Duisburg Marathon Germany

After racing the night before in Emmeloord and getting home around 11pm, we had to be up at 4.30am to drive to Germany and start at 8am. This is one of our favorite races of the year to do though as the money is good, with little competition, so it has its rewards. Hilde, Jannitta and I were the only ones that went for CadoMotus. Mick came to watch but not skate. He thought it would be best to take it easy after having raced in Emmeloord after being sick with the flu.


L: Angie and Jannitta at the end of the race, waiting for the podium.
R: Jannitta on the big screen

From the start I took off strong taking with me Hilde and Jannitta and about 5 other girls. About 5km into the race we came to a small hill climb, where I left a gap for Jannitta to get away. After she was about 20mt up the road I then crossed to her, leaving Hilde to stay with the group and help hold them back from chasing. For the duration of the race Jannitta and I worked together to keep the very large gap that we had gained, sharing the lead every few minutes. We then came to the end and had to make our way into the stadium to the finish line (which is always very cool as you can see yourself on the big screen). A few minutes later, Hilde arrived with no one on her wheel and looking quite tired and red faced.



Jannitta and Angie crossing the finish line for the win. Bottom right: Angie, Hilde and Jannitta after Hilde finished.

Later she told us that with about 1 km before the finish, she took off and had to skate hard into the wind by herself. She didn’t realize how windy it was until she had to do it alone. Hilde then looked back and said she could see the girls getting closer which made her kick even harder to reach the stadium.


L: Jannitta, Angie, Hilde R: Angie and Jannitta on podium.

So with very nice victories going to the CadoMotus girls and a nice prize pool over this weekends racing, we are all very happy and looking forward to seeing how we go in next weeks World Inline Cup 25km team time-trials.


Above: Angie, Jannitta, Hilde in both pics.

Duisburg Ladies Marathon Results

1. Jannitta Spigt - (NED) CadoMotus World
2. Angeline Thomas - (AUS) CadoMotus World
3. Hilde Goovaerts - (BEL) CadoMotus World

In the mens race, Belgium’s Jimmy Pierloot won the event for the 3rd year in a row. He attacked just outside the stadium and ended up with a 10 –meter lead over Marcus Pape (GER) and a further 50-meter over Willem Hut (NED) who had just come from racing Emmeloord the night before.

Duisburg Mens Marathon Results

1. Jimmy Pierloot (BEL) 3-time winner
2. Marcus Pape (GER)
3. Willem Hut (NED)


Above podium: Marcus Pape (GER) 2nd, Jimmy Pierloot 1st, Willem Hut 3rd.

Emmeloord World on Wheels - CadoMotus 1,3,4,5

The weather here this past week has once again been superb. Beautiful hot days all week right up until race day – perfect for Australians. In past years, only the A and B men’s categories have been able to contest Emmeloord’s fast small circuit. But this year all grades were apart of the ‘Quees day festival’ weekend.

This week our ladies team started without Bianca Roosenboom (NED) and Margo Van Der Werve (CadoMotus National - NED), who were both in Germany contesting the Gros Gerau weekend competition. On day one of the Gros Gerau weekend, Bianca finished up with a 2nd in the 300mt time trial and 6th in the 500mt.

Both: Jessica leading the pack.

With many skaters from Holland attending the popular German race, the field in the Dutch circuit was low on good skaters, capable of making a fast pace. From the first prem sprint (money lap), I went for it, and in doing so, won it and had a 10mt gap on the field. I then went on to break away, staying away from the pack solo for 10min until they finally caught. Hilde Goovaerts (BEL) and Jannitta Spigt (NED) then went on to win the other prem sprints while I sat in the bunch to wait for the finish.

L: Jannitta leads the pack. R: Hilde leading pack. Bottom: Angie on break-away.

With 3 laps to go, our team got into position with Hilde in front of me and Jannitta leading the train. As we came through the line for 1 lap to go, 200mt after the finish line Hilde started the lead out, taking me all the way to the final corner. I then passed her on the outside but only enough to make sure the train behind me couldn’t come through. I sprinted to the line with Britta Vantourhout on my wheel coming in 2nd followed by Hilde hanging on for 3rd. Jannitta had the best result for this season, placing 5th behind CadoMotus’ national team member Jessica Gaudesaboos (BEL)

The finish sprint, as Britta and I pass a lapped group, the girl in the red suit steps out to start sprinting and almost takes us both out.

