The ISU Speed Skating World Cup is a series of international
speed skating
Speed skating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors racing, race each other in travelling a certain distance on Ice skate, skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marath ...
competitions, organised annually by the
International Skating Union
The International Skating Union (ISU) is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Net ...
since the winter of
1985–86. Every year during the winter season, a number of competitions on different distances and on different locations are held. Skaters can earn points at each competition, and the skater who has the most points on a given distance at the end of the series is the winner. Initially not very popular with skaters nor spectators, the World Cup has gradually become more and more popular, and this was due to the creation of the
World Single Distance Championships
The World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships are a series of speed skating competitions organised by the International Skating Union.
History
Since the late 19th century, speed skating championships were always decided by racing multiple ...
. The results of the separate distances in the World Cup ranking are the main qualifying method for the World Single Distance Championships.
The number of races per season per distance varies, but it is usually between five and ten. Ten World Cup titles are awarded every season, five for men (the 500 m, the 1000 m, the 1500 m, the combined 5000 m / 10000 m, and the team pursuit), and five for women (the 500 m, the 1000 m, the 1500 m, the combined 3000 m / 5000 m, and the team pursuit).
The
team pursuit
The team pursuit is a track cycling event similar to the individual pursuit, except that two teams, each of up to four riders, compete, starting on opposite sides of the velodrome.
Race format
Both men's and women's events are competed over ...
was added to the World Cup in the
2005–06 season. Between the seasons
2003–04 and
2008–09, the 100 m was also contested for men and women, but this category is now defunct.
The mass start was re-introduced for both women and men in the World Cup in
Astana
Astana, previously known as Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, Akmola, and most recently Nur-Sultan, is the capital city of Kazakhstan.
The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim River in the north-central part of Kazakhstan, within the Akmo ...
in 2011.
Overall World Cup winners
Men
Source: SpeedSkatingStats.com
*Medals:
Women
Source: SpeedSkatingStats.com
*Medals:
Most World Cup victories
The skaters with the highest number of individual World Cup victories as of 9 February 2020. Active skaters in bold.
Men
Source: SpeedSkatingStats.com
Women
Source: SpeedSkatingStats.com
All-time medal count
See also
*
ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating The ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating is a series of international long track speed skating matches, organised yearly by the International Skating Union. It is the second most important competition for juniors, behind the World Junior Speed Skating ...
Cup Ranking - Country Medal Table *
World Speed Skating Championships
The International Skating Union
The International Skating Union (ISU) is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It ...
References
{{ISU Speed Skating World Cup seasons
International speed skating competitions
Recurring sporting events established in 1985
Speed skating
Speed skating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors racing, race each other in travelling a certain distance on Ice skate, skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marath ...
International Skating Union competitions