|
World Inline Cup Hamburg Marathon May 27th, 2003
Hamburg Germany, May 27th, 2003: The second
race of the WIC season was held in conjunction with the Olympus
running marathon in Hamburg in the north of Germany. With it raining
heavy the night before and the race commencing at 8:50am the skaters
knew they were in for a repeat of the weather of last years race.
But come morning the wind had picked up and dried most of the 42km
course, leaving it at its most dangerous, dry with wet patches.
Verducci Racing team gained their second podium in
as many races, with Jessica Smith and Theresa Cliff in the International
woman.
The Verducci team was at full strength with Sheila Herrero and Sandra
Gomez both from Spain starting their World cup season in Hamburg.
In the woman's race the pace was on at the start despite the slippery
conditions, with the pro-woman's pace and the fitness separating
in the first few miles.
With the course winding through back streets, crossing intersections
with thick painted lines and sharp direction changes their was a
quite a few crashes, including Verducci's Sheila Herrero and Sandra
Gomez in the early stages of the race, leaving the team's lead out
finish weakened as a result.
The wet/dry conditionsmaking it more difficult for breakaways the
race was destined to have a sprint finish.
The Fila/Mentos team starting the lead out for team leader Adelia
Marra, with the strong Roces team also setting up for the finish.
The Verducci team getting boxed in and unable to get a clear line
to the finish until 100m to go still finished 3rd and 5th in a photo
finish with Adelia Marra holding on for the win, with 2nd and 3rd
taking over an hour to determine the placing.
1st Adelia Marra, Fila/Mentos, ITA
2nd Andrea Haritchelhar, Roces International, ARG
3rd Jessica Smith, Verducci International, USA
4th Laura Lombardo, Roces International, ITA
5th Theresa Cliff, Verducci International, USA
6th Andrea Gonzalez, Roces International, ARG
7th Ashley Horgan, Rollerblade World Team, USA
The men's race was plagued with crashes from the beginning with the men's pack so big now that the races at the back are not seeing the tighter corners and obstacles until the last second.
There was a noticeable increase in skaters using 100mm wheels with some of the Rollerblade team joining the Fila/Mentos team already skating on the larger wheels.
The race seemingly being dominated by the Saab/Salomon and Rollerblade teams with Saab/Salomon again proving to be to strong in the sprint finish. Gaining another 1,2,3.
1st Massimiliano Presti, Saab Salomon World Team. ITA.
2nd Pascal Briand, Saab Salomon World Team. FRA
3rd Franck Cardin, Saab Salomon World Team. FRA
4th Martin Escobar Roces International ARG
5th Arnaud Gicquel, Rollerblade World Team. FRA
6th Jorge Botero, Rollerblade World Team. COL
7th Pier-Davide Romarni, Saab Salomon World Team. ITA
|
 |
