Alexis Contin wins the FIC stage 3 in a row!

Publié le 12 mai 2008 par Vincent Esnault

He finally came back. After three months in Florida and in the Netherlands, and some clinics with the French national team, Alexis Contin participated to his first national race this last week-end. It was in the Goëlo, FIC stage 3, with the skin suit of Levallois Sporting Club. And Alexis won the race in a row, against World number 1, Yann Guyader (Alessi Powerslide)!

Perfect weather, with blue skies and hot temperatures: the 3^rd stage of the FIC is far from the easiest (many up hills, 50kms), but maybe one of the most beautiful (landscapes, near the see). It was also Alexis come back in France, after a long preparation for the coming season on skates. Alexis already won three competitions in the Netherlands these past weeks; but here in France, in his own region, he had to prove he was still at top! Moreover, some of the best World skaters were at start of this stage of the FIC, such has Yann Guyader (6 victories this season) or Julien Despaux (Rollerblade France, two times vice World champion in 2007).

The race did not start that much fast. The first lap (out of 16) was quite low, but not the next ones! Richard Deniaud (single licence) tried to open the first gap alone: he gave ideas to many other skaters… And firstly a group of four, with Despaux, Guyader and the two LSC boys, Contin and Julien Levrard. But they were quickly swallowed back in.

During the rest of the race, there were many other attacks. But none of them was determinant. In the bell lap, Deniaud took the lead of the pack; the sprinters were looking for the best place behind him. In the ultimate up hill, Guyader seemed to follow the best way to the victory. But he was nipped on the line by Alexis, who managed to have a faster speed! Julien, who was in the aspiration of his leader, took the fourth place, nipped on the line by Nicolas Pelloquin. The race was raced in 1h17’40.

Gaudesaboos podiums: Jessica second and Sabrina third!

In the women’s race, a group of six quickly escaped. But after a tough work ahead, two of the flyers managed to go away alone: Nathalie Barbotin (Alessi Powerslide) and Jessica Gaudesaboos (Cado Motus Bob). The two worked perfectly together: they opened a gap of about three minutes, whereas Sabrina Gaudesaboos (Cado Motus Bob) was controlling behind for her twin sister.

In the last up hill, Nathalie Barbotin took the lead and started to sprint. Jessica Gaudesaboos tried to over pass on the left side of the road, unsuccessfully… She finally took the second place in 1h29’45. Sabrina closed perfectly the race, taking the third place in the second sprint.

Men final sprint:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=8VhooJsQG1o

Women final sprint:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=GBdE3mcEVyQ