Funchal,11th June 2023. The second stop of the WORLD INLINE CUP 2023 was a challenge for the organisers and the athletes. After three days of competitions on the track, the WIC Marathon in Funchal, Madeira, was on the agenda. Rain set in in the morning, which posed a great challenge for everyone. Most of the athletes switched to rain rollers and the speed of the race remained quite restrained at first.
Nevertheless, a group with Bart Swings (BEL), Feilx Rijhnen (GER) and Jasson Suttels, all from the Powerslide Racing Team, as well as Stefan Due Schmitt (NLD) from Team arena geisingen international and Indra Medard (POR) from Zwaantjes Roller Club broke away from the rest of the field early on. They were joined by local hero António Edgar Martin Freitas (POR) of Team CDR Santanese from Madeira. After several breakaway attempts and a fortunately undramatic crash by Bart Swings, Jason Suttels and Bart Swings were able to pull away from the field a few laps before the finish. In the end, the two were able to reach the finish line unhindered, with Jason Suttels crossing the finish line first before Bart Swings and thus celebrating his first WORLD INLINE CUP victory. In the fight for third place, Felix Rijhnen managed to beat António Edgar Martin Freitas in a thrilling finish, so that the Powerslide podium was complete.
In the women's race, it was very exciting right up to the finish. Last year's winner Aura Quintana (COL), the winner of the 1st stop of the WIC in Rennes last weekend Marine Balanant (FRA) from Team BONT Europe and the Ecuadorian Gabriela Vargas from team arena geisingen international took turns leading the field again and again. Although Gabriela Vargas, like Bart Swings, crashed once on the wet and slippery road, she stayed in the leading group.
In the end, last year's winner Aura Quintana narrowly beat Gabriela Vargas and Marine Balanant in a thrilling finish.
Results
Men
- Jason Suttels (BEL) Powerslide Racing Team
- Bart Swings (BEL) Powerslide Racing Team
- Felix Rijhnen (GER) Powerslide Racing Team
Women
- Aura Quintana Herrera (COL) C.P. Desliza Vitoria – Rollerblade Spain
- Gabriela Vargas Sarmiento (ECU) Team Arena Geisingen International
- Marine Balanant (FRA) BONT EUROPE TEAM
The updated WIC overall ranking will be online asap on https://www.world-inline-cup.com/ranking/2023
WIC Calendar 2023
The next stops of the WORLD INLINE CUP 2023 are: L'Aquila / ITA on 25 June (Class1), Harbin / CHN on 29 July (TopClass), Berlin / GER on 23 September (TopClass). On 29 October, an Associated Race will take place in Sarasota / USA outside the overall ranking.
For further information, please see www.world-inline-cup.com and/or contact:
Volker Schlichting
IGUANA Deutschland GmbH
Tel. +49 30 83 21 794 55
