COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
La Fête de la Glisse 2002 : another triple crown for Salomon International
Communiqué du 03/05/2002
La Fête de la Glisse 2002 : another triple crown for Salomon International
By Vincent Esnault
.
The inline clubs from the Loire Atlantique department united their energy to organize the 2002 Fête de la Glisse in Nantes, April 27th and 28th. This year the competition was held during two days with a Roller World Cup international marathon the 27th (French Inline Cup stage 2) and classic distance races, Sunday, the 28th. While the elite and the national teams fought it out for 45k, the younger categories and fitness skaters were able to enjoy themselves on a 25k semi-marathon and the general public for a fun family skate run .
The race the most anticipated this weekend was, without a doubt, the international marathon. The circuit was on the eastern extremity of the Ile Beaulieu and presented no major difficulty. During the 5km loop the skaters would encounter several roundabouts, traffic islands, a few very tight turns and approximately 50 meters of cobble stoned road. These minor hazards however would prove minimal compared to the pace set from the very beginning by the elite teams of Rollerblade World Team and Salomon International. Added to that world class level, were team Bont International, and the national teams from Salomon, Rollerblade, and Mogema.
The first wave of Elite, National, and Junior men skaters left the starting block at 16 :15 (4 :15pm). Their distance was 45km. The Elite women began one minute after the men, also for 45km. Three minutes after they were followed by the National women, cadet and minime categories for a total of 25Km.
The Elite men’s race was entirely led for the first 30 minutes by the Salomon and Rollerblade teams. Small groups of three or four men constantly broke away from the pack. They were quickly chased down and swallowed back-up by the peloton especially on the long, straight, Boulevard Doumergue where a strong frontal wind pushed all escapees back to their keepers. Very soon, the tightly formed group consisted of about 30 strong skaters. The second part of the race was characterized by alternating attacks and relative rest periods. However, the resting was taking place at an average speed of 40km/h.
The spectators would therefore be treated to a final sprint by some of the fastest skaters in the world. For this exercise, the organization between team mates would prove decisive. Salomon’s Juan-Carlos Betancur (Colombia) had taken a fall early in the race, but just three loops from the end, Rollerblade World team’s Fabien Rabeau (France) and new member Wouter Hebbrecht (Belgium) also took hard falls disabling them for the race climax. Salomon International was able to count on the Salomon National French team reinforcements : Richard Deniaud and Mickaël Lannezval, both in top shape since the beginning of the season. The combat, however, seemed unequal, as Rollerblade’s only joker in the running was Benoît Perthuis of Rollerblade’s French National team. Arnaud Gicquel (France), one of Rollerblade’s leaders, also suffered from cramps during the final two laps and was unable to fight for the win.
Finally, it would be the Australians of team Bont that would take the bull by the horns and carry-out an aggressive role in the final sprint. Lined-up and ready for the lead-out Shaun Thompson and Michael Byrne put coal on the fire, undoubtedly to place their best sprinter, Peter Currell. Unfortunately, this tactic did not prove successful. After the Bont team, came Rollerblade’s fraternal onslaught with Kalon and Shane Dobbin (New Zealand) racing for the win but then a black and yellow tidal wave buried them like tiny sea shells. The podium would be claimed by Salomon International’s Pascal Briand, (France) Franck Cardin, (France) and Massimiliano Presti (Italy) and in 4th place Kalon Dobbin for Rollerblade. The race was carried-out in one hour and five minutes.
Ditto for the ladies ? Nothing could be less certain. Salomon’s veteran Caroline Lagrée was resigned to watching the race as a spectator due to a training injury while cycling. The Salomon International ladies squad was missing one of it’s most adamant race agitators. As a team of three they were already at a disadvantage but soon lost Austrian teammate, Elizabeth Schrenk as she became detached from the lead pack. It was two against six, as Rollerblade was able to count on team Rollerblade Australia teammate, Tania Currell, who has returned to the top level in excellent form and the promising Caroline Bouée, a new recruit on the Rollerblade French national team.
As with the men, the race would be terminated with an exciting final sprint. The speaker announced four Rollerblade ladies as having broken-away from the pack in the last kilometer. In fact, Tania Currell was leading her teammates to the finishing line, but Salomon International’s Nathalie Barbotin (France) would edge Rollerblade World team’s Ashley Horgan (USA) and Marion Grotto (France), at the finish line, arms raised in victory.
In the junior category, Lionel Maillard (Salomon Devo team) was victorious, finishing in the Elite pack. For the cadet and minime 25km race, Alexis Contin won 1st place for the cadets young men and Alexandre Vidal for the minimes boys.
The traditional distance races were scheduled for the next day in Rezé, a suburb of Nantes, . The sprint races were rained-out in the morning, but the strong gusts of wind and the reappearance of the sun allowed the road to dry for the afternoon races. Pascal Briand won once again, resisting the entire Rollerblade World team in a 10,000m challenge. For the ladies, however, and with the absence of the Salomon team, Rollerblade ‘s Silvia Nino and Marion Grotto easily won, and with a comfortable lead on the pack.
The 2002 edition of the Fête de la Glisse was an overwhelming success. The event allowed skaters the possibility to compete at an excellent level and with the presence of the international favorites. And, despite the rain on Sunday a small, courageous group of 30 attended the fun run in the Nantaise wine country.
