Feb 17, 2024 at 11:57 PM Update: an hour ago
Irene Schouten bizarrely won the world title on Saturday in the mass start at the World Championship distances in Calgary. The Dutchwoman crashed in the second round, fought back into the peloton and then sprinted to gold. Belgian Bart Swings became world champion among the men.
Schouten stayed just ahead of Canadian Ivanie Blondin in the final meters, while Marijke Groenewoud rode to bronze and thus gave the Netherlands a second medal.
For 31-year-old Schouten, it is her third world title in the mass start, after 2015 and 2019. Last year, Groenewoud took gold.
It is also Schouten’s third world title at these World Cup distances. The three-time Olympic champion previously won gold in the 3,000 meters and was also the fastest in the team pursuit, together with Groenewoud and Joy Beune.
Schouten can win a fourth world title on Sunday. She will then start as top favorite in the 5,000 meters. It has never happened at a World Distance Championships that one skater has won four world titles.
Happiness just after the finish at Irene Schouten. Photo: Pro Shots
Schouten went on the attack early
Schouten started as one of the favorites on the mass start, as did teammate Groenewoud. The North Holland player immediately went on the attack, but that went wrong. In the second lap she slipped and crashed into the cushions along the track.
Schouten’s chances seemed lost, but the competition did not continue at full speed. After chasing for laps, she was actually able to join the peloton again. In the meantime, the Italian Laura Lorenzato had escaped, but she was caught with one lap to go.
A sprint had to make the decision. Blondin came inside in the last corner, but Schouten had more speed on the straight and completed her wonderful overtaking race. Groenewoud’s bronze made the Dutch party even more beautiful.
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Hoolwerf finishes fifth
For the men, Bart Hoolwerf missed out on a medal in the mass start, while the other Dutchman, Marcel Bosker, had not qualified for the final.
The 26-year-old Hoolwerf, who took silver at the World Championships last year, finished fifth. Just like a year earlier, the world title went to Olympic Swings champion. After sixteen laps in the sprint, the Belgian beat the Canadian Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu (silver) and Livio Wenger from Switzerland (bronze).
In a final where none of the favorites – apart from the Italians – had support from a compatriot, they watched and waited. New Zealander Peter Michael accelerated, but it stopped again. Then came attack after attack.
Frenchman Timothy Loubineaud made a breakaway with three laps to go, but was overtaken by the oncoming sprinters. Hoolwerf was too far behind in the final lap to sprint for the medals.
Bart Swings cheers after his golden race. Photo: Pro Shots Unfortunately, this content cannot be shown. We do not have permission for the necessary cookies. Please accept cookies to view this content.
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2024-02-17 22:57:56
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