Europe's best take to the water to become European Under 23 champions

Women’s Coxed Four Final

In the first medal-winning race of the day, the favourites were the defending champions from Romania, but France decided to put up a giant start. They took an open-water lead over the rest of the field by the 1000-meter mark, rowing with a long, relaxed stroke rate. Into the third 500 meters, Romania and Belarus started eating back at the early French lead. Germany was falling back, they were going to slip out of the medals. Coming to the line, France with an impressive lead to take the gold, Romania with silver and Germany with the charge to take the bronze medal ahead of Belarus.

Final: FRA, ROU, GER

“Our strategy was to dominate the race from start to finish. We were able to do that. The World’s Best time is the cherry on top of the cake. We are very happy.” Pauline Rossignol, France, Gold

Men’s Coxed Four A-Final

The men’s coxed four hit the course under the midday sun and the home favourite had Germans excited as they took the lead off the start. But could they hold off the fast-paced Irish and French crews? Coming into the second 1000 meters, the Germans took up their rate to try to break away, but it was the Italians who had started to move. France was quickly dropping back as Italy moved through and took the Irish with them. Into the final sprint, Germany had to pull out all the stops to win ahead of Italy and Ireland.

Final: GER, ITA, IRL

“It was really a pleasure, we got off to the lead at the start and found a really smooth rhythm. That is what we had practiced the most. We were able to be secure at the catch and hold it through the finish.”  Robin Goeritz, Men’s Coxed Four, Germany, gold

Women’s Pair A-Final

The reigning World Rowing Under 23 Champions from Greece were looking to secure the 2020 European title and they went off the start like they meant it. At 500 meters they had a 3-second lead on the rest of the field, with Romania and Ireland trying to catch back up. It looked like the Greeks would have it done and dusted, but coming into the final sprint, Romania had something to say. They turned up the power and lifted their rate. Kyridou and Bompou tried to respond, but the Romanians had the momentum. Through the line it was Romania, Greece and Ireland.

Final: ROU, GRE, IRL

“I am so happy ! I’ve been racing with my friend for so long. We were able to finish the race very strong as we planned.” Adriana Ailincai, Romania, Gold

Women’s Four A-Final

Four crews on the water had the extra advantage of not racing the repechage: Romania, Russia, Spain and Italy. Romania came through in the heats with the fastest time and they pushed off the start with the intention of winning. Surprising the winners of the other heat, Russia, were nowhere to be found. With Romania pushing into an open water lead the question would be who would take the lesser medals? First Belarus took that position, but not for long. Italy wound up their stroke rate and they took the Netherlands with them on the near side of the course. With Romania trying to get farther away Italy and the Netherlands wound it up one more time into the finish.

Final: ROU, ITA, NED

“It was very hard, but in the last strokes it went exactly as we wanted. We could look back and see the rest of the crews. This medal, it was for my mother.”  Dumitrita Juncanariu (s), Women’s Four, Romania, gold

Lightweight women’s single sculls – A-final

What a performance from the young Evangelia Anastasiadou of Greece. She is stepping up to the under-23 level and holding true to the Greek prowess in lightweight rowing. She had a four-second lead at 500 meters and could control the race from the lead. Behind her it was a tussle for silver and bronze between Italy and the Netherlands. Femke van de Vliet added a little length to her strokes and through the 1000-meter mark pushed ahead of Greta Martinelli from Italy. The order remained the same through the line.

Final: GRE, NED, ITA

“My strategy was to start very strong and then control the race. I managed to do that and I am very happy.” Evangelia Anastasiadou, Greece, Gold

Lightweight men’s single sculls – A-final

Italy’s Niels Torre comes out of their under-23 lightweight men’s double that finished second at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships last year. He worked his way through the heats and the semifinals to find himself in a favored centre lane. But he knew he would have his work cut out with the speed of the Greek sculler Antonios Papakonstantinou and the Czech Jan Cinibuch. It was Cinibuch who made a go for it in the third 500 meters and edged ahead of Torre. But Torre had a bit left in his legs. Into the final sprint, Torre powered up, Cinibuch tried to go with him, but ran out of steam.

