Speed-skating 2016 Worlds of Speed Skating: Senior men’s long distance races pronostics

Pronostics by Scott Arlidge

These events are always a little bit special for me since it was what I used to focus on when I was racing, so I feel more comfortable talking about them. As I said, there is several key factors that do contribute to success in these long distance events, but the unique point for the men’s is that some of the leading contenders actually are more or less without a strong worker.

To pick the strongest team is difficult, because the strongest teams from previous years, France and Italy are without their respective leaders, Alexis Contin and Fabio Francolini. However, for the title of the strongest team, I would say It would be a dead heat between the Italians, Koreans, and Colombians.

However, this is where it becomes interesting because the strongest single skater (at least as far as previous years results go) is Peter Michael (NZL), then there are several other strong single skaters: Felix Rijhnen (GER), Ewen Fernandez (FRA), Jorge Bolanos (ECU), Livio Wenger (SUI) and Patxi Peula (ESP).

Again, because it’s too early to say which skaters from some countries will actually race each race, I will just use the country as a prediction.

Elimination track

1. Peter Michael (NZL)
2. Italy
3. Ewen Fernandez (FRA), (wildcard: Colombia)

Points/Elimination track

1. Peter Michael (NZL)
2. South Korea
3. Colombia (wildcard: Ewen Fernandez)

Elimination road

1. Ewen Fernandez (FRA)
2. Peter Michael (NZL)
3. Italy (wildcard: Colombia)

Points road

1. Peter Michael (NZL)
2. Ewen Fernandez (FRA)
3. Felix Rijhnen (GER) (wildcard Patxi Peula)

Again it’s so hard to pick, especially the two points events, because points races are now often split between single points or finish positions on the last laps. Anyone inside the top 10 has a chance to finish on the podium if they can find the right move at the right time.

Links

Read our page of the 2016 World Inline Speed Skating Championships