In Dunkirk, France, Rozanne Slik took the bronze medal behind winner Pauliena Rooijakkers yesterday during the European Beach Race Championship. The race was run over three laps of seventeen kilometers with each lap being ridden twice up and down the beach through dunes and over forest and gravel paths. These passages ensured that the large group riding at a speed of sixty kilometers per hour to the first turning point was quickly dispersed.
“We started together with the men and with tailwind the speed was really high, so I immediately chose to ride my own pace. I knew that Rooijakkers and the number two Riejanne Markus were a size too big for me and going with them would be ‘suicide’. In the last passage through the loose sand to the finish line I managed to leave my last competitor for the bronze behind me and thus secure third place.’, says de Slik.
Teammate Ramses Bekkenk had a less fortunate race. Riding in the leading group he crashed and after a long catching up race a nineteenth place was the highest achievable. He also finished third in the Master category. Martin Schuttert crossed the line at 28th place.