Canada’s Ivanie Blondin wins speedskating World Cup mass start gold in Calgary

Ottawa's Ivani Blondin won the women's mass start at the World Cup of Speed ​​Skating.

Earlier in the day, the 35-year-old from Ottawa also helped Canada earn silver in the team pursuit with Valerie Maltais and Isabelle Weidemann.

The blonde raced to the lead and went straight into the final portion of the 16-lap mass start, which features 22 other women.

Maltais, of La Baie, Que., was fourth after winning the silver medal at the season-opening race in Salt Lake City.

Blondin won an Olympic silver medal in the 2022 women's mass start.

WATCH | Blonde won the women's mass start at the World Championships in Calgary:

Ottawa's Ivani Blondin wins gold at the Women's Mass Start World Championships in Calgary

Ottawa's Ivani Blondin finishes first in the women's mass start at the World Cup of Speed ​​Skating in Calgary. Valerie Malthe of La Baie, Quebec, narrowly missed out on the podium with a fourth-place finish.

After winning the women's team pursuit, the Dutch women clocked two minutes 52.2 seconds in the six-lap race at the Olympic Oval.

Weidemann and Blondin of Ottawa and Malta of La Baie, Que., who competed in the final pairing with the United States, finished in 2:52.68.

Their national record is 2:52.067.

“I think we are pushing Japan and the Dutch. I think the Dutch [iced their] The A team today and we were close,” Maltais told CBC Sports. “We are still [figuring out] where to place the hammer to ensure our consistency.

“Our speed is already here. It's just an improvement. Interesting to watch. The time is so close. [and] This didn't happen last season.

WATCH | Canada ranks second behind the Netherlands in the women's team pursuit:

Canada wins silver in women's team pursuit at the World Championships in Calgary

Canada's Valerie Malthe, Ivanie Blondin and Isabelle Weidemann finish second in the women's team pursuit final at the World Speed ​​Skating Championships in Calgary.

Japan finished third, just over half a second behind the Dutch.

“I think we all heard the crowd, which was nice. The home crowd is very electric,” said Blondin, standing next to her teammates. “It definitely adds a little motivation to all of us.”

Weidemann, Blondin and Malta are the reigning Olympic champions after winning gold in Beijing in 2022.

“I set the pace, but the girls are pressing from behind,” Weidemann said. “We're trying to work as one.”

The Canadian trio opened the World Championships season with a silver medal in Salt Lake City and repeated in Calgary.