Top-ranked Canadian women capture season's final World Cup team pursuit

Canada’s speed skating team continued a medal-filled season on Sunday, led by the No. 1-ranked women in team pursuit.

Valérie Maltais, Ivanie Blondin and Isabelle Weidemann won gold in two minutes 57.20 seconds to beat the Unites States (2:57.29) and Japan (2:58.62) in Hamar, Norway.

Canada, which had the third slowest start in the four-team field, chipped away at the lead and overtook the U.S. over the final 200 metres. 

“I knew that we were behind. I slipped off the start, and we were chasing the whole time. We were just trying to make up the time in the last few laps, and we managed, barely,” said Weidemann, the Ottawa native, who collected silver in the women's 3,000 metres on Saturday.

“I know the girls talk quite a bit behind me, but I don’t hear them very much in the front. I’m just trying to go as hard as I can off the start and keep that pace consistent. So, I didn’t really know where we were, but I knew that we were a little behind.”

It represented Canada’s first World Cup victory in women’s team pursuit since January 2024 in Salt Lake City.

Weidemann, Maltais and Blondin also earned silver earlier this season in Salt Lake City and Calgary after not picking up a medal last season.

Canada captures gold in team pursuit at Hamar World Cup, secures overall title

The reigning Olympic champions finish the World Cup season ranked first overall (169 points) ahead of Japan (156 points).

"We’re really happy. Last year, we really struggled and weren’t even close in the overall rankings, so to put down some solid performances, two silver and a gold, gives us a lot of confidence in the strategy we are using and the work that we have done,” Weidemann said.

“There are four or five teams that are really strong and