Ragne Wiklund of Norway secured her fourth consecutive long-distance World Cup Trophy by winning the 3000m event and breaking the track record at the Max Aicher Arena in Inzell, Germany.
According to ISU Skating, Wiklund delivered a powerful performance in the 3000m race, overcoming Canadian competitor Valérie Maltais in their pairing. Wiklund finished with a time of 3 minutes and 54.74 seconds, beating the previous track record set by Joy Beune of the Netherlands in 2024 by nearly a second. The 25-year-old Norwegian attributed her success to an aggressive skating strategy honed during the recent European Championships and emphasized the significance of setting a record at the historic venue.
Wiklund’s overall victory in the World Cup awarded her 16,000 US dollars in prize money. She is now considered a strong contender for the 3000m and 5000m events at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. The competition in this season’s World Cup has been tight, with multiple skaters including Beune challenging for podium positions. Beune took silver in the event with a time of 3:56.96, acknowledging she was using the event as part of her preparation for the Olympics.
Valérie Maltais earned the bronze medal with a time of 3:59.92. She reflected positively on her race as part of her build-up to the Games, noting ongoing recovery and improved form following a recent intensive training camp.
In related events, Dutch skater Jutta Leerdam set a track record in the 1000m by finishing in 1 minute and 12.74 seconds, narrowly beating her previous mark. Her compatriot Femke Kok finished third but secured her first World Cup Trophy in the 1000m, adding to a trophy she won in the 500m earlier in the week. Olympic champion Miho Takagi of Japan placed second and noted her efforts to improve top-end speed ahead of the Olympics.
