World champion speed skater Joy Beune has beaten sprint star Jenning de Boo in a much-talked-about “battle of the sexes” race over 3,000 metres in a sold-out Elfstedenhal in Leeuwarden.

Beune, the reigning world champion over the distance, finished in 4.04.55, almost a second faster than De Boo, who clocked 4.05.54 despite making a fast start. The race followed weeks of joking between the two Reggeborgh team-mates after De Boo suggested he could beat Beune over the longer distance.

Watch the race on NOS

“I don’t give him much chance,” Beune told reporters ahead of the race. “He has never skated a 3,000 metres. He doesn’t even know himself what he can do or how to pace it.”

De Boo started out quickly and built up an early lead, but struggled to maintain the pace as the race went on. Beune skated a controlled race and gradually closed the gap as De Boo’s lap times slowed.

With a lap to go, Beune caught her rival and passed him on the final straight, as De Boo visibly tired. Afterwards he admitted his tactics had been risky. “Starting fast was the plan,” he said. “But at some point the hammer came down — and it came down hard.”