Although he wasn’t thrilled with his time, Laurent Dubreuil started the Canadian Long Track Speed Skating Championships well by winning the 500m at the Calgary Olympic Oval this afternoon.
Dubreuil had already qualified for his favorite event of the first stages of the World Cup thanks to his second place at the World Championships last February in the Netherlands, achieving a time of 34.54 s.
“It’s not my best career race, but it’s not dramatic either,” he summarized. The ice wasn’t very fast and I missed special ice training for the last month and a half due to my knee injury. With a month of training I will have time to get my time to the low 34 mark that will be necessary to win a World Cup medal. »
The good news is that Dubreuil felt no pain. “I didn’t feel any pain while skating,” he said. The fitness is there, but I have hardly run at full speed since my injury. »
Since the caliber in Canada over 1000 m is significantly higher and he is not in top shape, Dubreuil doesn’t really know what to expect on Friday. “I won’t set a personal best, but I hope my time will be good enough to be in the top five to get their ticket to the World Championships,” he said. The 1000m is the toughest distance in Canada and there are more than five skaters at World Cup level. »
Dubreuil assures that he is in no danger by showing up at the starting line of the 1000m race.
“There is no risk, otherwise I wouldn’t start. Even if I want to do well in the 1000 m World Cup, my priority remains the 500 m. »
Cédrick Brunet took sixth place with a time of 35.29 s. In the women’s race, Rose Laliberté-Roy took fourth place with a time of 38.98 s.
A first title for Valérie Maltais
Valérie Maltais made it big by defeating Olympic medalists Isabelle Weidemann and Ivanie Blondin, winning gold in the 3000m and securing her first Canadian title in an individual event.
“I am very happy with this first title and even more so with the way I ran,” she explained. My goal is to be on the podium in the 3000m World Cup for the first time this year and this is a step in the right direction. This is the first time I’ve beaten Ivanie in a one-on-one fight. »
“Before, I drove too fast, got carried away and the end was difficult, from the pursuit of the gold medalist at the Beijing Games to the team pursuit. I was patient and accelerated later. It’s the first time I’m pre-qualified and it changes my mindset, but I have to learn and repeat the same strategy. »
Maltais crossed the finish line in 4 minutes and 2.84 seconds. Weidemann followed with 4min 4.76sec and Blondin with 4min 6.09sec. Blondin competed in the Canadian Short Track Championships last weekend in Montreal. For her part, Béatrice Lamarche took fifth place.
Finally, in the 5000 m, Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu took sixth place with a time of 6 minutes and 31.25 seconds.