Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu showcased his prowess at the Canadian long track championships in Calgary after a 19-month hiatus from mass start races. Despite feeling nervous at the starting line, the speed skater from Sherbrooke, Quebec, demonstrated patience during the 16-lap men’s competition before accelerating towards victory in the final sprint.
In a thrilling finish, the 33-year-old crossed the line first in 7:55.88, narrowly ahead of Jake Weidemann from Ottawa (7:55.96) and David LaRue from Montreal (7:56.43). Reflecting on his performance, Gélinas-Beaulieu mentioned that it had been two years since his last mass start race, which also took place in Calgary where he secured a silver medal at the World Championships.
Valérie Maltais of La Baie, Quebec, asserted her dominance in the women’s event, outpacing a field of 14 competitors. Maltais clinched the title in 9:08.72, surpassing Rose-Anne Grenier from Sainte-Marie, Quebec, who took silver (9:10.46), and Darby Beeson from Airdrie, Alberta, who settled for bronze (9:10.61) after edging out Isabelle Champagne from Calgary.
Expressing her confidence before the race, Maltais emphasized the unpredictable nature of mass start events but was determined to secure the win to represent Canada at the upcoming World Cups. Ottawa’s Ivanie Blondin has already secured a spot in the World Cups due to her stellar performances last season, including a silver medal at the World Championships in Hamar, Norway.
The Canadian team for the upcoming World Cup season will soon be announced, considering the results from the recent championships and the athletes’ performances on the international stage in the previous year.
