Bogatec und Paredi take the 2009 Roller Skiing titles

Thu, Oct  1, 2009 - By Sandra Spitz, FIS

The end of the summer also signifies the end of the dry-land season and the 2009 FIS Roller Skiing World Cup. This year's edition concluded last weekend in a great atmosphere in Naousa and Thessaloniki in Greece. The season included events at eight different World Cup venues and a total of 14 competitions in Italy, Germany, Croatia, Norway and Greece. The highlight was the World Championships at the beginning of September in Piglio (ITA).

Simone Paredi and Mateja Bogatec

Dominators of the season were the Italians Mateja Bogatec and Simone Paredi, who won the overall rankings for ladies and men, respectively. Bogatec repeated her overall victory from 2008 and won the ladies' title with a margin of 106 points over Hanna Seppas (SWE). Elena Ektova (RUS) finished 3rd, 158 points behind Bogatec. On the men's side, Simone Paredi succeeds Emanuele Sbabo (both ITA) as the title holder. Sbabo took second this year,

150 points behind Paredi. "Mister Roller Skiing" Alfio di Gregorio (ITA) finished third in his final career season. The veteran from Italy can look back to a nearly 30-year career, 60 national titles and three individual World Championship titles.

The Nations' Cup went to Russia ahead of Italia and Germany. Overall, more than 200 athletes from 25 nations competed in this year's FIS Roller Skiing World Cup.

1 cm separates victory from defeat...