As day one of the World Cup finals in Minsk wrapped up, new and old champions were crowned as champions in their respective distances. Kjeld Nuis continued his stellar season as he took home to top spot overall in the 1000m, narrowly edging out Havard Lorentzen. The Japanese women, and Norwegian men captured the top spots in the team pursuit, building on their performances at the Olympic games last month. Ivanie Blondin and Ted-Jan Bloemen brought home some hardware for the Canadians as they captured the overall silver overall, and the World cup title in the 3000m and 5000m respectively.
By Maria Dalton
Photos: Schaats Foto's
Photos: Schaats Foto's
Kjeld Nuis caps off a stellar season
Kjeld Nuis continued to build on his incredibly successful season by capturing the World Cup title in the 1000m. The Olympic champion in both the 1000m and 1500m has been a force to be reckoned with this season and edged out his main biggest rival, Havard Lorentzen of Norway, by a mere 14 points. Nuis won the 1000m today with a time of 1:09.23, just ahead of compatriot Kai Verbij. Havard Lorentzen fought an intense battle this season, but unfortunately had to settle for the silver at the World Cup finals. The double olympic medallist has had a very strong season but ultimately fell to Nuis in Minsk this weekend. Kai Verbij completed the overall podium and took home the overall bronze after his second place finish today with a time of 1:09.40.
On the women’s side, Yekaterina Shikhova of Russia captured the 1000m World Cup title. Rounding off the podium was Marrit Leenstra of the Netherlands in second, and Hege Bokko of Norway in third. Shikhova’s third place finish today, just behind Marrit Leenstra and Hege Bokko in first and second, was enough to keep her atop the overall standings where she finished with 444 points.
Japanese women, Norwegian men capture Team Pursuit titles
The Japanese women capped off an incredible season by winning the overall World Cup title in the Team Pursuit, and setting a new track record in Minsk. The Japanese have been unbeatable this season, as they have won every world cup event, and took home the gold medal at last month’s Olympics in Pyeongchang. Rounding of the women’s team pursuit podium was Germany and the Netherlands.
On the men’s side, the Norwegian men captured the World Cup title by a healthy margin of 40 points. The Norwegian men finished the day in first with a time of 3:43.88 to solidify their spot atop the podium. Only three men’s teams were in action today in Minsk at the World Cup final, with all three making up the overall podium. Italy finished the season in second place overall with 305 points, and Japan finished in third with 284 points.
Ted-Jan Bloemen crowned champion in the 5000m
Ted-Jan Bloemen was crowned the World cup champion in the 5000m today in Minsk. He finished 5th today with a time of 6.26.38, but after a successful season had enough points to beat out Sverre Lunde Pedersen of Norway for the overall total. Bloemen finished his season with a total of 486 points after finding himself on the podium at 5/6 World cup events.
Ivanie Blondin brings home the overall silver after her third place finish in the 3000m today, with her time of 4:11.77. She finished just behind Antoinette de Jong of the Netherlands in the overall standings. The Dutch skater captured first place in the distance today. Blondin won the 3000m at the last World cup event in Erfurt, before the Olympic games and will be looking to cap off her season with a strong finish in the Mass start tomorrow.Alex Boisvert-Lacroix skated to a time of 35.25 today, in the first of two 500m races at the World cup final in Minsk. The 31 year old Sherbrook native found himself atop the 500m podium twice this season and is currently tied for third place overall with Dutchman Hein Otterspeer, who set a new track record today in Minsk. Boisvert-Lacroix will be looking for a strong performance tomorrow in the second 500m as he looks to finish on the podium at the World cup finals. 
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