As expected, the German speed skaters missed out on the podium on the first day of the individual distance World Championships in Heerenveen.
Berlin’s Michelle Uhrig took 19th and penultimate place in the women’s 3000m competition on Thursday, while Felix Rijhnen finished eleventh after 5000m in the men’s event.
Uhrig was more than 22 seconds behind World Champion Ragne Wiklund of Norway. Patrick Roest from the Netherlands won the men’s race. Rijhnen was 16 seconds behind the Beijing silver medalist.
The team sprints for women and men will take place in the evening from 9:25 p.m. Record Olympian Claudia Pechstein will only be on the ice in her 21st World Championships on Saturday and Sunday in the mass start and over 5000 m.
The 51-year-old, who has collected 30 World Championship medals to date, took part in the premiere of the prestigious competition in 1996.