Speed Skating Canada – Berlin, Germany, January 27, 2017 – Laurent Dubreuil came up with the best Canadian performance, Friday, on the first day of the ISU World Cup Long Track Speed Skating stage that will be held until Sunday in Berlin, Germany, as he skated to 15th place in the first 500m event of the weekend.

 

Dubreuil, from Lévis, QC, finished the race in 35,46 seconds to end up 15th. Germany’s Nico Ihle (34.83) won gold in front of his own fans. He was followed by Japan’s Yuma Murakami (34.97) and Jan Smeekens (35.02) of the Netherlands. The Canadian skater will also take part in the second 500m of the weekend, slated for Sunday.

 

“It was a bad race,” admitted Laurent Dubreuil. “I completely messed up my first few steps, I was stuck on the line for too long. After that, I was unable to shake it off and it felt like I didn’t do anything good over the rest of the race.”

 

“But I’m happy to get a chance to make it up on Saturday in the 1000m and Sunday in the second 500m and 1000m events,” he added. “I’m happy that I have the opportunity to get reacquainted with the international circuit here instead of in Korea, where there will be much more at stake.”

 

Ontario-born skaters Ivanie Blondin, of Ottawa, and Vincent De Haître, of Cumberland, both finished 17th. Blondin did it in the first of two 1000m races scheduled this weekend and De Haître, in the 1500m.

 

In the women’s 1000m, Blondin skated to a time of 1:18.47. Heather Bergsma (1:15.42) of the United States won the race, ahead of Japan’s Nao Kodaira (1:15.49) and Jorien ter Mors (1:15.62) of the Netherlands.

 

“I’m not fully satisfied about my race today,” said Blondin. “I tried to skate it too much like a 1500m, which is good preparation for Saturday, but not fast enough for a 1000m. The race was over and I knew it wasn’t going to be a great time, because I never got the speed going in the first lap.”

 

In the 1500m, De Haître also skated to 17th spot, with a time of 1:48.88. Kjeld Nuis (1 :45.94) of the Netherlands won gold, ahead of Russia’s Denis Yuskov (1 :46.03), who earned silver, and New Zealand’s Peter Michael (1:46.87), who collected bronze.

 

Earlier in the day, De Haître skated to 11th place in the B group of the first 500m event, with a time of 36.092.

 

“I was expecting more out of myself today,” said De Haître. “I can look past having a bad 500m race, because it is not my specialty event. But not when it comes to the 1500m, an event I always look forward to racing and pushing myself. I guess I underestimated my fatigue. Even though today wasn’t my day, there’s always tomorrow.”

 

In the 1500m B group, Ted-Jan Bloemen of Calgary earned second place in 1:48.98.

 

“I was quite happy with my race today,” said Bloemen. “The first 700m was spot on, after that I made a couple of mistakes though. I started pushing a little too hard because I felt so good, but that messed with my technique and track pattern a bit. It’s a shame, I should have won the B group.”

 

The World Cup will continue on Saturday with the second women’s 500m and the first men’s 1000m, as well as the only women’s 1500m and men’s 5000m events of the weekend.

 

TODAY’S CANADIAN RESULTS

500m (1) – M
15. Laurent Dubreuil (35.46)

 

1500m – M

17. Vincent De Haître (1:48.88)

 

1000m (1) – W
17. Ivanie Blondin (1:18.47)

 

500m (1) (B) – M

11. Vincent De Haître (36.092)

 

1500m (B) – M

2. Ted-Jan Bloemen (1:48.98)
 

More information is available at Speed Skating Canada’s website: www.speedskating.ca.

 

About Speed Skating Canada

Speed Skating Canada (SSC) is the governing body for competitive long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, the association is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial branches representing more than 14,000 individual members, and counting. SSC believes that sport is an apprenticeship for life and prizes respect for others, integrity, excellence of effort, as well as a safe, healthy environment. SSC recognizes and values its outstanding volunteers who give freely of their time and expertise. It also celebrates the 63 Olympic medals won by Canadian athletes since 1932, as well as the coaches, officials and other dedicated individuals who helped them on their journey.

 

SSC is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values including our premium sponsors Intact Insurance, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, and WinSport Canada.
 

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