The Sun Shines on ? Milan World Cup Finals

Brothers Niksa and Sinisa Skelin of Croatia take the men’s pair
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Tailwinds continued into the afternoon as crowds began to gather on both sides of the Idroscalo and coaches continued their frantic biking and yelling along the edge of the basin.

Lightweight Women’s Single

Sinead Jennings of Ireland won the World Championships in 2001 but today was Great Britain’s, Jo Hammond’s, day. Unranked Hammond had taken the lead by the 1000 metre mark but Jennings was not giving up. At the 1500 Jennings looked across to Hammond trying to pull back the lead. Hammond remained in control and, underrating Jennings, crossed the finish line ahead. Jennings took second with a gap back to Liliana Niga from Romania in third.

Lightweight Men’s Single

To the delight of the crowd 2002 silver medallist from Italy, Stefano Basalini, came back from a slow start to take a slim lead over Hungary’s new sculler, Csaba Denes. By half way Basalini had a handy length by one-quarter length and was able to watch the battle going on behind him. And what a battle it was turning out to be. France’s Pierre Pollez in lane six was working his way up to attack Denes in lane one. The two boats were probably unaware of their closeness in position but continued to attack.
At the line Basalini finished with open water followed by Denes and then Pollez in third.

Lightweight Men’s Pair

There are never certainties when it comes to rowing especially lightweight rowing where athletes must train at an elite level but at the same time carefully watch their caloric intake.

The first big surprise of the day came in the lightweight pair when 2002 silver medallists, Italy, never found their pace. Instead it was the Netherlands and Denmark moving neck and neck through the middle of the race that dominated. The Netherlands crew of Joeri de Groot and Karel Dormans took the challenge against Denmark head on and made a move with 600 metres to go. They opened up a gap over the Denmark duo that included last year’s World Champion in the lightweight four, Stephan Moelvig.

Dormans and de Groot retained their handy lead and scored the first international win for the Netherlands in 2003. Denmark finished in second and France in third.

Women’s Single

It looks so easy from the shore ? the scullers gliding over the water, perfectly synchronizing both blades at the catch. But focus in for a moment to the reality on the water as World Champion, Rumyana Neykova of Bulgaria, gets carried off on a stretcher at the end of her race. Rowing is often evaluated, along with cross-country skiing, as the most physically demanding sport and today’s race brought this reality home.

Neykova took an early lead with a quick start over Germany’s Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski. This left Germany to contend with Yulya Levina of Russia who finished sixth in 2002. At the 1500-metre mark Neykova was still in the lead under stroking a push from Rutschow-Stomporoski. It was not until the last 200 metres that the German’s long powerful strokes had an impact and she began to take on Neykova who was visibly slowing.

By the finish line Neykova was barely rowing, leaving Rutschow-Stomporowski to get the World Cup gold medal over Neykova with Levina taking bronze.

Men’s Single

Germany’s Marcel Hacker likes to control the race from the front and today he did just that, jumping to an early lead. But Iztok Cop of Slovenia wasn’t going to let the German have everything his own way. Cop and Hacker went through the 750-metre neck and neck taking a challenge from Slovenia’s number two boat of Luka Spik with them.

At the half-way point Hacker had dropped to third behind the two Slovenians and was under threat from a push by Great Britain’s Ian Lawson. By the 1500-metre three boats had established a lead and Cop, rating higher than Hacker, remained in front. With 250 metres to go Cop kept his rating high and his bow in front. But Hacker was getting more boat-run per stroke and crossed the finish line ahead.

Slovenia’s 2000 Olympic gold winners in the double showed their single sculling speed with Cop taking silver and Spik finishing in bronze medal spot.

Women’s Pair

The first clear-cut race of the day was a exhibition that has become customary from Romania’s Georgeta Andrunache and Viorica Susanu. After being part of the gold medal women’s 8+ at the 2000 Olympics. Susanu and Andrunache have dominated the pair for the last two years and it will take a big upset for anything to change.

