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.