World on Wheels, Emmeloord

Tonight the Bont Wheels Team raced at the World on Wheels event in Emmeloord, Holland. It was a 30km race around a 800 meter circuit along a canal, with long straights and two corners at each end. The course was quiet technical because the corners were tight and there were plenty of obstacles like a speed hump with cobbles and a traffic island. You had to be strong, fit, fast and skillful. There was a big womens field with 64 starters. It was also a high quality field with 5 World Champions present and European Champions and medalists.

The race was fast and hard with constant attacks being launched. There were also sprint primes throughout the race. None of the breakaways successfully stayed away but our team made sure we had someone in nearly every attack. We raced well as a team tonight and everybody played an important part throughout the race.

It came down to a sprint finish with about 22 skaters left in the main pack. Tamara led out the sprint for our team taking the lead with about 500 meters to go. I passed her just before the second to last corner with about 250 meters to go. I was able to gain a gap when I passed Tamara before the corner and went on to win the race. Kelly came in for a strong second, Alexandra 5th and Tamara 8th.

Womens Top 10 Results
1. Nicole Begg (Bont Wheels)
2. Kelly Martinez (Bont Wheels)
3. Brigitte Mendez (Valle, Colombia)
4. Bianca Roosenboom (CadoMotus)
5. Alexandra Vivas (Bont Wheels)
6. Liana Holguin (Valle, Colombia)
7. Elma de Vries (DSB)
8. Tamara Llorens (Bont Wheels)
9. Sara Bak (Denmark)
10. Laetitia le Bihan (Poli, France)

Roncalli College in Timaru are having an auction to raise funds for their rugby team to tour Australia. I donated two pictures for the auction and this is an article about the upcoming auction that featured in the Timaru Herald

Auction to help fund Roncalli trip

By STU PIDDINGTON - The Timaru Herald

Roncalli First XV is hoping an auction and fun evening on Saturday night will help boost its coffers for their tour to Australia.

Roncalli is taking 28 players and a management team of five for a 10-day tour, but need to raise around $75,000.

The evening, to be held at the Roncalli gym, will have a charity auction, entertainment, as well as guest speakers, including broadcaster John McBeth, Super 14 referee Vinny Munro and sports spin doctor John Durning, who has spent time with the Black Caps.

A video presentation will include an interview with All Black coach Steve Hansen and Crusader Isaac Ross.

Among the items going under the hammer is a signed Indian cricket bat, number one of 15 produced.

Other memorabilia includes framed, signed Crusaders jerseys, and a signed canvas of world champion speedskater Nicole Begg and a signed Sarah Ulmer top.

There is something for everyone, with 25 tonnes of lime up for grabs, weekends at holiday homes, tradesmen's services and even a cattle beast.

The team has worked hard, already having spent time chopping and delivering firewood, building retaining walls and running barbecues to help with the fundraising.

Anyone interested in attending on Saturday night, at a cost of $25, or leaving an absentee bid, can contact Carol Gallagher on (03) 688 5833.

Bont 1st & 2nd, WIC Rennes

Today I won the World Inline Cup class 1 race in Rennes and Tamara was second. It was fine all morning until about a minute before the womens start, the black clouds closed in and the rain started to fall. It was wet for basically all of the race but ended up drying up for most of the mens race.

Tomorrow we leave Rennes and drive to Holland. We will race at the two Unive World on Wheels events on Wednesday and Thursday and the Unive Skate Off in Heerde on Friday and Saturday.

This is an article that featured in the Timaru Herald this week.

Speedy Begg new face of Skins

By STU PIDDINGTON - The Timaru Herald

Timaru speedskater Nicole Begg is starting to find some traction in the corporate world of Kiwi advertising.

Begg is the new face of Skins marketing campaign in New Zealand.

Skins is body-moulded compression performance equipment engineered to provide support and muscle alignment. Up to now the most recognisable face of Skins has been Wallaby wing Lote Tuqiri, so Begg is in good company.

The 21-year-old former world champion has been used extensively to advertise speed skating equipment in Europe but this is her first big break in New Zealand.

Brandex outdoor general manager David Watt said they had backed Begg as they aimed to penetrate a full range of sports, not just mainstream sports such as rugby and netball.

"We feel it is important consumers see a variety of sports people in our gear. Nicole is reaching a world-class level in a non-mainstream sport which is great for New Zealand.

Begg, who is in Europe preparing for the World Inline Cup marathon series, said she was delighted with the exposure.

"It's great to be associated with such a top product."