Emmeloord World on Wheels Ladies Results

1. Angeline Thomas - (AUS) CadoMotus World

2. Britta Vantourhout - (BEL) Time Out

3. Hilde Goovaerts - (BEL) CadoMotus World

4. Jessica Gaudesaboos - (BEL) CadoMotus National

5. Jannitta Spigt - (NED) - CadoMotus World

Britta, Angie and Hilde on podium.

In the Mens A, there were MANY attacks, with one going after the other. Michael Byrne was on every break in the beginning, but after being sick with the flu all last week thought it was not a good idea to push it any further and skated for about 30min before he had to retire. Christijn Groenveld (NED) from team Hyper/ CadoMotus raced very good, being one of six in the break that got away with Frenchman Alexis Contin, Roy Boeve (NED), Sjoerd Huisman (NED) and Roger Schneider (SUI). The breakaway group only just kept the main pack away until the finish with Alexis Contin winning the lunge in front of Sjoerd Huisman and 3rd Roy Boeve.

Emmeloord World on Wheels Mens Results
1. Alexis Contin - (FRA) Powerslide

2. Sjoerd Huisman - (NED) Nefit

3. Roy Boeve - (NED) Habovo

5. Christijn Groeneveld - (NED) Hyper/CadoMotus

Finish of the Mens sprint from left: Roy Boeve, Alexis Contin and Sjoerd Huisman.

Domburg World on Wheels

What can I say about Domburg. Two and a half hours by car, cold and windy, part of course with cobble stones, a hill, very tight corners…but a lovely town nonetheless. The race itself was good as Hilde Goovaerts (BEL) and I won most of the prem sprints (money lap) and took out the leader’s prize (bonus money). The pace was quite high throughout the whole race with the prem sprints, and then girls trying to breakaway after a prem. Nachi Shinozuka (JPN) broke away, only to be caught by me, followed by the group. Jannitta Spigt (NED) tried to escape a few times, but with the course very small and windy, it made it hard for break aways to succeed.

Start of A Ladies Left & Right: CadoMotus World (Orange/Blue) and the new CadoMotus National (Orange/Gold) on the starting line in Domburg. L to R: Bianca Roosenboom (NED), Jessica Gaudesaboos (BEL), Margo van der Merwe (NED) and Jannitta Spigt (NED).

Our team was skating strong throughout the whole race and I would have won it for sure, but when it came down to the last corner for the finish, Nachi Shinozuka slung off Hilde Goovaerts (BEL) and gained a lot of ground. I was caught up behind Britta Vantournhout (BEL) at the time and had to get around her and her team mate then finally chase Nachi down. I was gaining on her and almost caught her at the line but the line came too soon. I finished 2nd .Our team was quite disappointed with the result but know that it will not happen again. Let’s just say it was a long way to go just to get grabbed and come second.

Left: Jannitta Spigt (NED) leading the pack through the finish line followed by Linda Schellekens (FRA), Hilde Goovaerts (BEL), Jessica Gaudesaboos (BEL) and Angeline Thomas (AUS) Right: Nachi Shinkozuka (JPN) leads in front of Angeline Thomas.

Ladies A, Domburg NL

1. Nachin Shinozuka - (JPN) Powerslide
2. Angeline Thomas - (AUS) CadoMotus World
3. Britta Vantournhout - (BEL) Time Out

6. Hilde Goovaerts - (BEL) CadoMotus World
8. Jannitta Spigt - (NED) CadoMotus World

Left: Jessica Gaudesaboos (BEL) and Angeline Thomas (AUS)

Right: Nachi Shinozuka (JPN) at the line after grabbing her way to a break from the bunch sprint. Angeline Thomas 2nd.

In the Mens A race, 4 laps in from the start, there was a crash on one of the corners with Geert-Jan van der Wal from Team Habovo (NED) breaking his collar bone. This will be the third year that Geert Jan has had an bad accident. In 2005, his arm got caught in a tractor, 2006 he crashed and broke his ankle and this year broke his collar bone.

