NZ speedskater second in world series

The Timaru Herald

TOP THREE: Nicole Begg's Bont Wheels team made a clean sweep of the overall World Inline Cup series with (from left) Cecilia Baena first, Begg second and Alexandra Vivas third.

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Timaru speedskater Nicole Begg has equalled her best ever finish in the World Inline Cup series with a second overall placing.

The 21-year-old Begg finished fifth in the final marathon of the 12-round series in Berlin in front of huge crowd.

She went early for fear of being trapped and got rolled for third just before the line in a very close finish from second to seventh place.

Begg's Bont Wheels team-mate Cecilia Baena won a record seven races, with the team winning nine of the 11 top class events.

The result meant Bont Wheels took out the overall team title while they also made an impressive clean sweep of the individual placings with Alexandra Vivas of Columbia third.

Baena had already sealed the title going into the Berlin marathon but Begg had to perform to hold Vivas out.

In the finish Baena had 1370 points, Begg 966 and Vivas 918, well clear of Italy's Giovanna Turchiarelli on 804 and Spain's Sandra Gomez on 706.

This year, with the world's best sprint finisher in marathons in her team, Begg's role has been closing down breakaways and keeping control of the race to ensure Baena was in good shape and position to unleash a final sprint.

To dominate like they did was a first for a team.

Begg's parents, Bill and Cheryl, also played a role overseeing the management and coaching of the Bont Wheels team.

Begg completed her fifth year on the worldwide circuit, having also finished second in 2006.

The result caps off an excellent year having also won two silver medals at the Inline World Championships in Spain earlier this month in two long distance points elimination races.

In the 15,000m she lost by just 0.18s with the winner taking 22 seconds off the world record.

Her results are more impressive when one takes into accounts she is the sole Kiwi skater often competing against teams of up to eight in the longer distance events, allowing the lesser skaters to chase down any breaks and ensure their number one skater is fresh at the end.

Begg was also the only female skater to run a full World Inline Cup campaign and also perform at the World Championships level, which shows her versatility and commitment.

She also had to overcome adversity of sorts after having her jaw broken early in the season.

With her jaw wired closed and only able to take in fluids, she continued to race although the vibration of skating was very painful.

In the last three years Begg has been based in Europe during the racing season from April to September, living and training in Switzerland.

The sport is also growing tremendously. Europe, once the powerhouse of the women's skating now has Asia, the United States and South America dominating it.

Begg will return to Timaru early next month and again offer training to young inline skaters.

- © Fairfax NZ News