Speed ​​Skating - European Allround 2014
Getty Images
The international speed skating resumes to dart his shoes at full capacity. And 2014 reserves the first important event in Norway, more precisely in Hamar, where tomorrow will take place on Sunday 12th edition number 108 of the European Championships Allround Speed ​​Skating. On the historic and spectacular plant dell'Østlandet is ready to heat up the elite (almost complete) of the European skating, in view of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi. So the European Championships will be a good opportunity to prepare for the challenge in five circles, for many of Europe's best skaters. They gave forfeit, however, only two European champions the likes of Sven Kramer and Ivan Skobrev. On the other hand, however, the female patrol is almost complete with a trio of first class Wüst-Sablikova-Pechstein.
Friday 10 January 2014 7 minutes reading time
The blue under the command of Stephen technical Donagrandi are three. A woman, Francesca Bettrone, and two men: one is the most experienced (the fifth European career) Luca Stefani and the other the young rookie Andrea Giovannini. A team that, as a minimum to see the blues place themselves in the top 18 (men) and 14 (women) in order to qualify for the World Cup in March 2014 in Heerenveen. Out of action, however, Francesca Lollobrigida, who stayed home to recover fully after a small operation. Absent Mirko Nenzi, great revelation of 2013 and hope the blue at the Olympics in Sochi, which will focus on the next World Cup Sprint (January 18 to 19 next to Nagano, Japan).
The show on the route of the "Vikingkipet" the Norwegian town but will not wait. 28 women and 31 men, from 18 different countries will compete over the four distances (500, 1500 and 5000 meters for both sexes, 3000 only for women and 10,000 for men). Distances which, when added in a single ranking will determine the skater and the best skater of the old continent. Hamar is also synonymous with the Olympic Games (in the beautiful palace of ice skating competitions were held Games of 1994) and, as in 2006 and 2010, including the European Championships this year will be one of the last test ahead of Olympics in less than a month will snap to Sochi.
Therefore, in Norway do not miss any of the winners of the last eight editions of the European Championships. Above all, stands the 27 year-old Dutch Ireen Wüst. The Oranje will have the task of defending the European triumph came in 2013, in Heerenveen. There will be Martina Sablikova and his presence will certainly fight for the title tight and competitive. The Czech champion, returned triumphant from the Universiade, will be regularly on the track. A prestigious and difficult to make the European, the presence dell'inossidabile ultraquarantenne Claudia Pechstein of Germany, already champion in 1998, 2006 and 2009. Difficult that you repeat a podium Dutch, as happened a year ago.
Different, at least after a first glance, the situation for the men's start list. Missing some prominent names, so much so that is certainly a crowned European champion newcomer, as they lack the "owners" (only two, actually) of the last seven titles. Absent Sven Kramer (6 wins from 2007 onwards), which has chosen to focus exclusively on the upcoming games Russians to start next February 7. We will not even Russian Ivan Skobrev, the only one able to unseat the champion oranje from the roll of gold in 2011 (due to the lack of participation of the original champion of Heerenveen).
Due to the absences, the headlights are aimed Dutchman Jan Blokhuijsen, who will have the opportunity to take greedy for the first time a continental title. The 24 year old has three silver honors in European allround won consecutively from 2011 to the present. And this time you can not afford to fail to win the assault, having always bowed to the "King Kramer." To contend for the win, there will be compatriot Koen Verweij, Russian Denis Yuskov and the two home favorites, Sverre Lunde Pedersen and Håvard Bøkko. Especially the latter (bronze 2012 and 2013) is one of the most serious candidates to victory. However, even the men's tournament is expected very balanced.
Below is the complete program of the two days of racing, with its times. In the race for the Italian colors, Francesca Bettrone between women and Andrea Giovannini and Luca Stefani among men.
First day
Saturday, January 11 (Isu channel live streaming on the link http://livemanager.eurovision.edgesuite.net/isu/site/index.html and deferred tv on Rai Sport 2 from 21:15)
12:50 500m Women
Hours 13:21 500m Men
Hours 15:34 3000m women
Hours 16:54 5000m men
Second day
Sunday, January 12 (Isu channel live streaming on the link http://livemanager.eurovision.edgesuite.net/isu/site/index.html and recorded TV on Rai Sport 2 from 22:15)
13:00 1500m women
Hours 14:03 1500m women
Hours 15:04 5000m women
15:40 10000m men
Social media engagement
Ultimi in Sport invernali
Sofia Goggia ha accusato un malore in Argentina: è già rientrata in Italia per accertamenti
Come ha comunicato questa sera la FISI, la fuoriclasse bergamasca ha concluso anticipatamente il camp sudamericano a causa di un malore durante la sua permanenza a Ushuaia e d'accordo con il dottor Panzeri ha deciso di tornare a casa.
2