A very unimpressed Michael Byrne (AUS) sat at home with the flu so could not start, but new comer Roel Van Hest (NED) who use to skate for Team DSB, made an appearance in his first race for the season. The field sprint was very close with the win going to Yann Guyader (FRA) followed by an always impressive lunge by Sjoerd Huisman (NED), and Ronan Sanchez (ESP) third.

Mens A

1. Yann Guyader (FRA) Powerslide
2. Sjoerd Huisman (NED) Nefit
3. Ronan Sanchez (ESP) Timmerman - Powerslide

7. Christijn Groeneveld (NED) Hyper/CadoMotus
8. Roel Van Hest (NED) Unive/Stouwdam - CadoMotus

Brakel World on Wheels

Last night in Brakel, NL, the Solipsis Skeeler Challenge began the 2007 World on Wheels season. Brakel has hosted the coldest race of the season, and many competitors lives, each of the previous 2 years - but 2007 greeted racers to the season start with a warm 26-degrees, leaving many skaters red-faced and spent during the late afternoon.

Moments before the start of the first race of the year.

Our CadoMotus ladies team raced together for the first time, so it was a little up in the air on how we'd go. The first race is always the worst for nerves, after not seeing anyone skate for more than 6months, you just don't know what to expect. Many good skaters were present such as Elma De Vries (NED - Netherlands Champion), Linda Schellekens (FRA), and Nachi Shinozuka (JAP) arriving in Holland after the Seoul World Inline Cup.

Hot work in Holland in April! The climbing turn off the main straight.

There were a number of attacks during the race, mostly started by Elma De Vries and Jannitta Spigt (NED). All but one attack was shut down with a group of 6 getting away and staying away with a 25sec lead. Jannitta Spigt was in the break away group for CadoMotus, but so too was Jessica Goodesaboos (BEL) and Nachi Shinozuka, both of who could sprint.

Hilde mid-race follows Jessica Gaudesaboos (Belgium).

Jannitta breaks away from the pack alone.

Hilde and I took turns in closing the gap and managed to close it with 3 laps to spare. After we came through the line with 2 laps to go, Elma De Vries decided to attack again and try drop the group. We caught her with just under one lap to go and then I began the lead out for Hilde, taking her to the line for a 1-2 victory to CadoMotus World.

Hilde takes the endsprint at the line, lead out by Angeline (2nd).

So now the ice is broken and we have made our mark once again in the Dutch circuit.

1. Hilde Goovaerts (BEL) CadoMotus World
2. Angeline Thomas (AUS) CadoMotus World
3. Jessica Goodesaboos (BEL) Bulex
4. Anniek Ter Haar (NED) Time Out Sport
5. Elma DeVries (NED) Touchstone

7. Jannitta Spigt (NED) CadoMotus World
10. Bianca Roosenboom (NED) CadoMotus World

2. Angie, 1. Hilde, and 3. Jessica

As for the A mens race, they had a good field as usual with new strong teams such as Habovo, Timmerman/Powerslide and Power Play. There were many break away attempts with one finally getting away including Roy Boeve (NED), Gary Hekman (NED, Netherlands Champion – Marathon), Ted Ooievaar (NED), Michael Byrne (AUS) and then crossing to the break Alexis Contin (FRA). On Contin's arrival, Boeve broke away solo, which then left only two of the four working in the group. Boeve was away for 15min on his own to win the first race of the World on Wheels, almost with a 1 lap lead.

With one lap to go, Alexis Contin kicked again for one last shot at keeping the fast moving pack off only to be swallowed 200mts later. Michael Byrne succeeded in holding them off until the last corner, but had to be happy with his performance of finishing right on the sprint group to get 10th.

1. Roy Boeve (NED) Habovo
2. Ronan Sanchez (ESP) Timmerman-Powerslide
3. Sjoerd Huisman (NED) Nefit
4. Karlo Timmerman (NED) Timmerman-Powerslide
5. Jan Van Loon (NED) PowerPlay

6. Christijn Groeneveld (NED) Hyper/CadoMotus
10. Michael Byrne (AUS) Unive/Stouwdam-CadoMotus

Our next race will be, Domburg (NL), Saturday April 21, 1830pm - a new race on the Dutch calendar.

