CALGARY | Weakened by a cold and the accumulated fatigue of the past six weeks, Laurent Dubreuil ended the first half of the season on Sunday with an 11th place finish in the 1000m at the World Cup in Calgary.
“It’s difficult to end the first half of the season with such a performance, but I give myself the right to have a bad race,” declared Dubreuil from the start, “but I’m not worried. »
Before the start, Dubreuil knew his chances were slim. The same applies to his coach Gregor Jelonek.
“I was hoping for a miracle, the author imagined a time of 1 min 07.93 s, but it didn’t happen. I had no legs. I wasn’t fast enough at the start and didn’t have any juice on the track.
“I’ve had a cold and a runny nose since the beginning of the week,” added the 1000m silver medalist at the Beijing Games. At this level the line is thin and it doesn’t take much to make a difference. I have done two COVID-19 tests and am negative. »
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As the only skater under 1:07, American Jordan Stolz won gold with a time of 1:06.72. Olympic champion Thomas Krol (1:07.16) took silver, followed by Italy’s David Bosa (1:07.24).
“It’s unbelievable to win the 1,000m in 0.4 seconds,” said Dubreuil. After her silver medals in the 500m and 1500m, it was only logical that Stolz would win the 1000m. He was unbeatable in Norway at the first World Cup and has returned to that level. »
First overall in the 500m, Dubreuil slipped to second in the 1,000m, six points behind Dutchman Hein Otterspeer, who was fourth after his win last Sunday.
“I had by far the best first half of my career,” he said. I’m in first place by a good margin in the 500m and I’ve won two medals in the 1000m. I’ve never been second overall after the Fall World Cups. I’ve won four World Cup 1000m medals in my career and won two this fall. The overall ranking is very tight and it will be a four-way battle. My goal is always to win the title. »
Gregor Jelonek was very satisfied with the first half of the season for his protégé.
“It’s super satisfying. He has four podiums in four 500m races. In the 1000m he was better than I thought with two medals. We chose the Four Continents Championship and despite the tiredness we don’t regret it. It was in Quebec and important to us. »
rest well appreciated
Dubreuil will return to his family for a week-long break on Monday.
“It will be a well-deserved break. I will then start a new training block. Eight weeks before the next World Cup in Poland, between Calgary and the Olympic Games in Beijing, we are relying on the same recipe as last year. This recipe has proven itself and I’m not worried. I won’t be making the selection in Quebec from January 6th to 8th and it will be good to be without a bit of shopping to focus on training. »
Dubreuil had every reason to smile after his race. He received the video of his daughter Rose’s first race.
“She likes to skate very much and she did her first race at an interclub meeting in Lévis,” says the proud father of his offspring, who competed in his first race at the age of four. I would have loved to have been there, but the video allowed me to witness this moment from a distance. »
Gélinas-Beaulieu satisfied
Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu was ninth with a time of 1:07.85.
“Finishing in the top 10 in the 1000m is better than expected,” he said. Even though I won bronze last week, I had no expectations. I had a better start than last week but my final lap was tougher. With my seventh place overall, I’m prequalified for the two World Cups in Poland. »