Jordan Stolz holds the lead halfway through the World Allround Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen, despite fatigue from multiple races over three days, while Sander Eitrem closed the gap with a new track record in the 5,000 meters.
The American defending champion Jordan Stolz remains at the top of the standings midway through the World Allround Championships in Heerenveen. On the final day, the competition is expected to be intense as Stolz has to defend a lead of almost three seconds against Norwegian skater Sander Eitrem, who recently set an impressive track record of 6:01.61 in the 5,000 meters. Stolz has competed in six races in just three days, having also participated in the World Sprint Championships on Thursday and Friday, showing remarkable endurance despite the demanding schedule.
Earlier in the day, Stolz won the 500-meter race decisively and completed the 5,000 meters in a respectable time of 6:19.66. Although he aimed for a faster time, the fatigue was evident. Allround skaters and endurance athletes like Sander Eitrem, Vladimir Semirunniy (6:08.15), and Metodej Jilek (6:09.77) all surpassed Stolz’s time in the 5,000 meters, but none could overtake him in the overall standings.
At his World Championship debut, Dutch skater Stijn van de Bunt achieved a personal best in the 5,000 meters with a time of 6:07.54, placing second in that race. Van de Bunt had finished 21st in the 500 meters but made significant progress in the rankings, currently holding sixth place overall. Although seven seconds behind Stolz, he still has the opportunity to improve his position with a strong performance in the 10,000 meters. Fellow Dutch skaters Marcel Bosker and Chris Huizinga are positioned eighth and ninth respectively, making a podium finish less likely for them.
The men’s allround tournament this weekend showcases a notable confrontation between sprint specialists and endurance skaters. Stolz rarely competes in distances longer than 1,500 meters, but his substantial advantages in shorter races have allowed him to maintain his lead, similar to his performance at the previous World Championships in Inzell two years ago. After a strong 500 meters with a time of 34.22 seconds, Stolz entered the 5,000 meters with about twenty seconds’ lead over his competitors. Known as an exceptional talent, Stolz also placed second at the World Sprint Championships behind Jenning de Boo the previous day. Recognizing that the longer distances are more challenging for him, he focused on minimizing time loss, which he managed to do, although he believes he could have been faster with a day of rest.
Olympic 10,000-meter silver medalist Vladimir Semirunniy struggled to match the strong time set by Stijn van de Bunt. The Polish skater finished third in the 5,000 meters, just ahead of Metodej Jilek, the Czech Olympic 10,000 meters champion. The only skater who outpaced the Dutchman was Sander Eitrem. The Norwegian world record holder and Olympic champion in the 5,000 meters started very fast and ultimately posted the fourth-fastest time ever in the 5,000 meters, setting a new track record by breaking Patrick Roest’s previous mark of 6:04.36.
NOS Schaatsen reported from the Netherlands.