By Vincent Esnault
.
The inline clubs from the Loire Atlantique department united their energy to organize the 2002 Fête de la Glisse in Nantes, April 27th and 28th. This year the competition was held during two days with a Roller World Cup international marathon the 27th (French Inline Cup stage 2) and classic distance races, Sunday, the 28th. While the elite and the national teams fought it out for 45k, the younger categories and fitness skaters were able to enjoy themselves on a 25k semi-marathon and the general public for a fun family skate run .
The race the most anticipated this weekend was, without a doubt, the international marathon. The circuit was on the eastern extremity of the Ile Beaulieu and presented no major difficulty. During the 5km loop the skaters would encounter several roundabouts, traffic islands, a few very tight turns and approximately 50 meters of cobble stoned road. These minor hazards however would prove minimal compared to the pace set from the very beginning by the elite teams of Rollerblade World Team and Salomon International. Added to that world class level, were team Bont International, and the national teams from Salomon, Rollerblade, and Mogema.
The first wave of Elite, National, and Junior men skaters left the starting block at 16 :15 (4 :15pm). Their distance was 45km. The Elite women began one minute after the men, also for 45km. Three minutes after they were followed by the National women, cadet and minime categories for a total of 25Km.
The Elite men’s race was entirely led for the first 30 minutes by the Salomon and Rollerblade teams. Small groups of three or four men constantly broke away from the pack. They were quickly chased down and swallowed back-up by the peloton especially on the long, straight, Boulevard Doumergue where a strong frontal wind pushed all escapees back to their keepers. Very soon, the tightly formed group consisted of about 30 strong skaters. The second part of the race was characterized by alternating attacks and relative rest periods. However, the resting was taking place at an average speed of 40km/h.
The spectators would therefore be treated to a final sprint by some of the fastest skaters in the world. For this exercise, the organization between team mates would prove decisive. Salomon’s Juan-Carlos Betancur (Colombia) had taken a fall early in the race, but just three loops from the end, Rollerblade World team’s Fabien Rabeau (France) and new member Wouter Hebbrecht (Belgium) also took hard falls disabling them for the race climax. Salomon International was able to count on the Salomon National French team reinforcements : Richard Deniaud and Mickaël Lannezval, both in top shape since the beginning of the season. The combat, however, seemed unequal, as Rollerblade’s only joker in the running was Benoît Perthuis of Rollerblade’s French National team. Arnaud Gicquel (France), one of Rollerblade’s leaders, also suffered from cramps during the final two laps and was unable to fight for the win.
Finally, it would be the Australians of team Bont that would take the bull by the horns and carry-out an aggressive role in the final sprint. Lined-up and ready for the lead-out Shaun Thompson and Michael Byrne put coal on the fire, undoubtedly to place their best sprinter, Peter Currell. Unfortunately, this tactic did not prove successful. After the Bont team, came Rollerblade’s fraternal onslaught with Kalon and Shane Dobbin (New Zealand) racing for the win but then a black and yellow tidal wave buried them like tiny sea shells. The podium would be claimed by Salomon International’s Pascal Briand, (France) Franck Cardin, (France) and Massimiliano Presti (Italy) and in 4th place Kalon Dobbin for Rollerblade. The race was carried-out in one hour and five minutes.
Ditto for the ladies ? Nothing could be less certain. Salomon’s veteran Caroline Lagrée was resigned to watching the race as a spectator due to a training injury while cycling. The Salomon International ladies squad was missing one of it’s most adamant race agitators. As a team of three they were already at a disadvantage but soon lost Austrian teammate, Elizabeth Schrenk as she became detached from the lead pack. It was two against six, as Rollerblade was able to count on team Rollerblade Australia teammate, Tania Currell, who has returned to the top level in excellent form and the promising Caroline Bouée, a new recruit on the Rollerblade French national team.
As with the men, the race would be terminated with an exciting final sprint. The speaker announced four Rollerblade ladies as having broken-away from the pack in the last kilometer. In fact, Tania Currell was leading her teammates to the finishing line, but Salomon International’s Nathalie Barbotin (France) would edge Rollerblade World team’s Ashley Horgan (USA) and Marion Grotto (France), at the finish line, arms raised in victory.
In the junior category, Lionel Maillard (Salomon Devo team) was victorious, finishing in the Elite pack. For the cadet and minime 25km race, Alexis Contin won 1st place for the cadets young men and Alexandre Vidal for the minimes boys.
The traditional distance races were scheduled for the next day in Rezé, a suburb of Nantes, . The sprint races were rained-out in the morning, but the strong gusts of wind and the reappearance of the sun allowed the road to dry for the afternoon races. Pascal Briand won once again, resisting the entire Rollerblade World team in a 10,000m challenge. For the ladies, however, and with the absence of the Salomon team, Rollerblade ‘s Silvia Nino and Marion Grotto easily won, and with a comfortable lead on the pack.
The 2002 edition of the Fête de la Glisse was an overwhelming success. The event allowed skaters the possibility to compete at an excellent level and with the presence of the international favorites. And, despite the rain on Sunday a small, courageous group of 30 attended the fun run in the Nantaise wine country.
