Starting November, winter sports take center stage as the ISU Speed Skating World Cup goes underway. The first leg of the competition will be held on Nov 8 at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Canada.

Twelve events are on tap in Calgary: men's and women's 500 metres, men's and women's 1,000 metres, men's and women's 1,500 metres, men's and women's 3,000 metres, men's and women's 5,000 metres, and men's and women's team pursuit. The United States and The Netherlands have dominated the individual events in recent years, with Shani Davis winning the overall title for the 1,000 metres five times and 1,500 metres four times, and Dutch skaters winning eight individual medals since 2008-09.

On the distaff side, Canada's Christine Nesbitt has been one of the most dominant figures, winning the 1,000 metres and 1,500 metres a combined five times. The United States' Heather Richardson has also alternated with Nesbitt in winning the 1,000 metres overall title. Among longer-distance skaters, the Czech Republic's Martina Sablikova has long been the undisputed champion, first winning the 3,000/5,000 metres title in 2006-07 and successfully defending it six times.

There are a lot of dramatic side stories in the 2013-14 ISU Speed Skating World Cup. Will Shani Davis be able to make up for his disastrous performances in 2012-13? Will the Korean speed skaters again display their world-beating form in the run-up to Sochi 2014, or are the Dutch standing in their way? Will Sablikova be able to defend her title once again?

All the questions above, and more, will be settled as the skaters take to the ice on Nov 8 to 9.

Watch the 2013-14 ISU Speed Skating World Cup LIVE here: LINK

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