European cup #2 - Sandrine Tas dominates, Thiebault surprises

Sandrine Tas from Belgium and Valentin Thiebault from France won the second Europa cup of the season that was held this weekend in Lagos, Portugal.

By Jackob Savard

Photos: Schaats Foto’s

Sandrine Tas and Valentin Thiebault, both from Powerslide, finished on top of the overall classification at the second European cup of the season that was, for a second week in a row, complicated by the rain.

Tas was too strong

Sandrine Tas was dominant as she won 3 of the 4 distances that were competed this weekend. She looked simply too strong and there was not a lot of skaters who were able to challenge her. Sheila Posada finished second and Aura Quintana third. It’s a great first competition of the season for Sandrine Tas and she will surely continue to impress us all season long.

A first big senior win for Thiebault

Valentin Thiebault offered a great and consistent performance this weekend to finish on top of the overall ranking. In his first senior season, Thiebault proved that he will fastly climb his way to the top of the senior category. He started the weekend’s competition with an impressive victory in the 300m time trial. He added some good results in the three other distances to confirm his overall victory. Gwendal le Pivert and Diogo Marreiros finished respectively in second and third place of the overall ranking.

Giovanni Trebouta impresses

Giovanni Trebouta who had already shown some good things last week at the Trophée des 3 pistes, was able to win this weekend’s points race with a solid performance. Just like Thiebault, Trebouta is at his first strides in the senior category and is proving that France's inline speed skating future is in good hands.

Marreiros offers a great performance at home

The Portuguese skater Diogo Marreiros was racing at home and offered a good performance in front of his family and friends as he finished third in the overall classification. He got a good third place in the points race on day 2 and won the half-marathon to end his competition at home with style.