2015 European Championships of Speed Skating: 1st Day On Road

After a short transition break between Wörgl and Innsbruck, the 2015 European Championships of Speed Skating resumed this morning with the 200 m and the point races. Results of this first day on road...

Par alfathor
Publié le 24 juillet 2015 - Mis à jour le 3 novembre 2020 - 5633 Lectures - 0 commentaire(s)

The 200 m

The 200 m is the ultimate sprint race. The skaters have less than 20 sec to give their all. The road circuit of Innsbruck has been renovated in the bends and the whole route is surrounded by barriers covered with cushioning. Perfect conditions to perform.

Junior B Men: Cock-a-doodle-doo!

In the Junior B Men’s category, the French Valentin Thiébault gets the first title of the day in 18.297. He outruns the Italian Enrico Rossetto (18.451) by 16 hundredths and the German Ron Pucklitsch (18.767). 5 skaters are under the bar of 19 sec.

Junior B Women: Forza Italia

The victory goes to the only skater under 20 sec, the Italian Giorgia Bormida in 19.792, with a 2-tenths lead on the German Elisabeth Baier (20.015). Daniela Rodrigues (20.278) completes the podium for a few hundredths in front of Ana Humanes (ESP).

Junior A Men: Italian Double

Italy strikes again thanks to Riccardo Passarotto (18.182), in front of the German Tim Siegel (18.328) and another Italian, Marco de Flaviis (18.377). Thomas Dambrun (FRA – 18.391) misses the Top-3 by a whisker: 14 hundredths!

Junior A Women: Belgium under the spotlights

Stien Vanoutte let her speed do the talking with a time of 19.713 against the explosive Spanish Itziar Gutierrez (19.905). Italy has to make do with the 3rd place for Giulia Bonechi (19.963). The Top-3 is under 20 sec. The French Mélissa Bellet (20.097) finishes 4th, in front of another French, Charlotte Frouin, 5th in 20.251.

Senior Men

You have to be under 17.9 to be on the podium of the Senior Men’s 200 m. 6 skaters are under 18 sec. The specialists of the discipline came forward, and everyone agreed on the favorite, Simon Albrecht (GER) who did the stunning time of 17.580. He outruns Ronald Mulder (NED – 17.892) by over 3 tenths, a real abyss on such a short race! The French Edwin de Souza completes the Top-3 in 17.944. The second Mulder brother, Ronald, finishes 4th.

Senior Women

What to say? Vanessa Bittner (19.335) gets her 4th title at home! The Austrian gets ahead of 2 Italians: Giulia Bongiorno (19.407) and Erika Zanetti (19.420). The Spanish Sheila Posada finishes at the foot of the podium.

The point races

Junior B Men: The Hat Trick of the French

The French Junior B perfectly manage their collective race in keeping the totality of the Italian skaters at a distance. Doucelin Pédicone gets the title, followed by Flavien Foucher and Martin Ferrié. The 3 team mates finish in front of the Squadra Azzurra, made of Andrea Appallonui, Leoniardo Martina and Daniel Di Stefano.

Junior B Women: Italy again

Italy strikes again in the Junior B Women’s category, adding another title to quite an already long list. Veronica Luciani wins in the final sprint against Ronja Binus (GER) and the French Mélanie Lizé. Places are expensive in the last stretch.

Junior A Men: Italy foils the French strategy

Well settled at the front of the pack, the French formation clearly aims at collecting more medals. But the springy Italians manage to break the pack and sneak in to the front. In the final sprint, Daniel Niero (ITA) gets the gold in front of Quentin Giraudeau, who limits the damage in getting the silver. Timothy Loubineaud is passed by the opportunistic Marsili Duccio who throws his foot forwards.

Junior A Women: Victory for the outsider

The Junior A Women’s race remains unpredictable for a good while. Only in the final sprint does Elena Møller Rigas make the difference against the two Italians Martina Zanini and Giada Santucci. The Dutch Berber Vonk finishes at the foot of the podium.

Senior Women: The untouchable Francesca Lollobrigida

The skaters remain in a group for most of the laps. In the last kilometer, the Italian Francesca Lollobrigida lets her speed do the talking and none of her opponents seems to be able to catch up on her. She outdistances the Dutch Manon Kamminga and the Belgian Sandrine Tas. The French Clémence Halbout was helpless during the sprint against those formidable world class competitors.

Senior Men: Clear victory and uncertain results

Bart Swings launches a huge attack as soon as the beginning of the race. Alexis Contin chases him with the pack in his stream but the Belgian keeps on widening the gap. Nolan Beddiaf chases in turn. Bart ends up slowing down and Elton de Souza makes the most of this opportunity to break away with the Italian Riccardo Bugari on his heels. You could mistake it for a point race! Italy gathers its 3 skaters at the front and slows down the pace a little, with the 3 French in their stream.
For a long while, the French lock the race. Bart Swings is looking for his place, left alone between the French and the Italians who prevent him from entering the front of the pack.

There are only 9 skaters remaining, 3 Italians, 3 French, Bart Swings (BEL), a Dutch skater and Paxti Peula (ESP). Lorenzo Cassioli is eliminated. Only 3 laps left. The French force Bart into penalties twice. Riccardo Bugarri is out. Fabio Francolini gets a warning.
Elton de Souza breaks away like a cannonball 2 laps from the arrival, Fabio Francolini tries to follow him but can’t catch up on him. Bart Swings completes the Top-3 a few seconds later… But Belgium makes a claim after the race. Elton de Souza was declared 3rd, Fabio Francolini the winner and Bart Swings 2nd.