NOS Skating•
A primal scream from Timothy Loubineaud rang thru the ice rink in Salt Lake City. The Frenchman, who has never won a World Cup medal in the five kilometers, has broken the old world record of Nils van der Poel (6:01.56) with a time of 6:00.23, to everyone’s surprise.
Top players such as Davide ghiotto (sixth), Sander Eitrem (third) and Metodej Jílek (second) did not meet his time. Chris Huizinga was the best Dutchman with fifth place.
In the 1,000 meters later in the evening, the American multiple winner Jordan Stolz continued what he had been doing for quite some time. He was by far the fastest and took gold in his home country. Jenning de Boo took the bronze,behind Stolz and Damian zurek.
‘I went for a time of 6.10’
For Loubineaud himself, the world record for the 5,000 meters was a big surprise, he said laughing and in disbelief after his race. “I went under 6.10 minutes for a time and now I’m almost under 6.00. I’m almost disappointed that I didn’t go under that. I expected a world record to be set, but not that it would be me.”
Loubineaud surprises everyone with world record: ‘I am now the best skater, never expected’
For this purpose, Ghiotto selected four names, Eitrem, Jílek, Casey Dawson and himself. But not Loubineaud.
The 29-year-old Frenchman started off very well and managed to complete laps in 27 seconds even after the three kilometers. It seemed like he was waiting for the moment to collapse, but that didn’t happen.
Loubineaud had almost a second and a half left over Van der Poel and just missed the magical limit of 6 minutes: 6.00.23.
39-year-old Jorrit Bergsma, who was Loubineaud’s opponent in his 111th World Cup match, coudl only watch. The veteran on the ice achieved a time of 6:10.66, placing eighth.
just before the new world record was set, 19-year-old Jílek also tried to attack the world record.
The Czech, who had never driven under 6.12 minutes,was able to delight the crowd in the first three kilometers by driving under the world record schedule. But he didn’t hold on to that.
In the end he finished at 6:02.78, almost 10 seconds below his old personal record and only just over a second above the world record.
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The program of the World Cup in Salt Lake City -
the program of the World Cup in Salt Lake City -
The program of the World Cup in Salt Lake City
Sander Eitrem,who was also identified by Ghiotto as a possible contender for the world record,also did not make it. The Norwegian drove to a Norwegian record and a podium place with 6.03.38.
The Dutch don’t come near the podium
The Dutch did not come close to the podium. Huizinga came closest with 6.07.32, but also had to give up four seconds to the bronze.
Marcel Bosker was quite disappointing. Something was expected of the Dutch champion in Salt Lake, but with 6.15.48 he finished fourteenth and only two skaters finished below him.
Bosker is disappointed with bad five kilometers: ‘I had no control, it was completely rough’
With this result, Bosker jeopardizes the potential start of nine Dutch players in Milan. Bosker or Beau Snellink must be promoted from the B group (finish in the first three) in Calgary to increase the chances again.
Stolz excels, Nuis makes a mistake
In the 1,000 meters, Stolz was the only skater who dipped under 1.06 minutes.With his time of 1.05.66 he was almost seven tenths faster than De Boo.
That was not disappointing for De Boo, he said afterwards.”His time was not unachievable, but I couldn’t do that today.”
The Groninger would like to challenge the American for gold in the sprint distances at the Games in Milan, but this was not possible during the first international test of strength.
“But I hope it goes faster in the second weekend. Calgary is my track. I hope to do stunts there.Go faster than I ever did,” said the 21-year-old skater.
De Boo warns Stolz before race in Calgary: ‘I want to do stunts there, harder than ever’
The 1,000 meters were disappointing for Kjeld nuis. The 36-year-old skater made a miss, had to put his hands on the ice, tapped a block and crossed the line with his skate.That meant a disqualification for him.
Tim Prins finished sixth in 1.06.64 and Joep Wennemars finished ninth in 1.07.01.
