1st & 2nd place in the women's Race for Chinese Taipei and
for Powerslide Racing Team in the men's race
L’Aquila,25th June 2023. After three days of competition on the track, the third stop of this year's WORLD INLINE CUP took place today in the capital of Abruzzo, L'Aquila.
19 laps with several roundabouts, downhills and climbs demanded a lot from all athletes under the hot sun. With eleven nations, the starting field was very international.
Exciting race to the finish in the women's race
In the women's category, the European champion Marine Lefeuvre, FRA (EOSkates World Team) and the Colombian Aura Quintana Herrera, who is currently leading the WIC overall ranking, attracted a lot of attention. But also the local hero Federica die Natale (C.P.G.A. SD), the Dutch Noraly Berber Vonk and the Austrian Anna Petutschnigg were among the favourites in the international starting field. Furthermore, the two skaters from Chinese Taipei, Yi-Hsuan Liu and Ho Chen Yang, should not be underestimated.
The starting field remained close together for most of the race, with the favourites taking turns in the lead. The Ukrainian Anna Muzyka (SAM Roller Team) also took the lead for a while. In the end, it came down to a gripping sprint to the finish, with Yi-Hsuan Liu crossing the finish line first ahead of her team-mate Ho Chen Yang, immediately followed by Marine Lefeuvre.
Impressive performance by Swings on Wings and thrilling finish for 2nd and 3rd place
The starting field for the men was similarly international. Besides the Belgians Bart Swings and Jason Suttels (both Powerslide Racing Team), Martin Ferrié, FRA (EOSkates World Team) as well as the Spaniards Patxi Peula, ESP and Tarazona Carlos Arturo (both Rollerblade World Team) belonged to the narrow field of favourites. But also, the Frenchmen Hugo Gerard and Charly Grillon could be expected to finish well.
Jason Suttels and Bart Swings, together with Martin Ferrié, broke away from the field as early as in the second run and continuously extended their lead. For Martin Ferrié it was not easy to keep up the pace without his injured teammate Nolan Beddiaf. After eleven laps, Jason started a tactical breakaway. Joining the leader cost Martin Ferrié a lot of energy, so that Bart Swings broke away from the field, followed by Martin Ferrie and Jason Suttels, who were now racing together for 2nd and 3rd place.
Bart Swings impressively extended his lead in the remaining eight laps and won in a commanding 1:01:39.
In a thrilling finish, Jason Suttels narrowly edged out Martin Ferrié to finish in second place.
"Besides the impressive form of Bart Swings, the race was characterised by a very international starting field and thrilling finish sprints. The course with its numerous roundabouts, downhills and climbs was a great challenge for all starters and exciting to watch for the spectators," said Volker Schlichting, Executive Director WORLD INLINE CUP.
Results
Men
- Bart Swings (BEL) Powerslide Racing Team
- Jason Suttels (BEL) Powerslide Racing Team
- Martin Ferrié (FRA) EOSkates World Team
Women
- Yi-Hsuan Liu (TWN) Chinese Taipei
- Ho Chen Yang (TWN) Chinese Taipei
- Marine Lefeuvre (FRA) EOSkates World 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: 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
