Double Victory for R.Godenaire

Romain Godenaire (Fra) won the first step of the 2013 WSX world tour ! R.Godenaire crossed  the finish line in first position, in front of P.Lelievre and F.DuPeloux (Fra).

In the women competition, Jessica Billard (Fra) won the competition, in front of L.Amand (Fra) and M.Conan (Fra). R.Godenaire repeated his victory in the first Freestyle Cross, against A.Pottier (Bel) and T.Lieurey (Fra).

After the two qualification runs, R.Godenaire was "only" in third position with a time of 29,012 sec, just 0,3 sec behind P.Lelievre (2nd, 28,735 sec) and 0,4 sec behind the best time of the day, Flavien Du Peloux (Fra) with a time of 28,652 sec.

All those 3 guys qualified quite easily during their heats until the final, where they have been joined by T.Lieurey (Fra, 5th best time) who could pass A.Pottier (Bel, 4th best time) who fell in his semi-final.

The best start was taken by F.Du Peloux and P.Lelievre, but R.Godenaire managed to pass them both at the first turn, and from then kept the lead and controlled the entire race. Pierre Lelievre, winner in Moscow and Haining 2011, was just behind, but couldn't reach him, and gave up the fight when R.Godenaire accelerated in the long straight line. P.Lelievre seemed then out of power after a very tiring day of racing, and F.Du Peloux (2012 World N#3) was coming back but was too short to overtake him. T.Lieurey did a mistake in the first turn, and was already too far to come back on the others.

R.Godenaire : "I didn't take a good start, and when I saw I was behind, I gave a big push to pass them in the first turn" "I am happy to win this race as it was very tough".

P.Lelievre : "I didn't sleep so well the past days and I was really tired, I couldn't follow Romain in the second part of the track"

Jessica Billard (Fra), did a perfect competition ; after doing the best time in qualifications (34,492 sec) almost 1 sec in front of Lucie Amand (2nd / 35,383sec), she won all her heats and passed the finish line in first position, controlling the race from the beginning till the end.

During the final heat, Maeliss Conan (Fra) did a very good start, and came out of the first turn just behind J.Billard, but L.Amand, more technical on the obstacles, managed to pass her on the funbox, and couldn't reach J.Billard, since the gap beetween them was already too big and J.Billard was too fast.
L.Amand passed the finish line in second position in front of M.Conan.
The 4th girl of the final, J.Daries (Fra), was too slow at the start, and made too many mistakes during the final heat to be able to reach the podium.

After her good world's 3rd place in 2012, J.Billard confirmed she will be a serious challenger for the 2013 WSX world title.

Jess Billard : "I trained hard with Flavien (Du Peloux) this winter and I feel now stronger and more confident on the ramps."

The first freestyle Cross was held right after the Skate Cross finals. In this new contest, the skaters had to do the best tricks on the track in their heats, to qualifiy for the final with the 5 best skaters of the day.

After the qualification heats, Antony Pottier (Bel), Thomas Lieurey (Fra), Pierre Lelievre (Fra), Lilian Puisset (Fra) and Romain Godenaire (Fra) made it to the final, landing few great tricks.

R.Godenaire, did the best runs, with more tricks landed than the other skaters, and good combinations. A.Pottier was just behind him, landing very stylish and long grinds on the ledges.

T.Lieurey was very good in the air, but was less clean than A.Pottier, and took the 3rd place, while L.Puisset, 4th didn't land his tricks as nicely as during his qualification heat, where he did a very impressive run.
P.Lelievre, finished at the 5th place since he did too many mistakes despite very impressive gaps landed for his last trick.

The full results of WSX Le Mans are available here.

The next event counting for the World Skate Cross Series, will be held in Rennes, France, on 25th and 26th May. More informations here.