Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu showcased his prowess at the Canadian long track championships, held in Calgary, after a 19-month hiatus from mass start races. The skater from Sherbrooke, Que., navigated the 16-lap men’s competition with composure and strategy, securing victory with a final sprint time of seven minutes 55.88 seconds. Jake Weidemann from Ottawa finished closely behind at 7:55.96, followed by David LaRue from Montreal at 7:56.43.
Reflecting on his performance, the 33-year-old Gélinas-Beaulieu expressed satisfaction, noting that the competitive field posed challenges but his race execution was on point. Valérie Maltais of La Baie, Que., dominated the women’s event, clinching the title in 9:08.72. Rose-Anne Grenier from Sainte-Marie, Que., secured silver, while Darby Beeson from Airdrie, Alta., claimed the bronze spot ahead of Calgary’s Isabelle Champagne.
Maltais, the women’s champion, emphasized her mix of nerves and confidence before the race, highlighting the unpredictable nature of mass start events. With aspirations to represent Canada at the World Cups, Maltais’s victory was a significant achievement. Ottawa’s Ivanie Blondin holds a prequalification for the World Cups based on her stellar international performances, including a world Championship silver in Hamar, Norway.
The Canadian squad for the upcoming World Cup series will soon be finalized, considering the outcomes of the recent championships and the athletes’ performances on the global stage last season.