The International Speed Skating season has started in Belarus with the first of six ISU World Cup Speed Skating events. China's men's team had their best results last season with just two-fourth place finishes, however, this time the PRC skaters surprised the track by winning silver in the team sprint division.

Motivated by the 2022 Winter Olympics, the PRC finished in one minute 21.322 seconds, only 0.15 seconds shy to the winners, the Netherlands. Canada got the bronze. On the Women's side, China finished fourth, and the Dutch claimed the gold once more. Canadian Isabelle Weidemann came out on top in the Women's 3,000 meters final. China's Han Mei was 15th.

In the Men's 5,000 meters final, two-time world all-round champion Patrick Roest of Netherlands started his 2019/20 season with a track record victory. The Dutch crossed the finish line in six minutes and 16.615 seconds to beat the previous mark of 6:19.17 set by fellow countryman Sven Kramer whose lead-up to the new season was hampered by a bike accident in October. The four-time Olympic gold medalist only registered a 13th finish, the first time he failed to make it into the top 10 in the event.

In other actions, three-time Olympic gold medalist Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic narrowly missed the women's 3,000m podium, seeing Isabelle Weidemann of Canada on top with a result of 4:04.679. Dutch Olympic champion Carlijn Achtereekte clocked 4:05.153 for a silver ahead of Ivanie Blondin of Canada.

The ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series this season includes five stops and a World Cup final. After Minsk, the Series will take place in Poland's Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Kazakhstan's Nur-Sultan, Japan's Nagano and Canada's Calgary. The Final will be held in the Dutch city of Heerenveen on March 7-8.