Canadian speed skater Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu excelled at the Canadian long track championships in Calgary after a long hiatus from mass start races. Despite feeling nervous at the start line, he displayed patience and strategic racing, leading to a victory in the men’s competition. Gélinas-Beaulieu finished first with a time of 7:55.88, ahead of Jake Weidemann and David LaRue.
On the women’s side, Valérie Maltais emerged victorious in the field of 14 competitors. She outpaced Rose-Anne Grenier and Darby Beeson in the final lap to claim the title with a time of 9:08.72. Maltais expressed confidence before the race and aimed to secure a spot to represent Canada at the upcoming World Cups.
Meanwhile, Ivanie Blondin from Ottawa is already prequalified for the World Cups based on her impressive international performances last season. The Canadian team for the upcoming World Cup season will be announced soon, taking into account the results from the recent championships and past international achievements.