Final: ITA, CZE, GRE

Lightweight women’s pair – Final

Turkey and Ireland claimed the two tickets out of the heats directly to today’s final and it looked to be paying off early in the race. They had avoided extra fatigue over this packed two-day championships. Ireland posted the fastest time coming into the final and were definitely the crew to beat. They pushed out to the lead in the center of the course, but what would happen behind them? Germany moved into second with Italy and Turkey charging hard. Into the final sprint, Ireland and Germany had it sewn up. Italy made a last sprint to shake off Turkey and take bronze.

Final: IRL, GER, ITA

Lightweight men’s pair – Final

Italy came into this final with the fastest time and they have the pedigree in lightweight rowing to go after the win. Their biggest challenge should come from Ukraine and Moldova, but could Germany pull something out of their hat on their home course? Italy had the fastest start and lengthened out to take an open water advantage. Germany held on through the middle of the race in that silver medal position with Portugal and Moldova pushing hard behind them. It was all coming down to the final sprint for the lesser medals as Italy strode out to an impressive lead. Portugal pushed through, Moldova fell back and out of nowhere Ukraine came sprinting. Just two strokes before the line Ukraine caught a boat-stopping crab. Italy remained out of the tussle to take gold, Portugal with silver and Germany had the advantage of the Ukrainian crab to take bronze.

Final: ITA, POR, GER

“We started pretty much the same as the others, but we were able to really take some meters in the middle of the race. Then we could just maintain. We are so happy! He (pair partner) was dancing in the boat.” Simone Mantegazza (b), Lightweight Men’s Pair, Italy

 

Lightweight women’s quadruple sculls – Final

These crews already had a chance to see each other’s speed in the preliminary race yesterday. Italy had the advantage then, but would they be able to do it again? Going through 500 meters, Italy and Germany were level and going stroke for stroke. Their battle at the front pulled them farther away from the rest. Behind them France and the Netherlands were fighting for the bronze. Then Italy decided it was time to shake off the German challenge and raised their rate. Through the line it was Italy ahead of Germany with France pipping the Netherlands for bronze.

Final: ITA, GER, FRA

“We were worrying at the start and we didn’t want to remain behind. In the Preliminary race we didn’t have such a good start, so today we just put a bit of anger behind it. The rest of the race was so clean and constant that we only made one push. And then in the sprint we said we would give it our all, even if we were ahead. We are so excited!” Bianca Saffirio, Lightweight Women’s Quadruple Sculls, Italy

Lightweight men’s quadruple sculls – A-final

France recorded the fastest time in yesterday’s heats, with Italy hot on their tails. But Italy had to go through the repechage to make it to today’s A-final. At the start all six crews got away fast and went charging across the first timing mark. The Dutch were the first to fall back, then Turkey. But Ireland, France, Italy and Germany were going stroke for stroke through the middle of the race. With 500 meters to go, France turned on the engine. Breaking free of the field they all but secured a gold medal. Italy and Germany were left fighting for silver. At the line it was Italy ahead of the Germans.

Final: FRA, ITA, GER

“That was tough, but we enjoyed it ! We got off to a strong start and from then on we managed our pace. The Italians tried to come back but we managed to hold them off at the line. It was a great race and we are happy to come out on top.” Florian Ludwig (s), France, Gold.

Women’s single sculls – A-final

The women had made it through several rounds of racing already to get into today’s A-final. The favourite was probably Greece’s Anneta Kyridou. But the young Alexandra Foester from Germany had taken the lead. In the singles, though, nothing can be certain until the final sprint. Foester went across the halfway mark in the lead, but that’s when Kyridou put in her push. Foester tried to go with her, but she could not keep up with the speed. Kyridou strode out, Foester took silver with open water back to Russia for bronze.

Final: GRE, GER, RUS

“This was the only race of the year so I wanted to win. It was a really good effort from Germany, she is so young, so I wasn’t expecting that. It’s interesting conditions (with the virus), but I think we have to get used to it as it will be a long time like this. On the water nothing has changed. Off the water, we have to be careful with the others. We are preparing for a new season, so we have to be healthy.” Anneta Kyridou, Women’s Single Sculls, Greece

Men’s single sculls A-final

Italy’s Nicolo Carucci has been having an excellent regatta so far here in Duisburg. He won the first A/B semifinal this morning to earn his place in the A-final. But Romania’s Mihai Chiruta posted a faster time in the second semifinal. It would be all to play in the final. Chiruta had a sluggish start as the other five boats crossed the first 500 meters ahead of him. But the middle thousand was his time to shine. Chiruta was moving up, ticking off one boat at a time. Then Germany’s Moritz Wolff decided to get into the action and kicked into gear. Coming into the final 500 meters, Carucci was out in front, but there was nothing in it between the five crews behind him. Chiruta continued his march into the sprint, Hungary went with him and Wolff ticked it up another notch. Through the line it was Italy, Germany, Romania just ahead of Hungary.

