Bergsma had clocked 12.55.64 in the first stage with a flat run. The 37-year-old Frisian soon thought it wouldn’t be enough for the world title. Ghiotto raced flat in the stage after the mop and managed to accelerate considerably in the second part and even overtook his direct opponent Takahiro Ito by one lap.
Earlier in this world championship, Roest won his first single distance title in the 5000 meters. He left in the penultimate stage of the 10 kilometers. Shortly before, Ghiotto had clocked a time of 12.41.35 which Roest himself had only once fallen below.
In the first part of his 10 kilometer, the 27-year-old skater from Lekkerkerk saw his backlog increase steadily on the Italian, who had already beaten him over the longest distance this season at the World Cup in Calgary. Roest accelerated, but had to pay dearly in the closing laps. His lap times increased and with 13.02.92 he also failed to beat the times of Bergsma and Bloemen.