1. Mattscherodt / Opitz seem not to put in so much effort that could hurt them. Their ranks 11 and 12 are pretty certain, and in two weeks there is another long distance in the Hamar World Cup. Opitz start with two 36 laps, Mattscherodt takes 34 laps. Opitz after 1000m also finds that speed. After 3k, they pass in 4.23,31 and 4.29,14. Mattscherodt continues with 34.7 laps, Opitz 4.9, 5.1 and 5.2. Only at the sound of the bell, Mattscherodt passes in 35.1, Opitz 35.6. Final times: 7.17,53 Mattscherodt and 166.731 points, Opitz 7.25,87 and 167,993 points finishes in 12th place.

2. Groenewold / Wójcicka. Opening Groenewold 21,17. Wójcicka 21,25 and 3.7. Groenewold, who is not good this week, 3.6. Then they go into 34 laps. Groenewold is a bit faster than the Polish pairmate and they will switch places in the ranks. 3000m time 4.20,70 Groenewold, lap 4.3, and 4.24,30 Wójcicka, lap 5.4. From here, Groenewolds lap goes down to 4.0, Wójcicka's up to 6.0, Then Groenewold 4.5, Wójcicka 6.0 again. The next laps are pretty even. They finish in 7.12,60 and 7.25,41. With 164,986 points, Groenewold is at least top-8, depending on what happens in the next pair she may climb another place. Wójcicka is top-10 with 166,197 point. Her time was only 7 seconds above her pb.

3. Lobysheva / Likhachova. This will be hard for these ladies, both making the distance based on their good rank after three distances. But the pbs are for Lobysheva 7,31,20 and for Lihachova 7.20,98. Here, Lobysheva skates away from Likhachova. But this is her own track, and her laps after 4.1 are two 35s, 3 36s and at 3000 a 7.1, passing time 4.33,33. Lihachova opens 4.9, two 36s, three 37s, and at 3000 a 6.5, passing 4.37,43. Now Likhachova is closing the gap: laps 6.3, 6.2, and 7.1, 7.0 for Lobysheva. If it doesn't get higher up it's not that bad. At 4200m laps go down to 6.5 for Lobysheva and 6.0 Likhachova, then 6.2 and 5.4. It's exciting for the people who watch, because the difference is now 1 second in favour of the Kolomna-inhabitant. Both a 5.7 last lap, 7.36,04 Lobysheva, 7.37,24 Likhachova. In points they drop. Likhachova 168,509 is ranked 12th behind Opitz who moves up a place. Lobysheva has 167,236 points.That means she stays top-10. 

4. Anschütz / Leenstra. Leenstra is still junior, this is not a distance that she has experience with apart from in the Dutch championships. She opens too fast, 20.08, and leaves Anschütz behind her until 2000m. But there is half a minute difference between their personal bests. Leenstra wants to keep a top-6 rank to qualify directly for the World Allrounds according to Dutch rules. They skate 34 laps, Anschütz passes at 3000m in 4.18,34, Leenstra in 4.19,54. The next lap is 4.2/ 4.9; then 3.9/5.1. Not surprisingly. 4.0/5.4. Still, Leenstra is on her way to a great personal best. lap 4.7 Anschütz and 5.7 Leenstra, and final lap 4.3 / 5.7. The time of Anschütz is 7.09,68, the leading time so far, and 162,846 point. Leenstra's new pb is 7.16,55. She has 163,385 points, which is indeed top-6, so we'll see her back in Berlin.

5. Van Deutekom / Pechstein. Pechstein has four seconds to gain on Van Deutekom, who takes the lead with 19,98 and 1.9. Pechstein 20,41 and 2.7. They both know there is a chance on teh title.Pechstein will be able to keep a good schedule, getting faster in the second half. Laps 2.5/3.3, 2.8/3.1. 2.8/3.3 Van Deutekom looks strong enough to keep the lead over Pechstein, but it may be deceiving. A 3.2 for both of them, 3.4 Van Deutekom and 3.8 now Pechstein. 3000m comes now. They pass in 4.10,40 (lap 3.5) and 4.13,82 (3.7). Could Pechstein come back? Laps 3.9/4.0. It's now an attack of Van Deutekom on Wüst. Nothing to lose. Lap 4.2/4.3. A great race. 4.3/4.4. 4.7/4.4, finally a slower lap for Van Deutekom. But she looks focussed, keeps skating well.  A personal best, 7.02,40 for Van Deutekom. 161,229 points, and she'll be on the podium for sure. Pechstein finsihes with a 4.6 lap in 7.05,84 and has 161,973 points.

6. Will this mean another second place for Wüst? She needs 7.04,82 to take Van Deutekom in. Wüst needs to attack. 19,60 her opening. Sábliková 20,48. First lap 1.5 Wüst, 2.2 Sábliková. The 3.2 and 2.9. Wüst continues 2.8, S.3.0. Both try to increase speed, 2.4 Wust, 2.6 Sábliková. They continue like this, 2.3 and 2.7. Wüst is still faster than Van Deutekom. Now 2.7/2.9. Sablikova still loses to Wüst in every lap. At 3000 that changes. Wüst passes in 4.08,33 ith 3.5, Sábliková 4.09,93 with 2.8. Sábliková continues 2.8, Wüst 3.5, and it continues well for Wüst, laps 3.6 for her, 3.2 for the Czech who takes the lead. 2,4 Sábliková, 3.7 Wüst. Laps 2.4 Sábliková, 4.0 Wüst. Final time for Sábliková 6.53,42. New track record, in points 161,693 brings her to third place in the ranking. Ireen Wüst finishes in a personal best time, 6.57,87. 160,533 her points. Ireen Wüst is European Champion 2008, second is Paulien van Deutekom, third Sábliková. Congratulations from the Czech coach Novak. 

A second place on the 5000 for Wüst, a pb, a wel-deserved title, the third Dutch lady after Atje Keulen-Deelstra and Tonny de Jong who wins this title.