20,000 final junior women:The experience of the official, calling each country to the stat line, was evident, as he swiftly filled the start-line and subsequent lines for the 50 lap event. Skaters are called, by their country's name. If they have the maximum 2 skaters for their country, they can choose between themselves, who will take the position closest to the start line.

Just 2 laps into the race and double eliminations were to take place. With language differences and difficulties, some skaters continued to lap well after their number had been announced, for them to leave the track A few more laps disappeared and suddenly a clash of skates and down they go: China, Australia, Denmark and Portugal. Not all skaters were able to get themselves up.

The race continues to pass the fallen skaters and after what seemed like an eternity, Portugal is eventually stretched off the track.

Now the pace picks up and with so many girls vying for front positions the pushing and pulling starts. Always more evident in the younger skaters as they try to ensure they are not pushed to the back of the pack and spat-out only to hear their number announced as an elimination. Then, not even 8 laps into the race and the warnings start, # 82 Margarita Botero of Colombia one warning, and in a matter of seconds, she gets her 2nd warning. '# 59 Guo Dan of China, one warning', is announced as the second skater from Iran is eliminated. # 247 Se Young Jung and her team mate, # 243 Seul Lee of Korea lead the pack for several laps to the sheer joy of the crowd. They are followed by both girls form the USA and Colombia, another warning # 12, Magali Torre of Argintina

36 laps to go and the 2nd Australian is called to leave the track.

#243 Kr 2nd warning

As the girls fly-by the officials, they can only glimpse what is happening, a pull, a shove, hands grabbing to stay up or to pull back, sometimes the calls seem unfair, but the race hurries on. # 72 is warned, with 31 laps to go. Argentina is caught on the inside as the 'freight train' of girls in 2 rows come past her on the outside. They move into the lead and she is swallowed up (for now).

# 70 Carolina Upegui of Colombia, a warning, # 52 Valeria Riffo from Chile, warning.

China is eliminated and the races storms on.

For some of these young women the race is like a training session. As the 2nd girl from China hears her # called for her to leave the track, it is evident it is not. Skaters struggle at the rear of the pack to move up as the lead skaters are continually passed, it's like a liquid metal, being blown from the rear to smother the inside-line of skaters, they fall back into the pack, move to the outside: and so it starts again and again.

More girls are called and they, some reluctantly, and some, perhaps 'spent', leave the track as a clash of skates and a scream is heard, another skater down, this time from Korea, the crowd hushes in disbelief. "The Netherlands off" # 280 'eliminated for fault'. # 331 Tien Yu Chon of Chinese Taipei, warning! # 52 Valeria Riffo from Chile 2nd warning # 125 Cindy Etonno o f France and her team mate Lucie Peruzzetto # 126 receive simultaneous 2nd warnings.

It's almost as if, if you don't receive a warning, you're just not trying hard enough to win? As we see the lap counter change to 19 to go, the United States loses a skater to the elimination. Lucie Peruzzetto #126 of France eliminated for her 3rd warning

# 206 Antonella Presti from Italy, warning – 14 laps remain. # 153, warning and # 331 Tien Yu Chon, Chinese Taipei, 2nd warning, # 47 Catherine Peñan of Chile, warning , surely not everyone skating is doing something wrong?

8 laps to go, 10 girls still competing, Argentina is eliminated

# 331, Tien Yu Chon Chinese Taipei, 3rd warning disqualified, a fall and Colombia is removed on a stretcher.

6 laps to go – 8 girls left lapping

# 125, Cindy Etonno of France, 3rd warning and disqualified – there is no elimination this lap, but it's not a relief at this point in the race 7 girls, 4 laps left: the bell again, as they come around for the final lap, the US is eliminated, Korea is trying to pass on the outside , it's difficult, after 50 laps to have enough energy to go the longest way around the pack, she is just pipped-at-the-post, to Valeria Riffo for the bronze medal. Colombia, ever so strong: Carolina Upegui takes silver, and Chile reigns supreme with Catherine Peñan taking home the gold.

20,000 final junior Men: It was now 7.45pm in Anyang. More locals had ventured out to watch the spectacle that had been advertise all along their city streets. The temperature continued to drop and the road was fast.

