Marijke Groenewoud and Joy Beune face a challenging pursuit on the final day of the World Allround Speed Skating Championships, trailing leaders Ragne Wiklund and Miho Takagi after the initial races.
NOS, the Netherlands
After two of the four distances in the competition, Groenewoud ranks third, beginning the 1,500 meter race with a 1.73 second deficit behind both Norwegian Ragne Wiklund and Japanese Miho Takagi, who share the lead. Wiklund is considered to have a greater advantage for the overall title due to perceived strength in the longer distances. Defending champion Joy Beune is currently in fourth place following a mixed performance, with a modest 500 meter time but a slower than expected 3,000 meter of 4:00.09, marking her first time above four minutes this season. She starts the 1,500 meter with a 1.94 second lag behind the leaders.
Takagi secured victory in the 500 meter race as she prepares to retire from the sport this weekend, while Wiklund posted the fastest time in the 3,000 meter at 3:56.83, a distance at which she earned Olympic silver. Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong finished second in the 500 meter but dropped to fifth place on the 3,000 meter with a time of 4:03.22, notably eight seconds above her personal best as it was her first race at that distance this season. Groenewoud delivered a strong 3:57.39 in the final pair against Beune, who did not improve on her previous time, exceeding four minutes.
This championship also marked the final race of Martina Sáblíková, a five-time world allround champion, who announced her retirement following a subdued tournament hampered by illness contracted at the Winter Olympics. Sáblíková’s last race was the 3,000 meters, held before an enthusiastic crowd at Thialf arena. Despite a challenging season, she celebrated with an emotional final lap, receiving standing ovations from the audience. Her career spanned over two decades, leaving a significant legacy in the sport.
