Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu showcased his prowess once again at the Canadian long track championships in Calgary after a 19-month hiatus from mass start races. Despite feeling stressed at the start line, the speed skater from Sherbrooke, Que., maintained composure throughout the 16-lap men’s competition before executing a strategic sprint towards victory. Crossing the finish line in 7 minutes 55.88 seconds, the 33-year-old clinched first place, with Jake Weidemann from Ottawa trailing closely behind in second and David LaRue from Montreal securing third place.
Reflecting on his performance, Gélinas-Beaulieu remarked, “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 competitive skaters today, but my race unfolded smoothly.” He emphasized the challenging nature of mass start races but expressed satisfaction with his positioning throughout the competition, enabling him to claim victory in the final sprint.
On the women’s side, Valérie Maltais from La Baie, Que., emerged victorious in a field of 14 competitors. Maltais surged ahead in the final lap, overtaking Rose-Anne Grenier from Sainte-Marie, Que., and Darby Beeson from Airdrie, Alta., to secure the title with a time of 9:08.72. Grenier claimed the silver medal in 9:10.46, while Beeson finished with the bronze in 9:10.61, edging out Isabelle Champagne from Calgary.
Expressing her emotions post-race, Maltais stated, “I was nervous yet confident before today’s race. Mass starts are unpredictable, but I felt strong and knew I had the speed to succeed. Winning was crucial for me to continue representing Canada at the World Cups.”
Meanwhile, Ottawa’s Ivanie Blondin has secured prequalification for the World Cups in the discipline following her outstanding international performances last season, culminating in a silver medal at the World Championships in Hamar, Norway. The selection of Canada’s team for the upcoming World Cup campaign will be based on the results from these championships and the athletes’ performances on the international stage over the past year.