The dew started to show on the grass as spectators put on their jackets and awaited a new exciting race to unfold.

These gladiators in short lycra suits would make their own heat. As they started off on the first of 50 laps of this beautiful road circuit the full moon had just become visible over the tops of the near-by forest.

Each of these 41 starters had hope in their hearts and fire in their bellies - a will to win.

When the lap counter showed 36 laps to go, the eliminations would start and be on every lap after that time. Harsh, no rest at all, but these young men did not come to relax.

Self eliminations (skaters falling off the pace and falling to the road) took their own toll. So the prescribed eliminations did not need to be called. From the very first lap the pace was hard. The inline world has many fine up coming senior men to look forward to, as was evident in this race.

A skater from Spain fell and was taken away as the race lap counter showed 10 laps had disappeared in about 6 minutes.

Like trains over taking each other and changing tracks the young men continued to skate lap after lap, some warnings, but not nearly as many as the junior women had received.

A few years ago, a rumour would go around the track that when the road event started you could hear skaters whisper "the Dutch are coming". As there are no indoor rink in The Netherlands nor were there any banked tracks, the Dutch skaters often avoided the track events entirely, and came only for the road events only, and especially The Marathon.

The Netherlands has now shown they are a force to be reckoned with, they have some fine young skaters who have proven themselves and continue to do so.

This race did not show their true abilities, but that is also true for many other countries. With 8 men and 2laps left Italy made a break away. It was al though the other's did not notice his disappearance? His lead seemed unbeatable, but on the very last corner both Nicolas Zamudio of Colombia, who in a few seconds would steal the silver men ? away from him, and New Zealand's Peter Michael romped home for Gold. Davide Amabili of Italy had to settle for the bronze medal on this occasion. There seems to be no stopping the Kiwis (New Zealanders)

20,000 final Senior Women:There were many experienced women in this race. Most of the top contenders have competed at worlds for years as well as other races internationally. Some of them would be competitive in the men's races. As the stale smell of smoke wafted over the stands from wood fires behind the road circuit, settled in the middle of the track. It mixed with the mist that was rising from the grass and it appeared that a low cloud had descended over us.

The rules were explained.

50 laps.

40 skaters.

From lap 49 to 31 there would be double eliminations

After that from lap 29 single eliminations would take place until there were only 5 women left

The field had diminished 'naturally' during the race with a huge fall, which saw medical staff stretched to their limits. More stretchers needed as girls were left lying as close to the edge of the road as possible, until they could be taken care of. Carefully, one by one, they were stretched away.

Some skaters have the ability to count on their team member to let them in or work for them to get them to the front. Not so for Nichole Begg of New Zealand. She is the sole Senior lady from her country, and has to work on her own merits. Her track medal safely put away, she certainly was a good chance of a medal in this race.

When the race began, and not even one full lap had been skated when a skater fell. Yi Chin Pan of Vhjinese Taipri was always nudging to the front of the pack. Alexandra Vivas, looked like a bandit with her bandanna/scarf which covered her mouth to warm the cold night air before it went into her lungs. She skated smart and overcame huge challenges to take yet another gold for Colombia. There were a lot of warnings, but again, not nearly as many as the junior women's race had experienced. Her team-mate, Liana Holguin, skated behind her to a silver medal and in a photo finish between Korea and the United States, Jessica Smith, lunged so strongly onto the finish line, she fell, tumbled, but was up almost in the blink of an eye snatching the bronze medal.

20,000 Final Senior Men: After 9.30pm we waited for the Senior men to get their appropriate start positions behind the start line… it was with disbelief that we witnessed a false start. Most of the competitors did a complete lap to return to the starting area, some turned quickly or had not even left the start line. A few competitors had not even arrived back at the start line when the race was almost re-started without them.. Silence fell over the road, 'bang', they were off (again). Immediately they were into double eliminations. A handful of skaters were dropped off from the start, and as the pack strung out around the road, the bell would ring every lap as the lead skaters passed the finish line. As though there was more than one event on at the same time, skaters streamed past the leaders, keen to stay away from the back of the pack, while others who had already been dropped by the pack, were sharing their own race. Needing to avoid being last over the line, every lap takes its toll. Tired and sharing the lead, as they approached the finish line they would break away from their fellow skaters and use every once of effort to avoid being eliminated. Although they were only delaying the inevitable for an extra lap or two, they gave it their all. Once by one, their numbers were called for it was time for them to leave the race. Then they joined an ever growing number of skaters in the center of the track, looking for their clothes.

