On the 500m men, we expect some personal bests again. Some of the debutants should chop a large part off, like Swiss Roger Schneider, who skates alone in pair 1. Here is the report.

(Note afterwards: correction to the time of Chmura, 41.38. Also of the time of Szöllösi, 38,34) 

The former inline champion of 2 meters height opens 10,87, and with 38,37 he takes his pb down with a bit more than half a second.

The other Schneider now, Tobias versus Haugli (Sverre, Maren's brother). 10.5 for both, Schneider 37,26 and Haguli 37,95.
Henrik Christiansen-Roman Smirnov (BLR): 10.49 / 10.91 opening, and finish 37,60 (SB) and 38,07.
Szöllösi - Brandt is a Hungarian-Finnish combination (like Hunyady-Järvinen). The Hungarian is trained by Järvinen this year. He skates 38,37, the same time as the Swiss skater. Brandt 38.53. 

History now: Chmura - Asier Peña Iturria from Spain, the first Spaniard since Gomez the legend. Opening 10.88 / 11.48. Chmura puts his right skate down too much to the inside, on the last straight, and while he glides over the finish on his but, skates first, in 41,50, he is beaten by the Spanish debutant, who improves his pb from 42,64 to 40,92! He takes over the last Spanish NR from Alberto Lopez. 

Bloemen-Schildermans. Ted Jan Bloemen approaches his Calgary pb with 37,35 and is happy, Kris Schildermans, the Beglian, improves his pb to 40,42.
Weber-Briand, 10.62/11.37. Weber skates a pb with 0.11: 37,74. Briand from France finishes in 38,70.
Odd Borgersen - Igor Dzhuba. 38,07-40,61.
Marian Ion - Stefani. Stefani is off well, 10,34. He improves his pb from 37,88 to 37,11 and is really excited. The Romanian also improves his pb, from 39,47 to 38,90.

Now Sven Kramer-Milan Sáblik. Off right.  Sablik skates widelegged. Opening Kramer 10.20 is the fastest until now. It's a personal best, 36.20. It's a statement, but he doesn't show happiness yet. Fast men are coming soon. Sablik stays 0.03 off his pb, 37,82.  

Röjler - Jongejan. 37,28 for Jongejan is 0.07 off his pb but his thumb is up after his race. Röjler skates 38,00.
Pichler - Olde Heuvel. Opening Olde Heuvel is good, 10.29, Pichler 10.69. It could be a hard crossing, but Pichler moves immediately to the outer just in front of Wouter, a perfect switch, and Olde Heuvel continues to a pb with 0.01: 36,74. And Pichler shaves 0.02 off his pb, 37,45.
Anesi - Lehmann Opening Lehmann 10.24, and then a 36,91. No pb, but his coach Bart Schouten is happy. Anesi 37,35.

Niedzwiedzki - Bøkko. One of the favourites. A false start for the Polish who stands on the line with his skate instead of behind it. They open 10.0. 10.06 Bøkko, 10.01 Niedzwiedski. Kramer is tense, but the lap for these guys isn't that good. 36,21 Niedzwiedzki, Bøkko 36,32.

Enrico Fabris, a false start by the Italian. Jarmo Valtonen his opponent. Ready for the second start, Valtonens hand moves slightly, a whistle gives him a false start. Fabris then skates alone. 10.38 and 36,76. Fabris's face looks a bit painful. Anything the matter? Kramer looks to be the sure champion.

Two Russians, the sound hurts the ears. Lalenkov - Skobrev. 10.10 Skobrev, 10.19 Lalenkov. Lalenkov wins, 36,24, slower than Kramer. Skobrev 36,36.
One pair to go: Eriksson-Mikhailov. They open 10.5 and 10.3, no threat. Their 37,11 and 37,20 are far from personal bests.

The surprise is that Sven Kramer won the 500m. And he knows his good distances are yet to come.
Kramer-Niedzwiedzki-Lalenkov. The tradition is that there is a Polish skater on the E.CH. 500m podium, and Lalenkov gives the Russian public something to feel good about.

Then: Bøkko-Skobrev-OldeHeuvel-Fabris-Lehmann-Eriksson-Stefani- Mikhailov-Schneider T, Jongejan,Anesi, Bloemen, Pichler, Christiansen. 31st Iturria, 32nd Chmura.