Speed skating, a discipline governed internationally by the International Skating Union -ISU-, brings together events of very different nature within the same sport. Alongside traditional races, contested in pairs and against the clock, the mass start has established itself as a distinctive format, defined by collective racing, tactical awareness and constant decision-making. Introduced to the Olympic programme at PyeongChang 2018, the event is once again at the centre of technical discussion ahead of Milano Cortina 2026.
In conventional long-distance races, two skaters share the ice at the same time but compete independently. The pace is steady, the clock is the reference point, and effort management follows individual parameters. The mass start breaks with that logic: all competitors start together, and the outcome depends as much on physical condition as on group dynamics and tactical choices.
A collective start that changes the race entirely
The mass start is the only long-track event in which all skaters begin at the same time. This is how Olympic champion Bart Swings, one of the discipline’s leading figures, explains it: “The mass start is the only long-track race where everyone starts together. You line up with up to 16, or even 24 skaters, race 16 laps, and the winner is simply the first one across the finish line”.
The opening lap does not yet signal the true start of competition. Known as the rolling lap, it is a neutral phase in which the group moves at a controlled pace while skaters look for position. “That first lap is about settling in, reading the field and starting to think about what comes next,” the Belgian skater explains.
Intermediate points, drafting and reading the peloton
Unlike traditional races, the mass start includes intermediate sprints every four laps. Points awarded in these sprints can prove decisive for final classification and, in Olympic competition, for qualification to the semifinals. “Those sprints are designed to make the race more dynamic and to encourage attacks,” Swings explains, noting that in some cases they “make the difference even before the final sprint”.
Energy management is crucial. The peloton often skates at a lower pace than expected for a speed skating race, with athletes sheltering from the wind. “You can attack, but you can also hide in the group to recover, because skating behind someone is much easier than going full on into the wind,” the Olympic champion notes. In this context, positioning and energy conservation become key strategic assets.
Cooperating with rivals in a race decided at the end
This collective dynamic creates situations rarely seen in other Olympic events. Skaters may even make physical contact while drafting, an image that captures the paradox of the mass start. “You depend on each other. You don’t want someone to push you out, and if there’s a breakaway, you need support from the group, so you try to stay on good terms with everyone,” Swings explains.
That cooperation does not eliminate competitive tension. In the final laps, the race becomes more physical and aggressive. “In the last three or four laps, it’s all about positioning, being near the front and creating space for your sprint. You have to be aggressive when it matters,” he adds. The outcome is usually decided in the final lap, when the entire field launches into a sprint and a single move can change everything.
Preparation begins days in advance. Skaters analyse rivals, potential scenarios and collective strategies, fully aware that the mass start cannot be won on power alone. “Sometimes you expect someone else to close a gap, but you can’t rely on that, because they might be bluffing”, Swings admits. That blend of tactics, psychological management and finishing speed is what sets the mass start apart within speed skating and makes it one of the most unpredictable events on the Olympic programme.
