EC MONDIAL DU VENT, LEUCATE – FINAL DAY

+++ Leucate, April 27th 2006.
The final day brought again great conditions for the Windsurfing Euro-Cup
MONDIAL DU VENT in Leucate. The terrifying Tramontana wind was even a little
bit stronger then on the day before gusting up to almost 45 knots. After the
four eliminations yesterday, additional four eliminations were run for the
mens fleet and five more for the women. The French national hero Antoine
Albeau (FRA-192, Starboard, Neil Pryde) fully dominated the event in front
of Finian Maynard (KV-11, F2, Neil Pryde) and Cyril Mouusilmani (FRA-71,
Fanatic, North Sails).

In the first race of the day Antoine Albeau extended his lead with a victory
in front of his biggest opponent Finian Maynard. Cyril Moussilmani scored an
excellent third place but was forced to let Finian pass in the result. Steve
Allen (AUS-0, Tabou, Gaastra), the Formula Windsurfing World Champion of
2003 scored a fourth in front of the French Youngster Julien Quentel
(FRA-421, Starboard, Neil Pryde).

The second race brought again the same top three racers in the same order
with Antoine, Finian and Cyril. But this time they had the F2 shaper and top
racer Patrick Diethelm (ITA-120, F2, North Sails) on their back followed by
Cedric Bordes (FRA-91, Tabou, Naish Sails).

In the third race Antoine Albeau confirmed his triumph in the Windsurfing
Euro-Cup MONDIAL DU VENT with another victory in front of Finian Maynard.
The current IFCA European Slalom Champion Ben van der Steen (NED-57, Exocet,
Naish Sails) was able to win the third place in front of Benoit Moussilmani
(FRA-72) and Cedric Bordes.

In the final race Antoine Albeau was able to stay at the beach as his
victory was already saved. Finian Maynard scored his second bullet at the
Euro-Cup Mondial du Vent Leucate.  The second place went to his F2 team
racer Patrick Diethelm. Daniel Ellis (GBR-52, Fanatic, Naish Sails) was able
to score a brilliant third in front of Ben van der Steen and Steve Allen.

After a total of eight slalom eliminations the racers can discard their
three worst results. Antoine Albeau fully dominated the Windsurfing Euro-Cup
MONDIAL DU VENT with six bullets. The perfect score of 3.5 ponts allowed him
to stay at the beach in the final race. The second place went to Finian
Maynard with 7.4 points. He was a little bit unlucky on the first day but
clearly confirmed his second place with perfect starts and superior speed.
On the third place followed Cyril Moussilmani with 15.0 points. Patrick
Diethelm (18.0 points) became fourth in front of Julien Quentel (25.0
points) and Ben van der Steen (25.0 points).


The women even had eleven slaloms which granted them four discards. The
current IFCA Slalom World Champion Karin Jaggi fully dominated the fleet
with eight bullets and the perfect total of 5.6 points in front of Valerie
Ghibaudo (FRA-444, T1, Gun Sails) with two bullets and 13.4 points followed
by Ophelie Joly (FRA-64, F2, North Sails) and Marion Raisi (FRA-21, Exocet,
Neil Pryde).

Leucate left an excellent impression among the racers and the Euro-Cup
organization. It was necessary to wait some days but when the venue finally
went off the wind got nuclear allowing spectacular slalom action. Everybody
is already looking forward to return with the Windsurfing Euro-Cup next year
for the 11th MONDIAL DU VENT.

From Leucate in France the Euro-Cup racers will travel to Portimao in the
south of Portugal. Then it will be the time for the racing experts as the
Formula Windsurfing European Championships will take place from May 8th to
13th.


The official website of the event is www.mondial-du-vent.com. The official
website of the series with more information is www.euro-cup.org. The events
are also covered on www.formulawindsurfing.organd
www.internationalwindsurfing.com. Besides the reports and the results you
will also find a live ticker on www.euro-cup.org.