Final: ITA, GER, ROU

“I gave it all ! I am so happy, especially after the period we went through with the whole Covid-19 situation. I pushed to the limit and I had nothing left at the end.” Niccolo Carucci, Men’s single sculls, Italy, Gold

Men’s Pair A-final

Romania are the defending champions in this boat and they qualified for the A-final directly through the heat together with Slovenia. These two crews had the advantage of fresh legs for today’s race. Off the start it was Romania taking the lead, but the Croatians decided to go with them. The Croatian brothers won several years ago in the junior men’s pair and decided to give it a go again. Romania tried to break free of the Croatians, but they managed to keep contact into the last 500 meters. The best of the rest was a struggle between Slovenia and Germany. Slovenia had a bit more power in the final sprint and despite hitting a couple buoys they managed to pip the Germans at the line.

Final: ROU, CRO, SLO

“It was hard but we are glad. It feels very good to win this year because we could only train together for one month. We came here very motivated to defend our championship title. It’s a little bit odd with the masks, at the beginning of the pandemic, we thought in western countries, why do we do this? But now we see the importance of these masks, it can save lives.” Florin-Sorin Lehaci (s), Men’s Pair, Romania

Men’s Four – A-final

In yesterday’s heats Romania posted the fastest time by several seconds and were the favourite going into today’s A-final. They were lightning fast off the start and dominated from start to finish. But who would take silver and bronze? At the start it looked like Greece might be the best of the rest. Then Italy turned on the engine and started chugging away. They pulled even with the Greeks going into the final sprint. Greece’s bowman turned his head and called his crew to give another push. Italy responded. It was down to the line! Romania with gold and Italy just a fraction of a second ahead of Greece.

Final: ROU, ITA, GRE

Lightweight women’s double sculls – Final

With just four crews competing in the lightweight women’s double sculls they had already seen each other’s speed in the preliminary race. But it’s impossible to tell the real speed until the medals are up for grabs. Italy looked to be the ones to beat and took off at the start, Ireland chasing. Through the halfway point, Italy moved out to open water and lengthened their stroke. Ireland kept the chase up, which pulled them farther away from the German double. The order remained the same through the finish, with Switzerland missing out on a medal.

Final: ITA, IRL, GER

“We raced together three years ago in Trakai and we are happy to be back on the boat together. We tried to start fast and to move away from the other boats, and we pushed harder through the 1000m mark. We only had a preliminary race yesterday so we didn’t know quite well the level of the other crews but we are really happy with the win today.” Giulia Mignemi (b), Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls, Italy, Gold

Lightweight men’s double sculls – A-final

The lightweight men’s doubles had to pass through a semifinal this morning, meaning part of the strategy was saving enough energy to put in a good race in the A-final this afternoon. Belgium won their semifinal to earn their center lane and they used it to their advantage. Looking back on the rest of the field, Belgium controlled the race from out front. Germany stayed hot on their tails through the middle of the race, but dropped back in the final sprint. France stormed through Italy and Greece to take the bronze medal.

Final: BEL, GER, FRA

“We trained a lot for this victory. It was very hard with the Covid-19 situation, we had to train a lot in the single so we really didn’t know what to expect for this competition. But after the first race we really felt pretty good and thought we had a chance. We don’t have a lot of Belgian crews here, but it’s quality over quantity !” Marlon Colpaert (s), Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls, Belgium, Gold

Women’s quadruple sculls – A-final

It was a blistering start in the women’s quadruple sculls with all crews getting away cleanly. The Germans and the Dutch posted the fasted times in the heats, but these six crews were barreling down the course in one line. The Dutch just poked their nose out in front, Germany followed them and Romania went too. These three crews going stroke for stroke and pulling away from the three trailing teams. Into the final sprint, would it be the Netherlands or Germany? Germany took the gold, Netherlands silver and Romania held off a sprinting Swiss crew for bronze.

