After the official trainings on 5 and 6 September, the Skate Cross World Championships officially began today. The beautiful setting of the Pincio, in the heart of Rome, hosted the complicated track made up of chutes, ramps and obstacles. About 130 athletes from all over the world took turns on the hard course under the fascinated eyes of tourists, fans and insiders. The start line is from Casina Valadier and the finish line at the Pincio terrace overlooking Piazza del Popolo.

The long qualifying sessions, which determine the starts of tomorrow's finals, began at 9 am. Among the junior women the best time was set by the French athlete Nina Campeas with 42.329 seconds followed by the Italians Ludovica Rimondi and Rebecca Minetto. In the Junior men the Mexican Santiago Aladair Pescadro Vega has realized the best time with 38.417 seconds, followed by the French Mael Roudat and the Mexican team mate Luis Alberto Hernandez Feregrino.

In the senior women's event it was the French and Italian teams that were also in contention, with Ornella Faria and her best time of 41.625 seconds in provisional first place, followed by the two Italians Matilde Arosio and Michela Pavanello. In the senior men it was Italy's Luca Borromeo, on the podium last year in Shanghai, who set the best time of 36.761, followed by Cyril Champagne (France) and Abner Alonso Serrano (Mexico).

Tomorrow there will be the finals that will decree the world's best. The races will start at 9am and will be broadcast live on www.worldskate.tv.