#SpeedSkating

Tomaszów Mazowiecki in Poland is gearing up to host the fifth event of the 2024/25 ISU World Cup Speed Skating series, with the home crowd looking forward to the short distances in particular. Andzelika Wójcik (POL) leads the women’s 500m rankings, and the Polish women are top of the Team Sprint table. Wójcik could become the first Polish skater to win an A Division World Cup race in six events hosted at the Arena Lodowa.

Wójcik waiting for gold 

Despite leading the 500m World Cup rankings, Andzelika Wójcik (POL) hasn’t won an individual World Cup race this season yet. She’s taken two silver and two bronze medals from seven races so far.

After she missed the ISU European Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen (NED) in January due to the flu, a recovered Wójcik took the World Cup lead from Yukino Yoshida (JPN) when she claimed bronze in the second 500m race in Milwaukee (USA) two weeks ago.

 Andżelika Wójcik (POL) races at the 2025 ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Milwaukee, USA © ISU

The Polish sprinter is looking forward to the home races in Tomaszów Mazowiecki: “I want to cheer with my public, with Poland. It will be great.”

Japanese Yoshida was unable to match the level she showed at the first two World Cups in Nagano (JPN) and Beijing (CHN) during the first half of the season. She won gold at both of the Asian legs of the competition.

Femke Kok (NED), who missed the first two ISU World Cups due to a viral infection, returned to pick up three gold medals from three 500m races in Calgary (CAN) and Milwaukee (USA). The reigning 500m World Champion decided not to skate in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, however, leaving the field open to Wójcik, and also Erin Jackson (USA).

Silver medalist in Milwaukee (USA): Erin Jackson (USA) who came second in the 500m #2 at the ISU World Cup © ISU

The Olympic champion from the United States struggled with chronic back issues at the Calgary World Cup, but showed fine form in Milwaukee, claiming two silver medals, finishing behind Kok in both races. 

Kaja Ziomek-Nogal (POL) is another home contender to look out for. Having returned to international Speed Skating after a two-year-break in which she gave birth to daughter Antonina, Ziomek-Nogal won her career-first individual World Cup gold in the 500m in Beijing this season.

Takagi on seven-race winning streak

Miho Takagi (JPN) reigns supreme in the women’s 1000m ISU World Cup. The Olympic and World Champion from Japan is undefeated in the last seven 1000m World Cup races in which she’s participated.

Miho Takagi (JPN) takes 1000m gold at the ISU World Cup in Milwaukee, USA © ISU

With Jutta Leerdam (NED) absent in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Brittany Bowe (USA) seems to be Takagi’s main rival. The American veteran, who celebrates her 37th birthday on 24 February, took silver in Milwaukee.

“[Takagi] is obviously so deserving. She's been almost unbeatable in every race this year,” Bowe said. 

“I've been pretty consistent the whole season. I definitely feel that I’m within striking distance.”

Groenewoud getting in shape

In the 1500m, Takagi, the World Champion, won the first two ISU World Cup races of the season. Her Dutch rival Joy Beune (NED) took gold in Calgary and Milwaukee, and appears to be taking over Takagi’s reign. 

Like many Dutch top skaters, Beune has decided to skip the ISU World Cup in Poland, however. Marijke Groenewoud (NED), who beat Beune in the 1500m with a season’s best at the Dutch Championships last week, will take the challenge to Takagi in Poland.

Marijke Groenewoud (NED) wins the Mass Start at the ISU World Cup in Milwaukee, USA © ISU

Groenewoud also beat Beune to take the Dutch title in the 3000m last week, which makes her a podium candidate at the Arena Lodowa, despite lying only eighth in the rankings for that distance after a disappointing run in the first four ISU World Cups.

Trailing the absent Beune by only four points, Ragne Wiklund (NOR) seems likely to take the lead in the long-distance ISU World Cup standings, while Groenewoud is gearing up for another Mass Start victory having already won three of the four races so far this season.

Stolz’s count back at zero

While Polish eyes will focus on Wójcik and Ziomek-Nogal in the women’s competition, the home crowd will push Poland’s medal contenders in the men’s short distances too.

Although all male skaters have to abide by the reign of Jordan Stolz (USA) in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m this season, the US phenomenon was found to be beatable. 

Jordan Stolz (USA) races to a rare silver medal at the ISU World Cup in Milwaukee, USA © ISU

After an 18-race winning streak in the ISU World Cup series, the count was reset two weeks ago in Milwaukee (USA), where Tatsuya Shinhama (JPN) beat his 20-year-old rival to the line by a .05s margin in a head-to-head encounter in the 500m.

Shinhama will challenge Stolz once more, but Jenning de Boo (NED), lying second in both the 500m and the 1000m ISU World Cup rankings, decided to skip this weekend’s edition of the ISU World Cup.

Polish sprinters Damian Zurek, Piotr Michalski and Marek Kania will aim for the 500m and 1000m podiums too. Zurek, who was born in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, has claimed ISU World Cup medals in his home town, taking bronze twice, in the 500m (in December 2023) and in the 1000m (February 2023).

Together, the Polish sprinters are ranked third in the Team Sprint World Cup going into their home race.

Damian Zurek (POL) celebrates his bronze medal on home ice in 2023 at the ISU World Cup © ISU

Norwegians gearing up on natural ice

In the 1500m, Kjeld Nuis (NED) and Peder Kongshaug (NOR) will take on Stolz once more. Nuis, the Olympic champion, won the Dutch title in Heerenveen last week, while Kongshaug was training on natural ice around Hamar, and on the ice of the Vikingskipet, which hosts the ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships on 13-16 March.

Peder Kongshaug (NOR) competes on home ice in the Men's Allround 10,000m during the 2022 World Speed Skating Championships at Vikingskipet in Hamar, Norway © ISU

Kongshaug’s compatriot Sander Eitrem (NOR), who won the European Allround title in Heerenveen in January, is another contender in the 1500m and even more so in the 5000m. 

The versatile Norwegian sits in second behind Davide Ghiotto (ITA) in the long-distance World Cup standings. Eitrem has twice beaten his Italian rival in the 5000m this season, while Ghiotto won one 5000m race (in Nagano) and the 10,000m in a world record time at the Calgary ISU World Cup.  

Loubineaud’s tactical challenge

Timothy Loubineaud (FRA) leads the World Cup ranking in the exciting men’s Mass Start competition. The 28-year-old Frenchman, who successfully switched from inline skating to ice skating, has already won two races with successful breakaways this season. 

Loubineaud’s offensive style gives other teams a huge tactical challenge. Italy’s Andrea Giovannini and Daniele Di Stefano have not been able to set up a successful bunch sprint so far this season, nor has Olympic champion Bart Swings (BEL). 

Timothy Loubineaud (FRA) wins the Mass Start at the ISU World Cup in Nagano o(JPN) last November © ISU

Dutch veteran Jorrit Bergsma (NED) enjoys Loubineaud’s tactics, and made perfect use of the multiple breakaway attempts in Milwaukee three weeks ago to set up his own successful attack. Bergsma celebrated his 39th birthday with his first World Cup gold medal since 30 January 2021.

Bart Hoolwerf (NED), fourth in the Mass Start ISU World Cup rankings, is the only racer to have finished a successful bunch sprint this season.

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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