A Czech, an Italian, an American. Olympic speedskating has rarely been this open and unpredictable.
In the men's 5,000m, the world record has changed hands three times this season, leaving Chad Hedrick of the US, Eskil Ervik of Norway and current holder Sven Kramer of the Netherlands in prime position for the medals.
"If I get gold there, I'll be all set," said Kramer, who will also skate the 1,500m and 10,000m. Hedrick could be bidding for five golds, which would match the 1980 mark of Eric Heiden.
One day later, the women start their campaign in the 3,000m, with Germans Claudia Pechstein and Anni Friesinger pitted against Canada's Cindy Klassen for the gold. Dutchwoman Renate Groenenwold and Czech rookie Martina Sablikova are the outsiders.
Pechstein already is Germany's most successful winter Olympian with seven medals -- four of them golds. After she took the European overall title, she is the favorite to take the 3,000m and 5,000m.
Dutch fans will color the new 8,000m-capacity Lingotto oval orange for much of the two weeks of racing but they might well have a lot less to cheer about than at previous Olympics. Competition has seriously increased.
Kramer is looking forward to hearing the fanatical Dutch fans.
"It will not put pressure on me," he said. "It will be more fun."
If you add a touch of home ice advantage, Enrico Fabris could well threaten over the middle distance, especially after his confidence got a huge boost last month when he won the European all-around title in Norway.
Friday's draw was excellent for Fabris. He will going in the last couple against Ervik, knowing what time to chase to get gold. Earlier, 19-year-old Kramer goes against goes against fellow Dutchman Carl Verheijen just before Hedrick faces Bob de Jong.
Kramer also welcomed the draw.
"Carl and I skate well together and twice before one of us has set a world record when we raced together," he said.
Four years ago, the Americans dominated the Salt Lake City oval but that was considered an anomaly because of the geographical advantage. This year, though, the men are at least as strong. Joey Cheek won the world sprint championships, Shani Davis has ruled the 1,000m, and Hedrick set three world records -- two of which he still holds, the 1,500m and 10,000m.
With Jochen Uytdehaage, the Dutch won the 5,000m and 10,000m in Salt Lake, but the defending champion failed to make the team this year. Gianni Romme, the double long-distance champion from Nagano, also could not get through the national trials.
Kramer and Verheijen carry Dutch hopes over the longer distances. For the first time in a dozen years they will also have to deal with Norwegians again.
Johann Olav Koss won three golds at the 1994 games in Lillehammer but the Norwegian program went into a steep decline until American coach Peter Mueller arrived two years ago.
With Ervik and Lasse Saetre they hope to take over control from the Dutch again in the long distances.
"We are motivated by the Dutch. There has always been a big rivalry and we have been down for 10, 11 years. Now we are on the verge of having one of the best teams in Norwegian speedskating," Mueller said.
On Monday, the attention turns to sprinting, with the 500m. Joji Kato set a world record early in the season and all of Japan is rooting for him to emulate the feat of Hiroyasu Shimizu, who took gold in Nagano. Canada's Jeremy Wotherspoon will be seeking to cap his outstanding career with a gold. Four years ago, he skated the fastest 500m of all, but unfortunately, had fallen during the first heat.
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