Final: GER, NED, ROU

“We were going for gold. We know we’re not the fastest off the start, but we like the feel of racing from behind. The last 500 meters we just exploded and raced for our lives.” Tabea Kuhnert, Women’s Quadruple Sculls, Germany

“It’s so awesome to be able to compete, we feel so lucky to have the event. We don’t mind about the masks at all, we are just glad to race.” Sophie Leupold (s), Women’s Quadruple Sculls, Germany

Men’s quadruple sculls – A-final

In one of the closest races of the day the men’s quadruple sculls came charging to the finish line. Racing from an outside lane, the Czech Republic knew they had to go early to stand a chance at seeing the rest of the field. They sprinted off the start along with the Belarusians on the opposite side of the course. Through the middle of the race the crews in the middle lanes started to work their way back. As Belarus seemed to tire out, the Czechs got stronger. Italy and Germany were coming up strong in the middle of the course, but it was too little too late. The Czech Republic took gold ahead of Italy and Germany.

Final: CZE, ITA, GER

“Hard work pays off. We are so happy because we worked very hard for this one. We had nothing to lose so we came out very strong. We knew nobody was going to wait for us at the 1000m mark so we gave it all.” Vaclav Baldrian (b), Men’s Quadruple Sculls, Czech Republic, Gold

Women’s Eights – Final

Germany and Poland recorded nearly identical times coming out of yesterday heats. They lined up in the two middle lanes and were looking to dominate. But what about the defending champions from Romania? In front of the home crowd, the German women’s eight strode out to lead the charge, taking Poland, Romania and Russia with them. Into the final sprint, Romania made a move into silver medal position, but Poland and Russia were battling for bronze. Across the line it was Germany, Romania and Russia.
Final: GER, ROU, RUS

“It’s great to win at home. It has been such a long time since Germany has won a medal in the women’s eight. Everybody is a challenge and with the lack of international races, we didn’t know what was coming.” Lisa Holbrook, Women’s Eight, Germany

Men’s double sculls – A-final  

The men’s doubles had one race already in their legs from this morning’s semifinal. Belarus posted the fasted time, but just a second ahead of Ireland. What would they be able to do this afternoon? The Irish double included the formidable Ronan Byrne who won a silver medal at the World Rowing Championships last year. But it was Spain who got off best at the start and held the lead through the 500-meter mark. Then Belarus and Ireland started to make their move. The Irish took the approach of powering through the middle of the race and establishing their lead well before the sprint. Inside the last 500 meters Ireland maintained their lead while Belarus came sprinting through Spain to take silver.
Final: IRL, BLR, ESP 

“We had a very good race and are very happy with the outcome. We rowed together in the Juniors and will be rowing again, for the first time, at the senior level in Poznan for the European Champs. This race was a good boost of confidence for us and we will enter the competition in Poznan as underdogs.” Ronan Byrne (s), Men’s Double Sculls, Ireland, Gold

 

Women’s doubles sculls – A-final

The women’s double sculls has been through quite a weekend. After one repechage race was re-raced this morning following a collision with the umpire boat, the A-final line-up was determined. Romania and Germany managed to avoid the scuffle by qualifying directly from the heats. Romania strode out to an early lead and opened up a field of water on the rest of the pack. In the race for the lesser medals Italy and Germany went for it. By the finish line Romania had several boat lengths open water ahead of Italy who then had an advantage over Germany.

Final: ROU, ITA, GER

“It wasn’t our best race. But it’s important as it is the first race of the year. This will help us to prepare for the European Rowing Championships in Poznan, Poland.”   Simona Geanina Radis (s), Women’s Double Sculls, Romania

Men’s eights – A-final

The heats of the men’s eight took place yesterday and Italy and Germany clocked almost identical times. The German men’s eight is undefeated at the senior level, but how is their under-23 development eight? They took the lead at the start, with Romania going with them. Winner of the second heat, Italy, fell to the back but remained in striking distance. It was all to be decided in the final sprint. Germany out in the lead, Italy sprinting back, raising their rate again to try to get back on Romania. The Romania crew responded and crossing the line it was Germany, Romania and bronze for Italy.

Final: GER, ROU, ITA

“It’s an amazing feeling. We had a great preparation and it paid off. Even though we didn’t had the home crowd to help us, we still felt that something extra, which allowed us to win. It’s been a great battle with Romania, they gave their all and we did too. We feel like we deserve it.” Mark Hinrichs, Men’s Eight, Germany, Gold