Ted-Jan Bloemen (CAN) was the first to break the 2007 track record set by Sven Kramer (NED) at the Calgary Olympic Oval on Friday. Eventually, the Canadian had to settle for bronze. Sander Eitrem (NOR) was the first to beat Bloemen’s time, but Casey Dawson (USA) had the last laugh, setting the new Calgary track mark at six minutes and 1.84 seconds after a breathtaking 27.5-second final lap.

Before the long-distance battle, Jordan Stolz (USA) held off a strong challenge by Jenning de Boo (NED) to win the 1000m by just .11-seconds. 

Dawson takes it in extremis 

Kramer’s Calgary mark of six minutes 3.32 seconds stood as a World Record for a little over 10 years. In 2017, it was Bloemen who finally broke it, skating 6:01.86 in Salt Lake City.

On Friday, the 39-year-old Canadian broke the mark again, this time in Calgary, to finally erase it from all standing record boards. Finishing in 6:02.26, it was Bloemen’s second fastest 5000m time ever. 

“It’s one of the best races I’ve ever skated,” he said afterwards.

Ted-Jan Bloemen (CAN) celebrates his short-lived 5000m track record at the ISU World Cup in Calgary (CAN) on Friday. © ISU

As good as it got, it was not enough for gold or even silver.

Eitrem had closely watched Bloemen’s lap times and he knew there was a chance to beat the Canadian if he was patient.

Trailing Bloemen by a few 10ths of a second throughout the race, Eitrem stepped on the gas with one lap to go. Posting a 28.7-second final lap was enough to leave Bloemen .40 seconds behind. 

“I just had to keep it together,” Eitrem said. “I knew it was possible to beat him.”

It felt a lot better than it did last week in Salt Lake City, where Eitrem had to settle for bronze behind Timothy Loubineaud (FRA) when he broke the World Record.

The World Record, Eitrem admitted, distracted him in Utah.

“Everybody was talking about the World Record and even about skating under six minutes. I was thinking more about the record than about skating.”

Sander Eitrem (NOR) skates to the 5000m lead, and temporary track record, at the ISU World Cup on Friday. © ISU

Finishing in 6:01.86 in the penultimate pairing in Calgary, Eitrem thought he had secured his first World Cup victory of the season. When Dawson entered the final lap of the final pair lagging Eitrem by over a second, the Norwegian wasn’t in any doubt. But then the American turned on his secret jet engine.

Finishing with a 27.5-second lap, Dawson nipped Eitrem by .02 seconds.

“At first, I was really disappointed,” Eitrem said. “But in the end, it’s a national record and a personal best, so I’m super happy, and I’m looking forward to skate on slower conditions, which suit us Norwegians better.”

For Dawson, taking his first individual World Cup gold was a surprise, but he knew where it came from.

“Race strategy has a lot to do with it. Also a little bit more seniority in these races. Watching the top guys, how they pace the race.… They don’t start off at 28.0-second laps or 27.5s. They start out at 28.5 or 28.7, at a little bit slower pace. And they know how to hold that for the whole race. 

“I’m getting that experience through racing. Something clicked this past season, and I learned how to pace my race. I know my strengths. I know I can finish fast. It’s better to skate 27.5 in the last lap than do it in the first lap, and die.”

With the win, Dawson took the lead in the long-distance World Cup standings. Loubineaud, who finished fourth in Calgary, now sits second with Eitrem in third.

Stolz keeps de Boo at bay

Jordan Stolz took his second 1000m victory of the season — his 11th win in the last 11 World Cup 1000m races in which he's competed. The streak was only interrupted by his absense due to illness at the World Cup in Heerenveen last season, when Jenning de Boo ran away with gold.

In Calgary, the draw paired Stolz with de Boo. 

The Dutchman had his race plan ready and attacked the American full gas. 

“I wanted to go super fast in the first 600m and then attach my wagon on the last crossing. It worked well, but in that final inner corner, I just had too little left in the tank. I made a little mistake due to fatigue and Stolz just skates a better final lap than I do.”

Stolz finished in 1:06.00, versus 1:06.11 for de Boo. The American, too, said he struggled in the final lap. 

“It was good. I was tired in the last lap, but I was still able to beat him. Compared to Salt Lake, I feel a bit more snappy, but the opener wasn’t much faster. I just need probably another couple races to get in better shape.”

Reigning World Champion Joep Wennemars (NED) ended up third. He felt better than he did last week, when he finished ninth.

“I’m happy with my progression after last week,” Wennemars said. “I feel better. We have been at high altitude for a little longer and it’s all these little things that count.”