Marijke Groenewoud claimed victory in the first women's mass start of the World Cup season in Beijing, overcoming a two-hour delay caused by a fractured sheet of ice at the National Speed Skating Oval to triumph in the newly formatted elimination race.
- Emerging contenders like Jorian ten Cate demonstrate that endurance specialists can capitalize on chaotic restarts, altering traditional World Cup podium projections.
The opening World Cup event in Beijing faced immediate disruption when officials discovered a major crack in the ice at the National Speed Skating Oval, a venue originally constructed for the 2022 Winter Games, as NOS reported. The repair work required extended time for the ice to regain structural integrity, pushing back the schedule by over two hours and testing the athletes’ mental focus.
Before the repairs were finalized, uncertainty surrounded the participation of top Dutch competitors. National coach Rintje Ritsma maintained constant communication with the event organizers regarding athlete safety, noting that competitors like Groenewoud and Harm Visser remained eager to race once the surface was deemed secure, Omrop Fryslân noted.
| Event | Winner | Runner-Up | Third Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Mass Start | Marijke Groenewoud (NED) | Merel Conijn (NED) | Valérie Maltais (CAN) |
| Men’s Mass Start | Jorian ten Cate (NED) | Livio Wenger (SUI) | Ethan Cepuran (USA) |
The mass start has transitioned this season from a traditional mini-marathon into an elimination race inspired by track cycling, where the last two skaters are eliminated every two rounds until six remain.
This new structure drew intense criticism ahead of the international calendar, with reigning Olympic champion Jorrit Bergsma dismissing the format as dangerously volatile (Sporza reported). “We rijden allemaal op elkaar in. Ik zie dat helemaal niet zitten en wil dat risico ook niet lopen,” Bergsma told the AD.
In the women’s final, Groenewoud utilized her tactical positioning to overhaul Merel Conijn, who had briefly opened a gap in the closing circuit. Groenewoud crossed the line first among the final six competitors, with Conijn taking second and Canada’s Valérie Maltais securing third, according to De Telegraaf.
In the men’s division, 23-year-old World Cup debutant Jorian ten Cate capitalised on the restart following the crash-induced stoppage. Following a late fall by Harm Visser—who was subsequently disqualified—Ten Cate held off Switzerland’s Livio Wenger in the final sprint to claim his maiden international victory.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
