FIC 3 Valleys: Victory for Vincent
Vincent Esnault (MAS Rollerblade France) won the FIC stage 9 of 3 Valleys this Sunday, concluding an epic break away of 37kms with two other skaters. The marathon was raced on sliperry grounds but in good conditions for skating... And ended with a particular conclusion.
The race really started after 5kms, when Sébastien Babault (K2/Pierre-qui-Roule) and Matthieu Barrault (Levallois Sporting Club) attacked: Vincent stuck in their wheels immediatly. The three relayed well together and opened a gap of 1, then 2 minutes. Behind, the pace was leaded by skaters from UCNA-Roller (Matthieu Boher and Richard Deniaud) and Yann Guyader (Timmermann-Powerslide) but also well controlled by Vincent and Matthieu team mates.
The trio was entering one of the most difficult part of the circuit when the peloton took a wrong and shorter way, at about mid-race. All finally finished together, the pace waiting the escapee in the Rambouillet forest with about 5kms and few efforts less... In the very last kilometres, Julien Despaux and his team mate Vincent were very active, trying to control each attempt of new break, whereas Maxime Provost was controlling behind.
It was quite sure it would have ended in a massive sprint, even if Mikaël Lannezval (LSC) tryed a last time to go: he was quickly chased down by Antoine Jacquier. At the top of the 3kms last up hill, it was Yann Guyader who crossed the line first, in front of Julien Levrard (LSC) and Matthieu Boher (UCNA-Roller). Maxime Provost was five and Vincent six. But he knew he just had to control his two companions of break to win this particular race... Because the pace has not made the same one! No one knows what would have happened if the pack had taken the good way... A little error had big consequences at the end, but it can happen. The organisation decided sportively to give this race two winners, Vincent and Yann, and it must be the best decision!