Martina Sáblíková (CZE) was crowned the European Speed Skating Champion of 2012. It was Sáblíková’s fourth title.
The European Speed Skating Championships were held at the ice rink of the Hungarian capital Budapest. Between impressive museums and the city park with its old castle, it is part of a large pond that was turned into an artificial ice rink, where in 2001 the World Allround Championships took place. This year, with much wind but no rain and temperatures around five degrees Celsius, skaters from seventeen different countries gathered to compete for the European titles. Title defender was Martina Sáblíková. For the women, it was a three-day event.
Ladies
The ladies’ competition had 2007, 2010 and 2011 champion Martina Sábliková as an absolute favorite. Other candidates for the podium were world champion Ireen Wüst (NED) and the thirtynine year old Claudia Pechstein (GER).
Junior Karolina Erbanová (CZE) won the 500m, as she did in the past two years. She was the only one who went below 40 seconds; she lowered the track record from 39.99 (Anni Friesinger in 2001) to 39.87. Ireen Wüst finished in 40.21 and went second. Julia Skokova (RUS) took third place with 40.40. Behind Yekaterina Lobysheva (RUS), Claudia Pechstein finished fifth in 40.67. Martina Sáblíková made a mistake in the 500m and thus finished in 14th place, with 41.79. It was Wüst taking the most advantage, since she needed to distance herself as much as possible, as she was expected to lose ground on the longest distance.
The 3000 meters were difficult on the windy track and it led to a surprise. Natalia Czerwonka (POL), who had been 8th on the 500m, skated all along below the track record that Renate Groenewold had set here in 2001 (with 4:16.57), but then struggled in the last two laps and only reached 4:19.41. Pechstein was a bit more careful, but could not quite reach Czerwonka’s time and finished in 4:19.71, but taking over the lead in the classification with 83.955 points. Wüst, who started very fast, couldn’t manage to better their times and finished in 4:22.59. The wind was fiercest in the final pairing where Martina Sáblíková was the only one who could skated an even race; starting with carefully, each lap between 33 and 34 seconds, and 34.5 for the last lap, it was her who bettered the track record and 4:16.09 brought her back into the competition. With 84.471 points she was now fourth, Pechstein still lead, Wüst followed with 83.975 points, and the surprising Czerwonka was third with 84.455.
After two distance victories for both Czech women, a win all four was still possible for them, but that would be hardest to do at the 1500m; still Sábliková succeeded in attaining the third distance win for the Czech Republic, her time 2:03.64, but not a track record. “Maybe I was a bit lucky today with less wind”, she said, “but nothing is decided, tomorrow everything can be different.” In this distance, Julia Skokova finished third with 2:05.18 and Linda de Vries (NED) was second with 2:04.70. Wüst was disappointment with the sixth place at 2:06.36, and Claudia Pechstein, paired with her, was tenth with 2:08.72 and therfore lost her lead in the rankings. Sábliková took over the lead with 125.684. The world record holder in the 5000m was not expected to give it away any more. Wüst was still second with 126.095 points, Julia Skokova had climbed up to third, Pechstein had 126.861 points and fourth, but was expected to climb up with a good 5000m. Czerwonka had dropped to seventh position; a position she would keep to the final classification. In the last distance all four Dutch women had qualified, as well as two Germans, two Russians, two Polish, a Norwegian and a very strong Czech.
In the final 5000m, Linda de Vries raced against Skokova and passed her in the rankings. De Vries reached 7:45.27 and Skokova 8:02.16. Diane Valkenburg then raced with Ireen Wüst. Wüst managed to start not too fast and kept a decent speed to the end, taking the lead with 7:43.59 and 172.454, Valkenburg dropped just behind De Vries to fifth in the ranking. The main question then remained if Claudia Pechstein could make up the difference to Wüst. Sábliková left Pechstein behind her, chasing the track record that the German set in 2001. And although Sábliková was below that time until 4600m, her last lap was just a bit too slow. It did not really matter, as her 7:22.38 was the winning time of the day and gave her the title with 169.922 points. Claudia Pechstein finished second. Her 7:34.51 was just enough to pass Wüst and get the overall silver with 172.312 points. Wüst was content with bronze. “I had a strong tournament. I am clearly not as good in outdoor circumstances, in Moscow that will be different, such a big gap will not be possible in a hall.” Sábliková agreed. “I will not be a favourite at the World Allround Championships, because indoors Wüst is far more dangerous. But outdoor championships have been good for me.”
