|
|
 An International field of over 500 skaters took over the Queen Elizabeth Parkway to celebrate the Festival of Tulips along the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Canada, May 11, 2002, for the National Capitol Nordion 10K. The race was full of fireworks up front and full of fun in the midsection and rear. Along the way skaters could refresh themselves with kaleidescopic displays of color in bed after bed of blooming tulips (bulbs are sent each year by the Netherlands as thanks for sheltering the royal family during the Second World War). Canadian Peter Doucet (Mogema) showed fine form in chasing breaks, launching counter-attacks, and snapping pictures along the way, but it was ultimately Steve Robillard who launched a decisive break that the pack seemed to lose hope of ever catching until at 7K TWINCAM's Eddy Matzger tried to jump and join. Every time Robillard looked under his shoulder and saw Matzger closing, he turned the screws a little more, causing the chaser to suffer. Robillard held Matzger at bay to within a kilometer and was spent for the final surge over the line. Olivier Jean held off Peter Doucet and Thomas Benner for third fourth and fifth, respectively. Beth Clark, Meaghan Buisson, and Martine Charbonneau stooe atop the podium in the women's division. skatecentral |