WIC Zürich: Julien in the Top 10

Julien Levrard managed once again to take a Top 10 ranking in a World Inline Cup marathon this season. He finished 10th in Zürich, Switzerland - he already captured the 9th rank in Rennes, France, in May. The Levallois skater was one of the main actor of this 11th stage of the World series.

      For the first time since 2005, the WIC of Zürich finished in a break away. Actually, a first attack forced some of the Top skaters of the series to accelerate in the very first lap of race. Quickly, Yann Guyader (Alessi Powerslide), Diego Rosero (Rollerblade MPC World) and Joey Mantia (Luigino Answer) were among the 11 flyers. Julien also. The group opened a gap of about 15 seconds per lap (out of 5 laps). After 43kms of race, they were 1'30 ahead. Julien took the lead of the group for the sprint, but he was passed by Mantia (glod), Rosero (silver) and Guyader (bronze): he finally captured the 10th rank. 

      The race went on very fast (1h for the breaking group, 1h01 for the pace): the fact is that the circuit in Zürich is quite flat, the temperatures were very high (about 32°C) and the skies blue! Perfect conditions for racing then! The women's race was also very fast (1h11), with a lot of attempts of break. But in the final lap, the pack speed slowed down and started to prepare the sprint...

      Elma De Vires (Cado Motus) took the occasion and attacked after the ultimate corner, at about 800m to the line: she won a WIC stage in Engadin this season with the same tactic! It failed this time unfortunately: the Netherlander star was chased down by Nicole Begg (Bont Wheels), who was protecting her leader Cecilia Baena. It worked perfectly for the pink and purple crew: Baena sprinted fast and took her seventh victory in a WIC in 2008, in front of Brittany Bowe (Luigino Answer) and Baena's team mate Alexandra Vivas. Hilde Goovaerts (Cado Motus), who's skating one of her best season ever at the age of 32, ended close at the 4th place! The Belgium number 1 enters the Top 20 of the WIC provisional (20th position with 326 points), just behind her team mate Elma De Vries (19th with 335 points).

         Women's final sprint (left from right: Vivas, Baena, Goovaerts and Bowe), photo by Niki Neck