If only all of Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu’s races could take place in Calgary.
Prior to Sunday, it had been almost two years since his last mass start, yet the speed skater from Sherbrooke, Quebec, showcased his skills at the Canadian long track championships without missing a beat.
Gélinas-Beaulieu, feeling the pressure at the starting line in Calgary, displayed patience throughout the 16-lap men’s event before asserting himself at the front during the final sprint.
The 33-year-old crossed the finish line first in a time of 7 minutes 55.88 seconds, edging out Ottawa’s Jake Weidemann (7:55.96) and Montreal’s David LaRue (7:56.43).
Reflecting on his performance, Gélinas-Beaulieu shared with Speed Skating Canada, “It has been two years since I raced a mass start. The last time was here in Calgary, when I won silver at the World Championships. There were many strong competitors today, but I executed my race well.”
“Mass start races are always challenging, but this one had no major surprises, allowing me to position myself effectively throughout the race and secure the victory in the final sprint.”
On the women’s side, Valérie Maltais from La Baie, Quebec, triumphed over a field of 14 without any unexpected turns.
In a thrilling final lap, the 35-year-old surged ahead of Rose-Anne Grenier from Sainte-Marie, Quebec, and Darby Beeson from Airdrie, Alberta, clinching the title in 9:08.72. Grenier took silver (9:10.46), while Beeson (9:10.61) outpaced Calgary’s Isabelle Champagne for the bronze.
“I felt a mix of nerves and confidence before today’s race,” Maltais expressed. “Mass start events can be unpredictable, but I had a good feeling and knew I had the speed.”
“My goal was to win today’s race so I could continue representing Canada at the World Cups.”
Ottawa’s Ivanie Blondin secured prequalification for the World Cups in the discipline based on her outstanding international performances last season, including a silver at the World Championships in Hamar, Norway.
The selection of Canada’s team for the upcoming World Cup series will be announced in the following weeks, taking into account the results from these championships and the athletes’ performances on the international stage last year.