Heather Richardson (USA) and Pavel Kulizhnikov (RUS) won the Grand World Cup and the 20,000 dollars that came with it, in the Final in Erfurt, Germany. Kulizhnikov did not have to race, as his victory had become clear on Saturday.

Nao Kodaira was the first Japanese woman since Kyoko Shimazaki in 1991 to win the 500m World Cup. Martina Sábliková (CZE) won the long distance (3000/5000m) World Cup for a unique 9th time in a row, while Brittany Bowe (USA) won the 1000m Cup and Ivanie Blondin (CAN) the first Mass Start Cup. Seung-Hoon Lee (KOR) had already secured the Cup in the last Mass Start and did not travel to Erfurt. In the men’s 1500m, Denny Morrison (CAN) sneaked from fifth to first place with his win on the final day.

It was the first year that the World Cup Final was the conclusion of the speed skating season.

Ladies

Sábliková wins the 3000m World Cup for 9th consecutive year The day started with the ladies’ 3000m. Sábliková did not even have to race to add to her longest winning streak in the World Cup, as she was the leader with 430 points and Ireen Wüst (NED), the only one who was in her vicinity with 350 points, was not on the start list.

However, Sábliková’s thirst for winning seemed undiminished. She finished in 4:04.06 to take the gold medal and add another 150 point to end the season with a total of 580 points. Although her winning streak of nine is unprecedented, Sábliková is not on top of the all-time winner’s list. Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann won the long-distance World Cup ten times, and she was second three times.

Claudia Pechstein (GER) needed to finish top-4 to overtake Wüst and she managed to do just that. The German lady won this Cup three times in the past twenty years. This was the 11th time she was second and she also finished third twice. With a total of 16 podium finishes she holds the record in the ladies’ field (equal to Bob de Jong in the men’s field).

Marije Joling (NED), who had been number five in the ranking, set the second time (4:05.64) to finish third overall. Diane Valkenburg (NED) finished her season with bronze medal in 4:07.85 on the final day. She ended up sixth in the final ranking.

With her win, Sábliková took a (temporary) lead in the battle for the Grand World Cup, with 946 points, while Richardson had 910 and Bowe 835.

Kodaira first Japanese since 1991 to win ladies’ 500m World Cup On the final day only two contenders were left for the 500m World Cup. Sang-Hwa Lee (KOR) was in the lead with 880 points, but absent in Erfurt. Number two, Nao Kodaira (JPN), was only 60 points behind and needed to finish top-5 to reach the top.

Richardson was ranked third and she easily held on to her podium spot, when she beat Brittany Bowe (US) head-to-head and took the victory in 37.77.  Bowe got the silver with 37.97.

Kodaira completed the podium in 38.49 and thus secured the 500m World Cup with 926 points. The absent Sang-Hwa Lee finished runner-up with 880 points. Bowe passed Judith Hesse (GER) to end up fourth behind Richardson.

In the Grand World Cup, Richardson passed Sábliková, who still had 946. Bowe got nearer with 895 points.

Bowe ends up on top after a close 1000m season Four skaters were eying the 1000m World Cup. Qishi Li (CHN) was in the lead, with MArrit Leenstra (NED), World Champion Bowe and Karolina Erbanová (CZE) close behind. Richardson was fifth and for her second place overall was the highest rank possible.

Richardson skated before the others and took the track record (which was 1:15.34 by Bowe) in 1:15.13. Bowe recaptured the record with 1:14.61 in the next pair. She kept Erbanová more than two seconds behind.

Leenstra needed to be faster than Richardson to beat Bowe in the general classification, while Li needed to be top-five. Neither one of them succeeded. Leenstra finished third with 1:15.78, and Li needed 1:16.76 to finish sixth. She came 0.03 seconds short of the fifth place and the overall victory in the World Cup.

Bowe eventually grabbed the 1000m World Cup with 510 points. Leenstra was second with 507 and Li third with 485. Erbanová and Richardson were fourth and fifth with 407 and 400 points respectively.

Ivanie Blondin (CAN) wins first ever Mass Start World Cup At the start of the final event, the mass start, Richardson and Bowe were the only contenders left for the Grand World Cup and the 20,000 dollars of prize money. Even a win would not be enough for Sábliková. Bowe needed to win the mass start to overtake Richardson in the Grand World Cup standings.

Meanwhile Mass Start World Cup leader Ivanie Blondin (CAN) and the World Champion Irene Schouten (NED) fought for the Mass Start World Cup win. With so many tactics involved, the start of the race had more glances than speed.

With ten laps to go, Pechstein decided to try and escape, but Mariska Huisman (NED) countered, while Bowe and Richardson followed. Huisman had hardly taken over the lead trying to control Pechstein, when Sábliková came around the pack and escaped. Richardson quickly followed and took the sprint at 8 laps from the finish, before Sábliková and Schouten.

Richardson dropped back after the sprint, while Sábliková kept a fierce speed. Bowe tried to follow but couldn’t keep up with the pace. Richardson took the 3 points far behind Sábliková at the last sprint and was certain of the Grand World Cup.

Sábliková won the race and everybody looked for the battle between Blondin and Schouten. That battle never came because the Dutch lady crashed in the final lap. Blondin lost the sprint for the remaining podium places against Nana Takagi (JPN, silver) and Francesca Lollobrigida (ITA, bronze), but she got the Cup with 466 points.

Schouten ended up second with 432 points and Sábliková was third with 405 points. She eventually finished second in the Grand World Cup. Richardson won it with 1195 points, Sábliková had 1096 and Bowe finished third with 1045 points.

For full results of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series 2014/15 please refer to http://www.isuresults.eu/ and http://www.isu.org/en/speed-skating/series/isu-world-cup-speed-skating

The ISU World Cup Speed Skating and the entire 2014/15 Speed Skating Season has come to a close. 

ISU World Cup Speed Skating Final Erfurt (GER) - Medal Winners day 2

500m Ladies

1000m Ladies

World Cup Final Ranking

500m Ladies

1000m Ladies

Grand World Cup Ladies