SPEED SKATING

Wiklund (NOR) finds long-distance redemption on Beijing ice

30 Nov 2024

#SpeedSkating

Ragne Wiklund (NOR) left her bad memories of Beijing behind to win 3000m gold in the ISU World Cup at the National Speed Skating Oval on Saturday. The Norwegian left Joy Beune (NED) and Isabelle Weideman (CAN) behind in the long-distance event. For Beune it was the second silver medal of the weekend, after finishing 0.12s behind Miho Takagi (JPN) in the 1500m on Friday. Takagi also won Saturday’s 1000m, with Dutch prodigy Angel Daleman coming in third to take her second medal after Friday’s 1500m bronze.

Wiklund finds redemption at Ice Ribbon

Although Ragne Wiklund (NOR) also won last season’s 3000m World Cup race at the Ice Ribbon, she admitted she did not have too many good memories from that race and the season-altering problems which followed it.

“I was already getting sick during that race and I felt really bad,” she explained.

Last season’s Beijing World Cup thus started a period of physical struggles for Wiklund and only now, at the beginning of the new season, does she feel she can rely on a healthy body again, and it paid off.

“I needed to get a good feeling here. I like the ice, I just haven't been able to perform here before at the level that I want.”

Last week in Nagano Wiklund took 3000m silver, moving up a step on the podium up with gold in Beijing. The Norwegian took to the ice in the last pairing against last week’s winner Ivanie Blondin (CAN), and gradually built a lead with a fast-paced first half of the race.

With Blondin out of sight, Wiklund recorded the fastest split times of the field, only to see her lap times go up in the final part of the race.

She had enough time spare to keep Joy Beune (NED) and Isabelle Weidemann (CAN) at bay, however, and finished in a time of 4 minutes and 0.10s.

Victory in the Beijing 3000m last year was followed by a difficult season for Ragne Wiklund (NOR). A repeat gold using a hands-on-back technique promises more in 2025 © ISU

Following a new trend in the endurance events, Wilund skated through the corners with two hands on her back.

“My dad said that he thinks that will be the next thing,” she shared after her win.

“I have done it before this season at races in Norway, but not yet at the World Cup.

“I think I skate really well with it when I go fast, but not so much on slower ice, so I wanted to get one safe race to start off the World Cups [last week in Nagano].

“I think it's really fun to practice with, and I like technical challenges.”

Beune (NED), who finished in finished in 4:01.90, had another challenge during her 3000m race at the Ice Ribbon. Yesterday’s silver medalist in the 1500m, started choking for air a couple of laps into her race.

She explained: “I just couldn’t breathe for a moment and panicked a little. I wanted to open my suit, but then I caught my breath back and I could pick up my pace.

“My coach noted that there’s a lot of ants in the air, so I think I must have choked on an ant.”

After last week’s 1500m and 3000m bronze medals, Beune once again stepped onto the podium in all individual distances she skated this weekend.

“I didn’t realize that, but then Kjeld [Beune’s partner Kjeld Nuis, NED] said it to me yesterday. It’s nice, but I also know what it is to get gold. That’s what I worked for the whole summer.

“I hope to get gold at the World Cup in the second half of the season, and the World Championships in March are the big goal of course.”

Joy Beune (NED), left, has reached the podium in all four World Cup races so far, while Isabelle Weidemann (CAN), right, bounced back from ninth in Nagano to take bronze © ISU

After a disappointing ninth place last week in Nagano, Weidemann (CAN) bounced back to take bronze in Beijing, stopping the clock at 4:02.02.

The Canadian commented: “I feel like I'm just starting to find my racing legs a little bit more. I'm not sure, I think that's also part of the game. Sometimes you mess up on one weekend and we get to come back the next weekend.”

Wiklund took over the lead in the World Cup ranking, with Blondin drooping to third place after finishing eighth in Beijing. Beune climbed to second place.

Takagi simply doesn't tire

Miho Takagi (JPN) had started her day winning the B Division 3000m in the morning, but that effort did not detract from her speed in the 1000m in the afternoon. She clocked a time of 1 minute and 14.62s to win the double-sprint ahead of Dutch teammates Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong and Angel Daleman.

The gap was small. Rijpma-de Jong only came 0.10 seconds short and Daleman, who finished in a personal best time of 1:14.90 crossed the line just 0.28s short of the Japanese Olympic champion.

Miho Takagi (JPN), front, showed no signs of fatigue in the 1000m after racing the B Division 3000m earlier on Saturday. Angel Daleman (NED), back, continues to impress © ISU

“I’m really happy to win. The gap is small, but I’m glad to come out on top,” Takagi said.

“I don’t think [racing the] 3000m affected my 1000m performance. I just want to skate the 3000m because I also need that long distance technique.”

For Rijpma-De Jong it was the first individual World Cup medal this season.

“This was a much better race [than last week’s seventh place],” she said. ”I have trained a lot for endurance, and today my speed was better too.”

Rijpma-De Jong skated the fastest final lap of the field.

“That’s my strength, but often I have about an 11th [600m] split time or something, and then I still have to trust that strong final lap,” she said.

Rijpma-De Jong enjoyed having 17-year-old compatriot Daleman on the podium with her.

“It’s not for everyone to skate at this level at such a young age. I feel similarities [Rijpma-De Jong also made her World Cup debut at age 17]. She’s still exploring everything. It’s great to grow and she can only get better.”

Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong (NED), left, improved from seventh last week to take silver, while Daleman, right, won a second ISU World Cup bronze in her debut senior season © ISU

Daleman herself can’t really believe what’s happening yet.

“It is strange to be on the podium with your idols. I used to be a fan and now we’re here and we’re chatting together as if it’s normal,” she enthused.

Behind top-ranked Takagi, Jutta Leerdam (NED), who finished sixth on Saturday, is second in the 1000m ranking, Daleman sitting in third.

Beijing program

The Beijing World Cup concludes with the second 500m, the Mass Start, and the Team Sprint for both genders on Sunday.

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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