Who could bring home medals for Canada at the Speed Skating World Cup?

This weekend, Quebec City proudly hosts the culminating event of the ISU Speed Skating World Cup, a series that spans nearly four decades. This marks the sixth and final round of the 2023-24 season.

The current season hasn't been as triumphant for Canadian skaters compared to their previous exploits. With earlier events favoring them on home turf in Calgary, returning to familiar ice in Quebec could rejuvenate their performances.

Enthusiasts looking to place a wager on this weekend's speed skating showdown may find intriguing betting opportunities. betting sites We hope to bring a stroke of luck to the Canadian speed skaters as they vie for victory in front of their hometown crowd.

When discussing the history of the Speed Skating World Cup, the conversation inevitably begins with Jeremy Wotherspoon. His eight 500-meter titles and five 1000-meter crowns make him the most decorated competitor in World Cup history.

Despite Jeremy Wotherspoon's dominance in the World Cup, the Olympic stage was less forgiving, with a silver in Nagano 1998 as his sole accomplishment at that level.

Although the women haven't seen similar dominance, figures like Catriona Le May Doan, Cindy Klassen, Kristina Groves, and Christine Nesbitt have made significant contributions, inspiring future talents.

In contrast to Wotherspoon, Le May Doan clinched gold in both the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics. Klassen followed with gold in 2006 and Nesbitt in 2010. Despite Groves not reaching gold, her two silver medals in 2006 and 2010 are commendable.

Laurent Dubreuil currently heads the Canadian men's team at the World Cup, having secured the 500m title for the past two seasons. However, this year, the elusive third title has slipped from his grasp. Yet, a podium finish is still assured, though perhaps not in the desired color.

On the women's side, Ivanie Blondin is a shining star, having captured the mass start World Cup title three times in the past nine years. She remains a contender for this year's title, sitting just three points behind the current leader as the event heads to Quebec.

Leading the mass start is Valerie Maltais, another Canadian yet to claim an overall World Cup victory. Maltais and Blondin also join forces in the pursuit team, where they clinched a silver alongside their gold from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

The pursuit team, a formidable force with seven titles, including a streak of four consecutive victories, finds its reign momentarily interrupted by Japan this season, settling for silver.

The itinerary has taken skaters from the Far East in November, traversing Europe, and finally to North America. While race distances may vary, staples like the 500m, 1000m, 1500m, and a long-distance event form the core. Typically, the long-distance measures 3000m for women and 5000m for men, with the Stavanger leg hosting 5000m and 10000m contests.

Obihiro, Japan

The 2023/24 World Cup launched in Japan, dominated by home skaters in men's events, sweeping 500m podiums early on. Tatsuya Shinhama and Wataru Morishige shared gold and silver honors.

Amid Canadian struggles, Masaya Yamada excelled in the men's 1000m and 1500m. Ted-Jan Bloemen and Antoine Gelinas-Beaulieu delivered Canada's best, finishing fourth in the 5000m and mass start, respectively.

Ivanie Blondin thrived in her women's mass start specialty, amassing significant points with ease.

Beijing, China

In Round 2, Team Canada improved, claiming four medals. Laurent Dubreuil secured silver in the men's 500m, while Canadian women garnered three additional medals.

Blondin exchanged gold for silver in the mass start and grabbed another silver in the team sprint. Valerie Maltais rounded out the podium with a mass start bronze.

Stavanger, Norway

As the World Cup moved to Europe for Round 3, the Netherlands predictably raked in medals. Canada's take included a podium spot for Boemen in the 1000m, but Dubreuil's title defense faltered with finishes of 6th and 18th.

Maltais earned two women's medals, a silver in the mass start, and added bronze with the team sprint. The mass start race was eventful, seeing ten disqualifications among the 16 competitors.

Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland

Laurent Dubreuil found his form in Poland, finishing second and then claiming victory in the second 500m event. His fierce rivalry with Gao Tingyu saw razor-thin margins of 0.07 and 0.06 seconds, showcasing the thrilling nature of the sport.

The women added two silvers, with Blondin returning to the podium in the mass start, and the team's pursuit maintaining strong form throughout the season.

Salt Lake City, United States

Salt Lake City hosted the latest event last weekend, proving fruitful for the USA. Jordan Stolz emerged as a breakout star, claiming victories in the 500m and both 1000m races at just 19 years old, while Dubreuil finished second in the 500m.

Canada's women's pursuit team shone, clinching gold and adding to their impressive medal tally. Maltais chipped in with a bronze in the 3000m.

Blondin and Maltais continued to excel on home soil, collecting gold and bronze in the mass start, setting the stage for success in Quebec.

After five events, Canada boasts four golds, ten silvers, and five bronzes, standing fifth in the overall medal tally. Though down from last season's haul, they await Quebec to bolster their totals.

As the series nears its climax, Laurent Dubreuil remains a medal contender, second in the 500m standings.

Trailing by 37 points to Japan's Wataru Morishige, Dubreuil must rely on a no-show or failure from his rival to seize another Grand World Cup triumph.

Ted-Jan Bloemen holds a promising position in the long-distance category. Heading to Ottawa, he stands in bronze position, 34 points clear of his closest competitor, Michele Malfatti.

With the season approaching its finale in Quebec, focus shifts to the women's team, who have eclipsed their male counterparts all season.

Valerie Maltais, a standout performer this season, is on track for three medals, holding bronze in the long-distance and part of the silver-clad Team Pursuit squad. A gold in the mass start appears within reach as she leads Ivanie Blondin.

The stage is set for a fierce mass start showdown in Quebec, with Blondin trailing Maltais by a narrow three-point margin after a thrilling battle in Salt Lake City.

While Canadian athletes draw attention, Ning Zhongyan from China is at the forefront of the men's 1000m and 1500m races. Jordan Stolz, fresh off victories at the recent World Cup in Salt Lake City, trails closely behind, narrowing the margin to 16 and 10 points. Although Zhongyan remains the frontrunner for the golds, Stolz's era may just be dawning.

Kimi Goetz is set on capitalizing on her stellar performance in the women's events. She comfortably leads the 1000m, ensuring a likely win unless faced with unforeseen issues. In the 500m, she's currently ranked third and holds a significant cushion over the fourth, needing an unusual setback to miss out. In the 1500m, she's positioned fourth, aiming to close a 16-point gap to achieve a medal trifecta.