Cindy Klassen of Winnipeg edged out two of her biggest rivals to claim gold in the women's 1,000 metres at a World Cup long track speed skating event Saturday. Klassen posted a time of one minute 16.55 seconds in her first World Cup race of the season. Anni Friesinger of Germany, who won the first three 1,000-metre races this season, was second at 1:16.70 and World Cup leader Chiara Simionato of Italy was third at 1:17.23. Klassen, a five-time Olympic medallist at the 2006 Olympics, focused on training in the fall after a busy off-season and was surprised by her victory. "I was hurting so much in the last lap and felt like I lost so much time that I didn't think I would wind up with the win," said Klassen. "But I had a great first lap, one of my best ever. Overall I was pleased. "I think my endurance will improve with every race." Shannon Rempel of Winnipeg, who is second in the 1,000 World Cup standings, was sixth at 1:17.97. -January 27, 2007 [Canadian Press]
