Jordan Stolz (USA) smashed the Thialf 1500m track record to retain his unbeaten streak this season, on the first day of the ISU World Cup in Heerenveen on Friday. Finishing in 1 minute and 42.55s, the American was .45s faster than the previous track mark set by Kjeld Nuis (NED) five years ago. Nuis himself was the best of the rest in 1:43.31 and Ning Zhongyan (CHN) took the bronze in 1:43.87.

“He just has way too much talent”

When Stolz took on Joep Wennemars (NED) in the second-last pair, Sander Eitrem (NOR) was on top of the scoreboard with an underwhelming  time of 1:44.95. Eventually, all skaters in the last three pairs were faster than Eitrem, who ended up in 7th place.

Jordan Stolz (USA) wins the 1500m at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating at Thialf Ice Stadium in Heerenveen (NED) © ISU

Wennemars challenged Stolz with a flat-out opener in 23.3s, which was .13s faster than his American pairmate. Stolz kept the Dutchman in sight however, to make his move after 700m. 

Coach Bob Corby explained the race plan, which he discussed with his pupil, beforehand:

“(Stolz) said to me: ‘What do you think?' And I said: “How to skate 1500m version 10?’ He just always does it a little bit differently. This one was: let's go really fast after 700m. 

“He just has way too much talent,” said Corby.

Wennemars could not keep up with Stolz, who crossed in front, coming from the outer lane on the final backstretch. Whereas the American set a final lap in 27.5s, Wennemars needed 29.3s to complete the final 400m.The Dutchman eventually ended up sixth.

Stolz explained his version of the race plan afterwards. “I was going out, just for even laps. It's going to be a hard weekend. I was trying not to burn up everything today.

“I went out at a good pace that I thought I could hold. That was relaxing enough, to keep it strong for the end, and then Wennemars still a bit ahead, and I didn't really like that, so I had to attack it more.”

Not the underdog, but the defending champion

Nuis applauded when he saw Stolz breaking his track record. “All credit to him, he stole it fair and square,” the Dutch veteran said.

Kjeld Nuis (NED) takes silver in 1500m at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating at Thialf Ice Stadium in Heerenveen (NED) © ISU

Nuis himself started in the final pairing versus Ning. He went all-in to regain his track mark, but came .76s short of Stolz. Yet, he remained proud of himself.

“This is my best race in five years. If, five years ago, you’d have told me I could still do this now, I would not have believed you," he said.

“And I take a silver medal, behind a phenomenon. This gives me a lot of confidence, because I’m much faster than the others, who were really close to me in the previous races this season.

“Of course there’s still one man faster, but he’s from another planet.”

However, Nuis still believes he will be able to reach the stellar heights of that planet too, before the Olympic Games in Milano Cortina in February.

“I’m not going to Milano as the underdog, I’m going to Milano as the defending champion,” he said. 

Ning Zhongyan had enjoyed racing Nuis in the final pairing. The two experienced skaters were able to push each other in the race.

Zhongyan Ning of China takes bronze at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating at Thialf Ice Stadium in Heerenveen, Netherlands © ISU

“Our skating style is almost the same, and we could help each other. We could make use of each other’s drafts on the backstretch,” he said.

Ning agreed with Nuis that Stolz was in a league of his own on Friday.

“He is so strong. I’m happy he skated a new track record, because it already stood for such a long time. We’ll have to work very hard (to catch up with Stolz), and then we’ll see at the Olympics.”

Olympic qualification

The first four World Cups serve as Olympic qualification events. Speed skaters will earn quotas for their National Olympic Committees through the Special Olympic Qualification Classifications (SOQCS). Quotas will be allocated based on the SOQC Points ranking (based on points achieved at specific World Cup events) and the SOQC Times ranking (based on the best times per athlete achieved at specific World Cup events).

The maximum amount of quota places per NOC is nine skaters per gender. The quota places are determined by the SOQCS, and allocated to NOCs, not to individual skaters. There’s also a maximum amount of quota places per NOC in each distance at the Olympic Games.

For details of Olympic Qualification, click here