Israel cup - 2

Arad, Israel, March 14, 2008

2007 Results Results

Ishai and Ronen win windy Israel Cup

The second round of the Israeli Cup in Arad took place under less than favorable weather conditions. Rotem Ishai (Team Spider) and Inbar Ronen (CCC) won the elite men's and women's races.

The storms that turned the Paris-Nice more into a cyclo-cross event than a road race found their way east. The icy wind howled across the open desert with some heavy headwinds on the descents at the start of the loop. The track was not as challenging as some would have expected it to be with little in terms of technical descents or tough climbs. Race organizers decided at the last minute to increase the number of laps for both expert and elite categories to four and six nine-kilometer loops respectively.

In the elite men's race, Israeli national champion Rotem Ishai (Team Spider), took the bull by the horns and led out the field after the first lap. As usual, he did not look back. Team CCC worked hard together but even their drafting efforts were to no effect as Ishai came over the line almost seven minutes ahead of Oded Danon (CCC) followed shortly by Eliad Daniel (CCC).

"This was my first victory here in Arad that I wasn't suited to - without uphills - and I'm happy that I won here," said Ishai after the race. "I'm in great shape at the moment thanks to the work with my coach Ophir Gal-on and the support of Team Spider and sponsor Slalom Cycling Stores. I'm working towards the European Championships and World Championships in the summer."

In the elite women's race, current number one Inbar Ronen (CCC) proved yet again to be in a class of her own by finishing comfortably ahead of her team-mates Keren Ickshtein (CCC) and Idit Shub (CCC). The rocky course had its say with a few riders limping home with deformed tires as any deviation from the singletrack meant dealing with sharp rocks scattered along the edge of the track.

Results

Elite Men

1 Rotem Ishai (Team Spider)             2.17.42
2 Oded Danon (CCC)                         6.43
3 Eliad Daniel (CCC)                       7.46
4 Gal Chohen (CCC)                         9.36
5 Chanoch Redlich (CCC)                   13.08
6 Nizan Margalit (CCC)                         
7 Yuri Levinzon (TACC)                    16.14
8 Amos Wolff (TACC)                       16.29
9 Yoav Maor (Galiee Riding Club)          18.12
10 Doron Amitz (VC Holon)                 20.07
11 Itai Birinboim (Galiee Riding Club)    22.07
12 Or Greenstein ( Team Misgac)           22.35

Behind one lap

13 Nati Hortig (Matzman-Discount)                
14 Rotem Erman (TACC)                            
15 Ilan Kolton (Team Spider)                     
 
Elite Women

1 Inbar Ronen (CCC)                     1.49.06
2 Keren Eckshtein (CCC)                    4.48
3 Idit Shub (CCC)                          9.37
4 Paz Bash (Team Spider)                  20.06
 
Junior 17-18 Men

1 Noam Kahana (CCC)                     1.58.12
2 Amotz Nehorai (CCC)                      4.59
3 Niv Galab (Team 500 WATT)               10.48
4 Sagi Feinstein (CCC)                    12.11
5 Amir Offer (CCC)                        12.59
6 Noam Cohen (TACC)                       15.35
7 Netzer Yehezkel (CCC)                   16.07
8 Nir Ha'or (CCC)                         16.59
9 Sagiv Kehila (Team Spider)              19.32
10 Tamir Zinger (Team Misgav)             21.49
11 Ofir Ashranitzki (CCC)                 23.23
12 Benjamin Shmidt (CCC)                  24.41
13 Roy Noiman (Team Spider)               27.01
14 Amit Raukh (Team Misgav)               28.33

Behind one lap

15 Gil Kapel (CCC)                             
 
Junior 17-18 Women

1 Noga Korem (Team Misgav)              1.58.39