Skins

Skins are one of my sponsors from New Zealand who provide me with compression clothing to aid my recovery. Skins™ BioAcceleration Technology™ has been developed over years of scientific research. Skins™ BioAcceleration Technology™ creates marked improvements in reducing the build-up of lactic acid immediately after periods of sustained exercise, and allows for more rapid return to normal levels. You experience less fatigue, minimize soreness and recover faster.

Skins are very popular in New Zealand and are sold throughout the country at most major sporting goods stores. Below is one of the posters featuring me, which has already been spotted at the Rebel Sports store in Timaru.

Quick Update

The internet has been down over the last few days so here is just a quick update. Last week I raced at the Trois Pistes, but we didn't end up skating on three tracks. The first day it rained and never looked like clearing so all the events at Pibrac were canceled. The rain continued into the second day and we ended up racing in the wet on the Valence D'Agen road circuit. The program was changed and instead of racing an elimination and a 3000m we only ended up racing the 3000m and a 2800m. The weather finally cleared for the third day and we got to race on the track but only done 2 x 5000m races. I ended up finishing 3rd overall.

Tomorrow and Sunday I am racing at the CGS in Sablé. It is around four hours away from Bordeaux so I have an early start in the morning. The racing is around a road circuit and apparently the weather forecast isn't looking too good.

Trophee des Trois Pistes

This weekend the famous Trois Pistes (Three Tracks) is taking place in France. This is a very popular race meet with races held on three different tracks in three different cities and over three days. On Saturday we will be racing at Pibrac, which is apparently a very slippery bank track. Sunday at Valence D'Agen which was the location for the 2001 World Championships. Valence D'Agen was also my first ever Junior World Championships. The last day of racing is on Monday at Gujan Mestras which was the location for the 1994 World Championships. I have had a chance to skate on the track at Gujan Mestras as it is only half an hour away from where I am staying in Bordeaux. I've never raced at the Trois Pistes but it should be very exciting with rumors of over 40 Senior Ladies competing. This truly is an International event with skaters from USA, China, Argentina, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Colombia and of course New Zealand. They are estimating that there will be 19 countries represented at this years Trois Pistes.

French Inline Cup, Nimes

Yesterday the first race of the French Inline Cup took place in Nimes. The French weather didn't disappoint this week. Nimes had one of the highest temperatures in France yesterday with a high of around 23 degrees. The marathon was held around a 2.6 km circuit, so we completed 16 laps in total. This was the first time I have every raced in Nimes but I really enjoyed the course. It was raced around 4 roundabouts so there were a lot of corners, a couple of small climbs over bridges but also long straight stretches. The road surface was a mixture of smooth and rough and the wind made it just a little bit tougher.


Tamara Llorens and myself were the only skaters present from the Bont Wheels Team, Alexandra and Kelly are still in Colombia and will arrive at the end of next week.

There wasn't a large ladies field but the pace was pretty fast from the start because I started attacking two laps into the race. I made numerous attacks throughout the race to test myself and the new Bont Wheels. Nathalie Barbotin came with me on most occasions. Tamara only arrived in Europe a few days ago so she stayed with the main group for most of the race and helped chase down any attacks that looked serious.


With the men and women racing on the course at the same time it was hard to make the breakaways stick. There were groups of men always passing women so some skaters were able to gain assistance. It was hard to control as the course was small and not very wide in certain areas. After seeing this I decided to change my tactics and just wait until the end sprint. Laetitia Lebihan made a couple of attacks with about three laps to go but she was quickly chased down by Tamara and Lucie.

On the last lap Lucie Peruzzetto was in the lead until about 300 meters to go when I made my move and passed her. There was a small rise, a left hand corner and then slightly down hill to the finish line. I wanted to be in front by the corner because the finish line was only about 100 meters after it. When I passed Lucie I accelerated and my eyes were set on making it first to the corner. I ended up winning the race with a few meters to spare. Tamara couldn't quiet stick on me when I accelerated but came 3rd, with Nathalie Barbotin just getting her on the line. Laetitia Lebihan came in for 4th and Lucie Peruzzetto 5th.

I found some good pictures from Nimes taken from a member of the SAMerignac Team, you can view more images on their Picasa Web Album by clicking here.

Start of the Finishing Straight
Photo - Appache (SAMerignac)

Womens Finish
Photo - Appache (SAMerignac)

Womens Finish
Photo - Appache (SAMerignac)

Womens Podium

SAMerignac

Last Wednesday night I coached a group of skaters from the SAMerignac Skating Club. This group of skaters come every Wednesday night to the CREPS to train around the fast 400 meter road circuit. There is an article in French on the RollerEnligne website and also on the SAMerignac Club website. They were a really fun group of skaters to work with.

Hong Kong Pictures

Here are some pictures from my trip to Hong Kong a couple of weeks ago. To view larger images click on the slide show or visit my Picasa Web Album.