Inline Skating Notebook

http://www.zepto.maks.de/

ZEPTO Skate Team 2009 in GIC Berlin HM

Juan Nayib Tobon : Reyon Kay : Scott Arlidge : Alexander Bastidas : Nico Wieduwilt

GIC Berlin Half Marathon 2009

Men:

Ladies:

Berlin half marathon, from the inside.

Inside the Zepto race, by Scott Arlidge (Apr. 6, 2009)

Denis Dressel : Reyon Kay : Matthias Schwierz : Nico Wieduwilt
Juan Nayib Tobon : Scott Arlidge : Alexander Bastidas

Yesterday we had the first major race of the 2009 inline season, the Berlin Half Marathon. It was the first time the whole team had raced together. This race is very important for our team because it a big event with a lot of media attention, but also because we wanted to start the season in a good way.

The race started very fast with many attacks, not everyone was attacking to win the race, but it seemed that many guys just wanted to test their legs, and test the legs of their rivals. Then after about 5km a serious group formed off the front, with myself, Alexander Bastidas, 2 guys from Powerslide, and Diego Rosero from Rollerblade. It had the strength to stay away but I think everyone was a little worried to commit to wasting energy this early. However straight over the top of this another serious group formed led by Reyon Kay and Alexis Contin. This time they opened up a gap very quickly on the pack. Most of the big teams were pretty happy with the situation.

A couple of kilometres later the 3 skaters who would carry on to fight for the podium of this race had attacked, and Reyon missed it. So he made a tactically smart decision to come back to his team mates and work so that we could have another chance at winning the event. Immediately myself and Alexander attacked again we bridged over to the remaining breakaway skaters pretty quickly, bringing a couple of other guys with us. By this time the 3 lead skaters had taken an even bigger advantaged so it was hammer time for us. We got the gap close enough to where we could see the leaders, but the race wasn’t long enough and there wasn’t enough co-operation in the group. Alexis took a great victory for his first race back in Rollerblade colours, and Alexander took the sprint for the rest of the breakaway to finish 4th. I ended up 9th and Nayib won the pack sprint.

So all in all it wasn’t the best day at the office, but it wasn’t the worst day either. The whole team is now looking forward to getting stuck into some quality training together and getting stuck into the next races.
ZEPTO Skate Team: Berlin half marathon, from the inside.

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Interview with Alexander Bastidas

by Scott Arlidge (Apr. 8, 2009)

Geisingen.: Alexander spent his first year in Europe in 2008, and he was not there just for sightseeing. He raced and won someof the biggest inline events in the World, including the Berlin X Race. Hewas also 3rd in the 10,000m points race at the World Championships in Gijon Spain. He is now in Geisingen, Germany training and getting ready to make 2009 even better.

So, Alexander how important is it for you to come to Europe and race in some of the biggest inline events in the world?
Its very important for me because its a big dream for me ever since I started to skate, and 2009 I finally feel like I have achived this dream.

You were World Champion in 2003 in the World Championships in your home country. What was this rare feeling like?
Of course I am very happy to win my home country especially because my family was there. They have supported me very much so it was also for them too. It was also very important becase it was the first gold medal for Venezula at the World Chapionships.

What is the big difference for you between the more traditional track racing and the marathons?
The first difference is that on the track there is more contact between the skaters, and is a much more intense effort for a shorter time. In the marathon it is more of a team event. I need the support of my team and without them it is impossible for me to win.

What are your first impressions of your new Zepto team?
I feel very happy because all the team memebers are good people. We spend a lot of time together and with every day that goes by we feel better and better together. Its a special thing for me.

What are your goals for this season?
To have better results than in 2008. I have the oppotunity to do this inside this strong team.
ZEPTO Skate Team: Interview with Alexander Bastidas

Chechi, Bine and Jana, clean sweep for Powerslide in Berlin

by JvS (Apr. 6, 2009)

The girls of POWERSLIDE had a PERFECT race in the 29. Vattenfall Berlin Halbmarathon this weekend, with the wonderful result: 6 out of the first 7 being POWERSLIDE skaters! First was the 2008 World-Inline-Cup champion Cecilia Baena in front of european champions Sabine Berg and Jana Gegner. The great performance was completed by the 5. place of the colombian junior Rommy Munoz, Tina Struever and Lisa Kaluzni.

Also the men´s race was successful for Powerslide:
With the arrival of Nicolas Zamudio and Christian Diaz Granados this week in Gross-Gerau the young guys of the POWERSLIDE PHUZION World Team were complete and ready for their first race all together. First stop in europe was the 29. Vattenfall Berlin Halbmarathon where they wanted to show that they are one of the strongest for the upcomming season. The race started easy till the first serious attacks came on after almost 10k. The succesful breakaway with Christian, Severin Widmer (Luigino-Swiss) and Alexis Contin (RB World) escaped out of a group of 10 skaters. In the sprint of the first group Christian, who was leading a lot had to suffer with the long flight from Colombia to Germany (only 2 days ago) and finished 3. The sprint of the second group was won by Bastidas (Zepto) in front of Diego Rosero (RB World) and Felix Rijhnen who was 6. overall. In the sprint of the pack Martin Matyk finished 2. and Kwinten Tas 4. A great first race for the guys with hopefully more to follow!
Powerslide Racing News: Chechi, Bine and Jana, clean sweep for Powerslide in Berlin

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Alexis Contin in gold in GIC 1st stage

by Vincent Esnault (Apr. 6, 2009)

Alexis Contin won the first stage of the German Inline Cup in Vattenfall (Berlin half marathon). The Rollerblade World new team member captured the win in 31:48. Diego Rosero finished at the fifth rank.

Alexis broke away with two other skaters, Severin Widmer (Luigino) and Christian Diaz Granados (Powerslide Phuzion) after six kilometers of race. They broke the line 20 seconds in front of the followers. It is the first victory for Alexis under his new colours in 2009. The bunch sprint was won by Christian Bastidas (Zepto), in front of Diego Rosero (Rollerblade World).
Team Rollerblade: Alexis Contin in gold in GIC 1st stage

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First impressions of Alexis after Berlin

by Vincent Esnault (Apr. 6, 2009)

Alexis won the German Inline Cup first stage yesterday in Berlin. He was participating to this GIC with Diego Rosero. Here are Alexis first impressions after the race.

Alexis, how was the circuit of this first stage of the GIC?
It was a quite fast circuit. At the begining, we raced in the same streets than for the Berlin Real Marathon. The circuit was quite flat, but with a tiny corner 150m before the finish line!

And how was the race for you and Diego?
Actually, right from the start, we tryed to go in each attempt of break away with Diego. The good one was one after 6kms of race. We were three ahead, with a little gap between us and the main pack. But it was enough to go to the end for the win! I started the sprint ahead, with Severin Widmer in my wheels, and I resited till the line!

Congratulations for this beautiful win, Alexis!
Diego Rosero finished fifth of the overall. The Colombian managed to escape in a second group of ten skaters, and captured the second place of the bunch sprint.
Team Rollerblade: First impressions of Alexis after Berlin

29. Vattenfall BERLINER HALBMARATHON - Skater

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuWs6WqCmT0