KIA's Press Release About the Engadin World Inline Cup

[Robert]

Press release, June 25th.
Engadin, Switzerland.

KIA RACES IN THE HIGHEST WIC RACE IN THE WORLD!
KIA team again robbed by cheating in finish!


The next stage brings us to the highest and most beautiful race in the WIC calendar. The race starts at an amazing 1800m and passes through the Engadin valley, near to the world famous St Moritz.
This year’s race was unfortunate to have bad weather with it raining heavy within hours before the start and then continuing through the duration of the marathon. Another unfortunate event was the amount of cheating in the finish of the marathons.
Women race:
The women’s race kicked of at 4:55pm in the raining conditions the first km’s were non-attack zones because of the downhill speeds and the bad conditions. The race was controlled by the official’s until after the well talked about “big downhill” where the speeds exceed 90km/h. The race was then back in the hands of the races, attacks were few until the peleton reached St Moritz Pia Knecht of Saab/Salomon went on the first real break, not lasting long, then the up hill section that all the successful breaks start from, Saab/Salomon continued to attack, with Theresa Cliff-Ryan and Andrea Gonzalez of KIA counter attacking trying to get a small gap, not able to escape then settled back in the back and kept watch on the other skaters. Saab/Salomon not wanting to have a sprint continued to attack but was hopeless with the slight downhill and the speed of the peleton.
The sprint was started early with Nathalie Barbotin going at 700m to go, trying to get the last break away in before the finish, Rollerblade quickly made sure she did not skate away with the race. Rollerblade continued to lead to the finish, Cliff-Ryan and Gonzalez moved into perfect position and pulled out for the sprint Rollerblade then did an illegal move to block the KIA Team from passing stopping the speed of the team and a blatant cheat after which come constant cheating to the finish line. Julie Glass of Powerslide again grabbing in the finish pulled on Cliff-Ryan of KIA and was DQ’d. Rollerblade also had a skater DQ’d for cheating.
In the finish it was Jessica Smith of Hyper followed by Brittany Bowe of Powerslide and Michaela Neuling of Rollerblade in 3rd.
Results are not certain as the top 2 skaters were seen cheating in the finish.


Final Results
1st Jessica Smith, Hyper, USA
2nd Brittany Bowe, Powerslide, USA
3rd Michaela Neuling, Rollerblade, GER
10th Andrea Gonzalez, KIA Motors Team, ARG


KIA MOTORS TEAM Public Relations

KIA inline team website has been launched, on April 1st!
If you need previous Press Releases and much more information about KIA dream team, you can use the following website link: http://www.kia-inline-team.com.
Or if you need high definition pictures or interviews with the team skaters, you can contact us at the following address : solenne.kia-inline-team@wanadoo.fr

Feel free to use or translate this press release for your own purpose. Please be kind enough to mention your sources.

[Tahiti girl]

If the Kia press release is true, cheating by female athletes seems to be running rampant at WIC events. Is it better to be disqualified than to place second or third? These women are fearless when it comes to inline racing but given their present tactics, maybe they are better suited for roller derby.

[Guest]

about “big downhill” where the speeds exceed 90km/h.

I honestly doubt the speed. I am friend with a few guys in the downhill world cup. They seldomly, if at all, reach those speeds. And 90km/h in wet conditions would have to be considered akin to attempting suicide. Those guys in the downhill wear bike suits, full helmets, special protections, special padding, etc. So I will not believe that scantily dressed women on skates, without any major protections, and in wet conditions on top of that, were speeding at 90kmh (56mph).

The rest of the article or complaint I can believe though...