Simultaneously, at 35 laps to go, both Kiwi's (New Zealand) went down. They were out of the race.

It took approximately 11.5 minutes for the men to complete 20 laps. Newer countries like Iran must be happy that it was not until now, that one of their skaters was called to leave the race, a huge effort in such a demanding race.

Warnings were called as Australia led the pack, closely followed by both skaters from Colombia and Belgium.

With 14 to go France pushed through the inside, thought he'd been called for elimination, he stood up, stopped-skating and only by the encouragement and shouting by the crowd, did he sprint off to regain the pack.

It's little wonder, as he had not heard the announcement, that other skater who were called to leave the track, were eventually disqualified for not leaving.. who knows, these days with skaters wearing electronic devises, can they even hear the cheers or the announcements clearly? Disappointed, with 7 to go the skater from Denmark was eliminated. Belgium led both Colombians and Italy around the road.

As a French skater was passed by the Italian jumping over the line to avoid elimination, only Colombia had 2 skaters left on the road. It was anyone's race, but Joey Mantia of the United States, took off. It did not seem like he had just raced 49 laps, he was hotly pursued by both Colombians, who were unable to catch him before the finish line.

Joey took the gold. Nelson Garzon the silver and a space back to Jorge Botero

500m Junior Women: The short races are very exciting from the start. But it was now almost midnight and cold. Would anything wake the crowd up?

A gun shot range out, the race had begun, but a few steps from the start line, Maria Moya of Chile was face down and spread-eagle motionless on the road. This meant that the 3 remaining girls would medal for sure…but what colour?

Colombia's Shaneen Howard proved able to hold the others off for gold. Victoria Rodriguez of Argentine was unable to pass Heather Richardson of the United States on the finish line, Heather took the silver medal.

500m Junior Men: Crowd favourites from Korea, Myung Kyu Lee and Kyoung Duck Kim were able to give the spectators a few minutes of extreme happiness. The boys finished first and second, and did a victory lap waving the Korean flag between them. A hot favourite from Argentine, Agustin Sanjuan, has shown an amazing amount of maturity to hold his composure and take bronze. Another disappointment for Ital this year, Korea must not be their favourite place, as he did not gain a podium finish.

500m Senior Ladies: Italy's Nicoletta Falcone led the ladies out followed by Argentina's Andrea Gonzalez. Both Colombians, Berenice Moreno and Jennifer Caicedo skated around the outside to take the lead. They were not strained or stressed, even in this sprint race. They looked like they were training. They held their lead with Jennifer taking the gold and Berenice the silver. Again Italy had to face disappointment finishing out of the medals, allowing Andrea Gonzalez to take the bronze.

500m Senior Men: Could the G-d's smile on Italy one time on this cold evening in Anyang? Maybe.

There wer 4 men and only 3 medals up for grabs. New Zealand's Kalon Dobbin had fire in his eyes, keen to uphold the fantastic results his country men (and woman) had already achieved. Joey Mantia from the united States is capable of huge feats, but he had just taken gold in the 20,000 could he possibly have enough strength and energy a short time later to pull this off? Belgium's Wouter Hebbrecht has been stronger than ever in recent months. His move to live in the US and train in warmer- weather has certainly paid off for him. And the giant from Italy Patrizio Triberio, could he shake his county's run of bad luck to turn things around?

Kalon followed Joey around the top corner, hoping to follow him through, but Patrizio's strength shone through. He grabbed the lead and held it over the final corner and finish line. The Italians went wild, the entire team streamed out onto the road, rejoicing in one of their few medals at this years World Championships. Kalon had to settle for Silver, another medal to the already growing bunch that New Zealand has amassed at this competition. Wouter had to be satisfied with Bronze, a fantastic result in a World Championships final and he was in good company, with the Worlds best along side him. Joey, not used to seeing the podium slip away, was gracious in his congratulations to his fellow skaters after the race.

It was late, the skaters have to line up again tomorrow for relays and with little sleep to be had, the crowd quickly dispersed.