Get ready for an exhilarating weekend of speed skating at the 2025 Heerenveen ISU World Cup! This event promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent and skill, with a unique format that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The Battle for Speed Skating Supremacy
Heerenveen, a legendary venue nestled in the Netherlands, will host a crucial leg of the ISU Speed Skating World Cup from December 5th to 7th. With Olympic qualification on the line, the competition couldn't be more intense.
But here's where it gets controversial: this leg will feature only one 500m race per gender, deviating from the usual structure. The sprint and middle distances will be spread across the weekend, with the longest events pushing the boundaries even further. The men will tackle the rare 10,000m race, while the women take on the 5000m for the first time this season.
And this is the part most people miss: the team sprint and mass start events will also be a highlight, giving the passionate Dutch fans a chance to cheer their hearts out.
With Hamar, Norway, serving as the final stop for Olympic qualification, Heerenveen becomes a make-or-break checkpoint for nations aiming to secure their spots at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
So, who are the athletes to watch out for?
In the men's category, all eyes are on Team USA's Jordan Stolz, a seven-time world champion who has dominated the 1000m, 1500m, and 500m races so far this season. But his reign might be challenged by Germany's rising star, Finn Sonnekalb, who, at just 18, has already won multiple junior world titles and broke Stolz's junior 1500m world record in Salt Lake City. Their back-to-back duels have turned the upcoming 1500m race in Heerenveen into a must-watch event.
Dutch sprinter Jenning de Boo, the reigning 500m world champion, will also be a force to reckon with on home ice. He recently set a new track record of 33.98 seconds in the 500m, becoming the first skater to go sub-34 seconds in Heerenveen.
On the women's side, hometown favourite Femke Kok has shattered the 500m world record and is on an unbeaten run in that distance. Jutta Leerdam, the Beijing 2022 Olympic silver medallist, will also be a key contender in the long sprint, backed by recent podiums and a new personal best in the 500m.
Erin Jackson, the reigning Olympic champion, is back on the World Cup podiums as she prepares for her title defence. Chen Ying Chu, an Asian Winter Games medallist from Chinese Taipei, has also announced her arrival with a World Cup medal in the shortest sprint distance.
Veterans Takagi Miho and Brittany Bowe have also made their mark, taking silver and bronze, respectively, in the finely judged 1500m race. But they'll need to step up their game to keep up with Dutch skater Joy Beune, who has dominated the longer events, taking double gold in the 1500m and 3000m.
The full schedule for the event is as follows:
Friday, December 5th:
- B Division: 14:15 - 17:54
- A Division Doors Open: 17:25
- Competition Schedule: 18:55 - 21:42
- 5000m Women
- 1500m Men
- 1000m Women
Saturday, December 6th:
- B Division: 08:45 - 13:17
- A Division Doors Open: 12:45
- Competition Schedule: 14:15 - 17:57
- 10,000m Men
- 1500m Women
- 1000m Men
Sunday, December 7th:
- B Division: 11:10 - 13:11
- A Division Doors Open: 12:45
- Competition Schedule: 14:15 - 17:16
- 500m Women
- 500m Men
- Mass Start Women
- Mass Start Men
- Team Sprint Women
- Team Sprint Men
Please note that the schedule is subject to change.
To catch all the live action, head over to the International Skating Union's YouTube account, where they offer live streaming of World Tour competitions. However, geo-blocking may apply in certain territories. For more information, visit the ISU's "where to watch" page.
So, who do you think will emerge as the speed skating champions in Heerenveen? Will the Dutch skaters dominate on home ice, or will other nations steal the spotlight? Let us know your predictions and thoughts in the comments below!
