Ostrava, 16 June 2012: Germany’s Jana Gegner (EOSKATES IDEEprint) and Leon Alfredo Moreno from Venezuela (Uus Maa Team) celebrated their victories at the fourth stop of the 2012 World Inline Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
A great skating fest in Ostrava started on Friday when almost 2.000 skaters participated in the free evening ride on the track of the WIC races. On Saturday in tropical hot conditions more than 420 athletes presented their skills in different races.
In the women´s WIC race on the 33.550 m course the 5th of 11 laps has been the most important, when an attack of Kateřina Novotná - Czech representative in short track – could only been followed by Jana Gegner, Aleksandra Goss (Poland) and Laima Kaufina (Latvia). Then started the tactical battle. The second group’s handicap grew regularly every lap to more than 5 min and the spectators were right to expect an exciting finish. Jana Gegner presented their sprint quality with Kateřina Novotná being placed second by the photo finish. Third was Aleksandra Goss.
„It was my tactic to keep the leading group together and attack at the finish line. It was a very hard race. I don’t like hills, but in Ostrava it was okay, the track is very nice. My goal is to win this year’s World Inline Cup and I need to get only one more victory,“ Jana Gegner said after the race.
The men´s WIC race with 107 skaters starting also offered a very tactical race with a very active Czech National Team. The leading group - created in the second lap by athletes of the Czech Republic, Venezuela, Brazil, Austria, Poland, Slovakia and Latvia - changed the speed, but none of the attacks was successful. In the last lap four skaters in Czech colors tried to force a decision, but at the finish line the South American athletes controlled the positions with three Venezuela skaters on the podium.
„I am very happy. It is my first victory in my third start in Ostrava. We had a very strong team with experience from many WIC races. I love Ostrava’s track and atmosphere. The strongest competitor was the Czech National Team,“ said Alfredo Leon Moreno.