Shanghai showed up. More than 1,200 athletes pros, amateurs, and kids took to the streets for a day of racing that was fun, fast, and just beautiful. The wide boulevards of the city made for a spectacular course, and the crowd was there from the early hours to cheer every skater across the line.
Pro Women’s Race: A Sprint to Remember
The women’s race stayed together for almost the entire distance. A few short attacks kept things lively, but no one managed to break away. It all came down to the final sprint.
World Marathon Champion Yi Hsuan Liu of Arena Geisingen Ka-Li Skate launched first, going all in from distance. But Lianne van Loone of Powerslide Vesmaco World Team came from behind with a burst of speed that no one could match, crossing the line arms raised, winner of the Shanghai stage.
Luz Karime Garzon of NL Racing took third place in a tight sprint finish.
A special mention for Valentina Cano of Simmons Rana World Team, who finished 4th overall and took home the Future Stars award.
Pro Men’s Race: The King Returns
Bart Swings (Powerslide Vesmaco World Team) and Nolan Beddiaf (Manao Fr Skates World Team) made their move early. The two went off the front and stayed there, working together and building a gap that the chasing pack never managed to close.
With around 10 kilometers to go, Swings pushed harder. Beddiaf couldn’t follow. The Belgian skated the final stretch alone and crossed the line with a clear margin. A statement win to open the season!
Beddiaf held on for second. In the main group, Nicolas Garcia of NL Racing won the sprint to claim third.
A great comeback for Bart Swings. Shanghai was his.
Results
PRO WOMEN
1.Lianne van Loone — Powerslide Vesmaco World Team 1:18:32.24
2.Yi Hsuan Liu — Arena Geisingen Ka-Li Skate Team 1:18:32.33
3.Luz Karime Garzon — NL Racing 1:18:32.37
PRO MEN
1.Bart Swings — Powerslide Vesmaco World Team 1:00:242.
2.Nolan Beddiaf — Manao FR Skates World Team 1:01:44
3. Nicolas Garcia — NL Racing 1:03:14
FUTURE STARS WOMEN
Valentina Cano — Simmons Rana World Team
FUTURE STARS MEN
Luca Rudolph — Manao FR Skates
PRO TEAM RANKING
1.Powerslide Vesmaco World Team
2. NL Racing
3. Arena Geisingen Ka-Li World Team
Looking Ahead
The first stage of the season is done. The next stop on the World Skate Marathon Tour is Pamplona, Spain for the P2P Pamplona-Puente Skate Marathon a World Skate Challenger Stage, on June 7th. See you there!
Full results available here: WSMT - SHANGHAI RESULTS