Olympians Head 2004 Armada Cup

The sight is always impressive. This weekend over 200 singles will line up for a mass start in Bern, Switzerland for the BKW-Armada Cup.

226 singles will race the nine-kilometre course and Olympic champions will mingle with junior and recreational rowers.

Italy's three-time World Champion and two-time Olympian Elia Luini will lead the way, launching with the prestigious number one pinned to his back. Starting closely behind Luini is 2003 lightweight World Champion, Stefano Basalini, also of Italy. Basalini will be followed off the line by Switzerland's top single sculler, Andre Vonarburg.

Better known as stroke of the quad which won World Championship gold in 2002 and 2003, Germany's Robert Sens will also be putting his best strokes forward in Bern. He will be joined by his new wife and fellow competitor, Catriona Oliver(-Sens) who competed at Athens in the Australian women's eight.

The women's senior single has also attracted three-time Olympian Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus. Karsten has two Olympic gold medals to her name and she picked up a silver at Athens. She will be up against Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic who finished fourth at this year's Olympic Games.

Marit Van Eupen of the Netherlands is also in the mix. She leaves her lightweight doubles partner and Olympic bronze medal behind to return to the single.

The nine-kilometre race starts with a nine-kilometre warm up for competitors who must first row to the start of the course before racing back to the finish at the Bern Rowing Club. Boats leave in lines of 25 with all boats starting at the same time and starting order preference is given to those who have raced internationally this year. The winner of both the male and female event will receive CHF 1,500.

This is the 18th year of competition and last year the men's event was won by Germany's top lightweight Ingo Euler with Luini finishing second. Caroline Luethi of Switzerland won the women's event.

For more information please go to: http://www.bkw-armadacup.ch