2016 World Inline Downhill Championships: France and Italy as favorites

Conclusion of the World Championships 2016

Skaters

The favorite nations of the Down Hill are:

• France with Etienne Herreros, Karim Mallis, Nicolas Varin and Sylvian Behr (Lyon Roller Métropole) in the men and in women with Séverine Christ-Thomas
• Italy with the local heroes Angelo Vecci, Lello Amore and Martina Pacciola
• Germany with Moritz Nörl and Annalenna Rettenberger
• Austria with Daniel Ladurner
• Switzerland Christian Montavon

There were also other participants from a total of 10 other countries such as Spain, Bulgaria, Liechtenstein and Romania. Overall there were around 60 competitors.

Friday – training sessions in the rain

The training sessions on Friday should serve to get to know the track. The originally planned beginning at 09:00 was shifted one hour due to the rain. At the end of the day the training sessions were interrupted again by a storm. But despite the rain, the participants could still do some runs on the track.

Saturday – Time trial World Championship and a (still) chaotic planning

On Saturday the most important day in the time trial took place. After two qualifying races, the fastest finalists contest the world title of the FIRS.
As the track was still wet in the morning, the first qualifying run took place in the afternoon when the track was dry.
In this run, the Italian Renato Pennuti had the fastest time (01:53,131), 6 hundredths ahead of Frenchman Sylvain Behr. For the Frenchman, it is his first top 3 placing at a World Championship. The German Moritz Nörl who is one of the top favorites got third.
In the woman the Italian Martina Pacciolla had the best qualifying time (2:02,565), with a lead of half a second in front of second-placed reigning World Champion Séverine Christ-Thomas. The German Annalenna Rettenberger got third in the qualifying.
After technical problems in the first qualifying round, the organization decided to focus rather on a smooth running of the championship and renounced the second qualifying round and went directly into the final run.
Therefore the tactics of the starters had to be changed. Most of the competitors wanted to use the second qualifying round to try new lines for the final.

Women: Italian speed against French technique

The World Championship began at 18:00 with an exciting contest between the Italian and the French: Martina Paciolla is known for her ability to go downhill very fast and for her fast habituation to the course. The Frenchwoman is already multiple world champion and shines with her experience in such a high level competition.

In the final run, the Italian Martina Paciolla undercut the 2 minute mark with a time of 01: 59.678, but the French woman went even faster with a time of 01: 59.118 and was able to secure her world title.

Men: Italy uses home advantage

In the men there were ten contenders for the title.
The multiple world champion and the legend of the downhill Daniel Ladurner (Austria) got third with a time of 01: 52.769.
Sylvain Behr (Lyon Roller Métropole) could win the title of vice-world champion in a time of 01: 52.482, although he is only 20 years old. With this performance he steps into the footsteps of his predecessor Harry Perna (multiple world champion), Benoit Gamba (Vice-World Champion) or Alexandre Lebrun or Nicolas Varin (third places at the World Championships).

The Italian Angelo Vecchi won the World Champion title. It is his first title in this discipline after 15 years. His wheel crossed the finish line after 01: 52.017. Vecchi choose 4x110mm wheels with double tightness. He skated with a high risk as skating without braking in the first corner. The wheel selection and the aggressive skating style had paid off in the end.

Sunday – Inline Cross, direct duel with 4 people

The next discipline Inline Cross took place on the 7th of august. The semi-finals of the women and the 32nd finals of the men were planned this day.

Women: Martina Paciolla holds its front

The women’s finals consisted of the French Séverine Christ-Thomas, the Italian Martina Paciolla and the two Germans Mira Boersing and Anna Rebout. The German Mira Boersing was leading into the first corner in front of the French and the Italian. This order stayed the same until the last corner, on the finish line the Italian Martina Paciolla could still pass the German.
So in the end the German finished the race in second place in front of the French Séverine Christ-Thomas.

Men: photo finish for Daniel Ladurner

In the men’s final were four athletes from four nations. Including Daniel Ladurner (Austria), Etienne Herreros (France Lyon Roller Métropole), Augustin Tussetto (Italy) and Christian Montavon (Switzerland).
The Frenchmen was leading until the last corner, when the Swiss passed him, narrowly missing a curb with a precision that only he is able to do.
In the finish line it came down to a tight photo finish. The Austrian Daniel Ladurner wins thanks to a hawk just in front of the Italian Augustin Tussetto. The Swiss Christian Montavon got third, Etienne Herreros fourth.

Conclusion

All told, the competition was very well organized by the club Euroskate with the instructions of Sandro Moradin. The audience was able to enjoy this special sport and cheer for their favorites.

The next stages of the IIDA

• Beton on Fire de Sigulda (Latvia): 12th and 13th of august
• Beton on Fire and Inline Downhill World Cup in Sotchi (Russia): 18th till 21st of august
• Inline Downhill World Cup in Castelpiano (Italy), 17th and 18th of september 

Video

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