A New Marathon Record Time of 51:20.14

A time of 51 minutes 20.14 seconds put the Swiss Inline Cup Engadin race in the record books as the fastest inline marathon. Arnaud Gicquel celebrated as the record setter and the winner of this 5th World Inline Cup race of 2003, repeating his win at Engadin in 1998. The possibility of a new record seemed to be in the air right at the start with a tailwind on the course that has a 140 meter drop in elevation from start to finish.

Fifty time gold medalist Chad Hedrick blew by the pack with Jorge Botero, and then the two friends sprinted off the front of the pack with about 15K to go.  First hand accounts from usually reliable sources say that the gap was closed by use of the illegal tactic of Pier Davide Romani and Pascal Briand of Saab-Salomon employing the "train push".  The team manager of Saab-Salomon has responded to the question of the use of this tactic and a full report will be published on this website soon.

  The tongue was out and the break was on, but the strong pack would not let these two get away.	  Cold rain in the end of the race left no margin for error.
  2,000 meters before the finish the top teams were setting up.	  Arnaud Gicquel prepares for his winning sprint.

Rollerblade Interrupts Salomon Dominance with Gicquel's Victory in Engadin Grand Prix

1. Gicquel Arnaud, F-Reze 72 Helvetia Patria Rollerblade 51.20,14
2. Botero Jorge, COL-Kolumbien 75 Rollerblade World Team 51.20,28 0.00,14
3. Briand Pascal, F-St Brieuc 76 Saab Salomon World Team 51.20,39 0.00,25
4. Galliazzo Stefano, I-Italy 71 Mariani Maple 51.20,42 0.00,28
5. Felder Reto, Zürich 79 VW-sportXX-Team 51.20,43 0.00,29
6. Escobar Martin, ARG-Buenos Aires 76 Roces International Team 51.20,44 0.00,30
7. Lerga Garikoitz Nikolay, E-Spanien 76 Roces International Team 51.20,61 0.00,47
8. Presti Massimiliano, I-San Giovanni 75 Saab Salomon World Team 51.20,64 0.00,50
9. Zanetti Andrea, I-Italia 85 Roces International Team 51.20,76 0.00,62
10. Grandgirard Mathieu, F-Sevran 77 Fila International Team A 51.20,81 0.00,67

• Other USA Skaters:
  21. Hedrick Chad, USA-Spring, TX 77 Hyper Race Team 51.21,72 0.01,58
  31. Malone Jordan, USA-Denton 84 Rollerblade World Team 51.22,93 0.02,79
  33. Whitman Bret 79 USA-New York 51.23,45 0.03,31
  38. Wilcox Eddie, USA-New York 78 Empire Speed Team 51.24,58 0.04,44
  42. Creveling Patrick, USA-New York 84 Empire Speed Team 51.27,99 0.07,85

Hyper's Young Gun Cecilia Baena Earns Top Spot in Women's Race

1. Baena Cecilia, COL 86 Hyper Race Team 1:01.30,73
2. Smith Jessica, USA-Melvindale 83 Verducci International 1:01.30,90 0.00,17
3. Cliff Theresa, USA-Cedar Springs, M 78 Verducci International 1:01.31,23 0.00,50
4. Lombardo Laura, I 80 Roces International Team 1:01.31,25 0.00,52
5. Elliott Heather, USA 78 Hyper Race Team 1:01.31,72 0.00,99
6. Vaudan Angèle, F-France 81 Rollerblade World Team 1:01.32,14 0.01,41
7. Marra Adelia, I-Mariano Comense 79 Fila International Team A 1:01.32,37 0.01,64
8. Barbotin Nathalie, F-Nantes 75 Saab Salomon World Team 1:01.32,46 0.01,73
9. Gonzales Andrea Noemi, ARG-Argentin 78 Roces International Team 1:01.32,47 0.01,74
10. Llorens Tamara, ARG-Argentina 82 RG Argentina 1:01.32,48 0.01,75
    

• Other USA Skaters:
  24. Horgan Ashley, USA-Spring Texas     83 Rollerblade World Team      1:01.38,07      0.07,34
  31. Havam Helen, USA-New York           78 Empire Speed Team           1:04.02,30      2.31,57

To see full results go to: http://services.datasport.com/2003/sic/sic05/rang/

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