Trois Pistes

Trois Pistes was held over 3 different tracks around France across 3 days. With many good girls skating, the competition was very scrappy with a lot of fighting in the bunch, which made it difficult to keep your place. You learn very quickly that if you are not willing to fight for your position, you may as well be watching from the sideline. It is a great competition to start the season off, preparing you for the close-quarters, intense racing of the European season ahead. CadoMotus placed 4th and 8th overall out of 38 competitors.


Rank. Name (Team) RESULTS Pibrac.1, Pibrac.2, Valence, Gujan, Overall pts

1. Elena PICHIERRI (San Nazario) 1, 1, 2, 2 - 6 pts
2. Laetitia LE BIHAN (Grol) 2, 2, 6, 1 - 11 pts
3. Justine HALBOUT (2 APN Avon) 4, 3, 1, 3 - 11 pts
4. Angeline THOMAS (CadoMotus) 3, 5, 3, 5 - 16 pts
5. Cindy ETONNO (ALSS St Seb) 5, 4, 4, 4 - 17 pts

8. Hilde GOOVAERTS (CadoMotus) 11, 7, 10, 8 - 31pts


In the Elite Mens division, there were 64 competitors with Mick Byrne representing Unive/Stouwdam. He made it through to the finals to finish 3rd in Pibrac and 6th in Gujan in both 10km events. He had a bit of bad luck in Valence getting grabbed in the 20km elimination just before the line to be eliminated. Mick finished 7th Overall.

For a (slightly) more comprehensive report, and photos, see the CadoMotus News Blog at http://cadomotus.blogspot.com/2007/04/trois-pistes-2007.html

Berlin Half Marathon

Ok, so we raced the Berlin half marathon on Sunday. Not quite the results that I would have liked, but that's ok. Usually the beginning of the season is always the hardest, as you have to get back into the racing mode rather than the 6 months of training mode.

The weather was beautiful with the sun shining and blue sky, you would think it would be a warm day. Nope, not for us Aussies, still as cold as ever. We got lost on the way to the track so arrived just in time to put our skates on and skate to the start line. We had no warm up and with it so cold, it was not the greatest of circumstances. If we were any later, we would have missed the start.

This was the first race for the German Inline Blade Challenge Competition or GBC, so all the big teams (in Germany) were there. The Pro Woman were the first to start followed by Pro Men with a 5min delay. The Woman's group was very slow with no attempted breakaways, no one wanting to lead, nothing. I had a tip at the beginning that once I saw the 'red' houses, there was one more corner then a 200mt straight to the finish. Well, I kept on seeing red houses around the whole course, and because we had no time to see the track before the start, I had no clue where I was.

It came down to the final stages of the race and I tried to get in behind the Zepto girls - they're the winning team in Germany. We were still going at the speed of snails. There was 4 Zepto girls then myself then Powerslide. After a bit of scrapping to try and get behind the better two of the Zepto girls, I settled into 4th. We came to the last corner and as the Zepto girls went to the far right side of the road to sprint, a train of Powerslide girls came up on the outside, so then across the road with me on the left side, there was Zepto & Powerslide. I got tangled with one of the powerslide girls and ended up starting my sprint late. By the time I got going, I was closing on one of the Powerslide girls but in the end ran out of road.

Results were Zepto 1, 2 Powerslide 3, myself 4. Not the best result to have, but ok for my first race. I have no speed at the moment and only endurance, so as the season goes on, my speed will come. I am confident of that.

As for Mick, a break away went from the very start while he was lined up on the very back line (he wasn’t allowed to start on the front line). He was still cold from no warm up and tried to make his way to the front. By the time he got there, a break away group of 7 had gone. They stayed away for the whole race.

About 2km from the finish, everyone started yelling and screaming and he thought they meant there was a sharp corner coming, so he skated to the other side of the road to get a big sweep at it, when then he realized he was going the wrong way. He had to wait for everyone to turn around before he could and then chase them down. He finally caught the pack with about 500mt to go, passed about half the pack and came about 8th in the sprint. He was disappointed with the result but happy with his end sprint.

This weekend we leave for Trois Pistes in France where we have 3 track races. More on that soon.