won the Team Sprint to secure the World Cup Trophy. © ISU

The Netherlands crashed but finished and thus secured second place in the season ranking. Korea ended up third in the ranking.   

Tomaszów Mazowiecki program

The Tomaszów Mazowiecki ISU World Cup Speed Skating will start with the first of two 500m races and the 1500m for both genders on Friday. Saturday’s program comprises the 3000m for women, the 5000m for men and the 1000m for both genders, while on Sunday both genders will skate the second 500m, and the Mass Start, to conclude with the Team Sprint.

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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