Coach Petar Novák’s protégé clocked the season’s best time of 3:58.35 in the Thialf hall. She was 1.49 seconds behind the fastest Wiklund, who dominated the long-distance World Cup ranking this season. Last year’s Olympic champion from Beijing Schoutenová was less than a second faster than Sáblíková.
“I still can’t find the words, it hasn’t hit me yet,” said Sáblíková shortly after the medal ceremony, where she received her 31st career world championship medal. “I didn’t even know that. Of course, I’m glad that I’m not leaving empty-handed. To tell the truth, I didn’t count on it. I went here to enjoy the atmosphere and I enjoyed it,” said the three-time Olympic champion.
The native of Nové Město in Moravia presented herself in the mecca of this sport in the penultimate heat, in which she already knew the times of her main competitors. After missing the end of the SP, Schoultenová already started in the fifth pair and clocked an excellent time of 3:57.40.
In the eighth heat, Wiklundová then introduced herself and overtook the Dutch star. In addition, the Canadian Valerie Maltaisová, who also got under the four-minute mark, followed the Norwegian favorite to an excellent time. However, Sáblíková subsequently confirmed her good form from Tomaszów Mazowiecki, where the SP series culminated in February. She followed up on two medal positions from Poland and expanded her rich collection of medals.
“I waited until the end, because the last two competitors who rode after me were able to keep their wheels until the end. Two laps before the finish line, it was not clear yet,” Sáblíková pointed to the Canadians Isabelle Weidemannová and Ivania Blondinová, who started after her . But none of them threatened her in the end.
Sáblíková was very proud of the fact that she rode in the heat with home Joy Beune, who was ahead of her until the last lap. “It wasn’t so much about the lap time I was doing, but not losing contact with her. I’m usually faster on the last lap. The plan was to stick with her and when I was riding a lap faster than her, that was the engine that pushed me forward. One feels that one could beat the other,” said Sáblíková.
In addition, she had information from coach Novák that she was going for a time of 3:58. “So I knew if I did, I’d be third. I knew Ireen (Schoulten) and the unstoppable Ragne (Wiklund) were going the way they were going. Then I was just waiting for the last heat,” she said.
Coach Petr Novák, who has been by Sáblíková’s side throughout her career, was also extremely satisfied. “It’s great. Martina will leave the World Championships again with a medal and we still have five to go,” smiled Novák.
The 5000 meter race awaits Sáblíková on Sunday. “When Martina finished today and I saw the time, I believed that the last couple wouldn’t make it and I really wished that for Martina. After a season in which she literally ate up injuries and the last week with viruses. It’s as I always say: for Martina shoots the gun and drives off,” Novák added.
