Victories for Strüver & Van Praet in the road race
Strüver achieves victory in women’s race
This morning the women’s race over 16k was ridden on a wet surface. From the start Tina Strüver and Jessica Gaudesaboos were very active in the front of the race. The wet surface automatically ensures fast thinning of the group. Half way the race they drove away with two. This way the final leading group of 6 was formed and they stayed together till the last lap. Strüver says: “I could easily accelarate in the bends on the wet surface. The other ladies had some problems with this. When we passed the track i took the lead and managed to stay in front by accelarating little by little in the last half lap. Behind Strüver the sprint for the second place was won by Lisanne Buurman, who drove anonymously in the leading group. Jessica Gaudeboos was third.
Wannes Van Praet beats the French
The men’s race over 30k was animated from the start. Meanwhile, on the half-dried surface the Dutch Schipper, Hoolwerf and Huizinga took advantage of their rain wheels to drive away from the main bunch, where most of the skaters had started with normal wheels. Despite the efforts of Tobias Hecht, Wannes Van Praet and Elton De Souza, who could reduce the lead to 5 seconds, this group managed to stay in front of the race till the last 2 laps. In the last 2 laps the main bunch was splitted entirely. A select group of 7 skaters were separated in the final lap. Wannes Van Praet was able to win the sprint in this group before Elton De Souza (2) and Joris Garderes (3).
