Thursday, June 23, 2011
Ostrava World Inline Cup
Last weekend I won the World Inline Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic. It was a repeat of last year on the start line, humming and harring over what wheels to wear. I think I made a wiser choice this year as the majority of the race was dry once again. There were a couple of light threatening showers during the race but nothing heavy enough to completely saturate the road. After two laps I broke away with three other skaters and by the end there were only two of us left. It came down to a sprint between myself and short track ice skater Katerina Novotna. Katerina is a European Champion and placed 6th at the last Olympic games. Winning in Ostrava now puts me well ahead on the overall points tally for the World Inline Cup with only two races left. Below is a video from both the men's and women's races in Ostrava.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Dijon World Inline Cup
I didn't really get a chance to celebrate my birthday on Saturday because I had a 5.44am train to catch to Dijon on Sunday. I spent the day cleaning my bearings, changing wheels and packing my bag. But crossing the line on Sunday definitely made up for that.
For once there was absolutely no sign of rain on Sunday. I can recall frantically changing wheels on the start line previous years in Dijon. The course is always tough because the road is a little uneven and one straight is a false flat, which after 19 laps can take its toll.
Since I've had successful breakaway attempts this season and won Dijon in 2007 in a breakaway I thought I would give it another go. Early on I attacked and even though I created gaps and had a good mix of skaters away with me no one was ready to commit themselves quite that early. So nothing ever look like staying away, at least for the first quarter of the race. But I kept persisting and at one stage was away solo for a whole lap, but everyone still had enough energy left to work together and chase me down. There were a few other attacks made by Laetitia Le Bihan, Mareike Thum and Melissa Chouleysko but nothing ever got to the stage of looking dangerous.
I just kept attacking and with about seven or eight laps to go I saw an opportunity. I attacked around the top roundabout and coming off of the pack with speed I went full. No one followed me and after a quick glance back I stuck my head down and committed myself. After a couple of laps I had a lead of about 500 metres and then it started to grow. In the end I won by over a minute and a half. The spectators were amazing, every time I went past they would clap and cheer me on. I could also see the chasing group which can sometimes be a disadvantage because they can see you too, but on Sunday it was an advantage because I could see the gap grow lap by lap which kept me going.
Photo - © WIC - Alexander Pfiffner
It felt a little bit like deja vu crossing the finishing line alone. The French skater Justine Halbout had a strong sprint finish and won the pack sprint followed by her younger sister Clemence Halbout.
The men's race was also won in a breakaway by Bart Swings and coming in second was Yann Guyader. Peter Michael also racing for X-Tech MPC International missed getting on the nine man breakaway which escaped after only 7.5 km. However he did win the pack sprint and ended up finishing 10th.
Thanks to Alexandre Chartier and rollerenligne.com for the lift back to the train station. The trophy I won is big and made out of thick glass so it's heavy too. It may have to travel back to New Zealand with me as carry on luggage, literally being carried in my hand.
For once there was absolutely no sign of rain on Sunday. I can recall frantically changing wheels on the start line previous years in Dijon. The course is always tough because the road is a little uneven and one straight is a false flat, which after 19 laps can take its toll.
Since I've had successful breakaway attempts this season and won Dijon in 2007 in a breakaway I thought I would give it another go. Early on I attacked and even though I created gaps and had a good mix of skaters away with me no one was ready to commit themselves quite that early. So nothing ever look like staying away, at least for the first quarter of the race. But I kept persisting and at one stage was away solo for a whole lap, but everyone still had enough energy left to work together and chase me down. There were a few other attacks made by Laetitia Le Bihan, Mareike Thum and Melissa Chouleysko but nothing ever got to the stage of looking dangerous.
I just kept attacking and with about seven or eight laps to go I saw an opportunity. I attacked around the top roundabout and coming off of the pack with speed I went full. No one followed me and after a quick glance back I stuck my head down and committed myself. After a couple of laps I had a lead of about 500 metres and then it started to grow. In the end I won by over a minute and a half. The spectators were amazing, every time I went past they would clap and cheer me on. I could also see the chasing group which can sometimes be a disadvantage because they can see you too, but on Sunday it was an advantage because I could see the gap grow lap by lap which kept me going.
Photo - © WIC - Alexander PfiffnerThe men's race was also won in a breakaway by Bart Swings and coming in second was Yann Guyader. Peter Michael also racing for X-Tech MPC International missed getting on the nine man breakaway which escaped after only 7.5 km. However he did win the pack sprint and ended up finishing 10th.
Thanks to Alexandre Chartier and rollerenligne.com for the lift back to the train station. The trophy I won is big and made out of thick glass so it's heavy too. It may have to travel back to New Zealand with me as carry on luggage, literally being carried in my hand.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Update
Here's an update of what I've been up to over the last few weeks and what's coming up.
Worgl
At the Europa Cup event in Worgl I finished 2nd in the 5km points, 5th in the elimination, 500m and the 300m time trial.
World Inline Cup Incheon
I finished 4th in the World Inline Cup in Incheon, Korea. It was a tough race with nearly all of the top Korean and Chinese skaters present. I attacked early on and just kept attacking until one of the breakaways was successful. I had no energy left for the final sprint after all my attempts to escape, but by creating the breakaway I secured myself a top five position. I'm now leading the World Inline Cup competition.
Photo - Tiger Kim
New Track Project
The work on the new 200m bank track in Timaru, New Zealand is now well underway. The weather in Timaru last month wasn't very good which halted progress but now the rains gone and things are full steam ahead. Here are a few recent pictures.
Coming Up
The next race for me will be the World Inline Cup in Dijon, France which is on the 12th of June. Then the week after I will be racing in Ostrava which is also a World Inline Cup event. The final event before I head back home will be the Gigathlon in Switzerland.
Worgl
At the Europa Cup event in Worgl I finished 2nd in the 5km points, 5th in the elimination, 500m and the 300m time trial.
World Inline Cup Incheon
I finished 4th in the World Inline Cup in Incheon, Korea. It was a tough race with nearly all of the top Korean and Chinese skaters present. I attacked early on and just kept attacking until one of the breakaways was successful. I had no energy left for the final sprint after all my attempts to escape, but by creating the breakaway I secured myself a top five position. I'm now leading the World Inline Cup competition.
Photo - Tiger KimNew Track Project
The work on the new 200m bank track in Timaru, New Zealand is now well underway. The weather in Timaru last month wasn't very good which halted progress but now the rains gone and things are full steam ahead. Here are a few recent pictures.
Coming Up
The next race for me will be the World Inline Cup in Dijon, France which is on the 12th of June. Then the week after I will be racing in Ostrava which is also a World Inline Cup event. The final event before I head back home will be the Gigathlon in Switzerland.
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