France and Great Britain were left to battle it out for silver and bronze spots. And that’s exactly what they did. In the closing 500 metres of the race France’s Sophie Balmary and Virginie Chauvel had a slight margin. But it was the smoother, longer strokes of Katherine Grainger and Cath Bishop of Great Britain that were being more effective. All credit to the 100 percent effort from Balmary and Chauvel who ended up one second down on Grainger and Bishop at the finish.

Romania retained the yellow winner’s jersey with Great Britain in second and a very happy France adding bronze to their neckwear.

Men’s Pair

Four of the crews from last year’s World Champ final lined up again today and began with a clean slate for 2003 new season. Two times World Champions, Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell of Great Britain started as favourites. But it was the new Italian combination of Giuseppe de Vita and Dario Lari that took an early lead followed closely by Pinsent and Cracknell.

At the half-way point Italy retained their lead and had to deal with a challenge from last year’s bronze medallists, the Skelin brothers of Croatia. Lari’s higher stroke rate was keeping the Italian boat in front as Great Britain, Croatia and Italy paced each other with 400 metres to go. Cracknell in bow glanced out as Croatia took the lead leaving Italy and Great Britain in a photo finish for second.

The final result was Croatia with gold, Italy winning silver and Great Britain in bronze medal spot by a mere one-hundreth of a second. A happy Niksa Skelin interviewed at the finish said, ?we finally beat them.?

Women’s Double

Stroking Russia’s double, Irina Fedotova has been a regular on her national team for a number of years. She competed in the quad at the 2000 Olympics and then after a year off joined Larisa Merk finishing with silver in 2002 in this event. Today the Russians raced from the front taking a slight lead over the fast-starting United States crew.

Going through the 1000 Germany and Great Britain were tussling with each other from opposite sides of the course. Kathrin Boron and Britta Oppelt took advantage of Boron’s experience to push ahead but then had to contend with a flying Hungarian crew of Viktoria Szekely and Lidia Veroeci in their first international regatta together. Hungary continued to push ? the race was not over. Romania attacked in the last 1500 metres and in a photo finish for third, Szekely’s sprint put Hungary onto the medal podium.

At the concluding medal presentation Russia took the winner’s bid with Germany in second and the new Hungarian crew in third.

Men’s Double

France is making no mistakes this year. Sebastian Vieilledent and Adrien Hardy won silver in 2001 but missed out on the final at last year’s World Champs and today they rowed a controlled, strong race. Behind them the fifth-placed 2002 crew of Milan Dolecek and Ondrej Synek from the Czech Republic were keeping tabs on Italy. A push through the 1000 secured second for Dolecek and Synek.

But it was Ukraine’s new combination of Kostyantin Zajtsev and Sergij Bilushtchenko who had turned up the heat. They pushed into third place and held it until the finish. France gained the yellow winners jearsey with the Czech Republic taking silver and Ukraine winning bronze.

Men’s Four

Three crews dominated the men’s four in 2002 and they look set to do exactly the same this year ? but in what order?

By the first 500-metre mark Germany had taken a half-length lead over the new United States line-up and Slovenia. Germany, stroked by Bernd Heidicker, remained in the lead. Meanwhile last year’s silver medallists, Great Britain were starting to work their way up in the second half of the race. From fifth position the Brits took advantage of a higher stroke rate to push past the United States and then Slovenia. This put them into third behind a very consistent Italian crew who were chasing the Germans.

At the 250 to go Great Britain were neck and neck with Italy and closing on Germany. But the push came too late and Germany kept just ahead in gold medal spot with a photo finish required to decided Italy’s silver and Great Britain’s bronze.

The same three crews met on the podium once again.

Lightweight Women’s Double

France, Germany and the Netherlands moved through the first 500 metres together and set the tone for a close and exciting double’s final. The pace was hot and last year’s bronze medallists from Great Britain were feeling it.

Meanwhile Germany’s new line-up has single sculler, Marie-Louise Draeger, replacing last year’s silver medallist, Janet Radunzel, in the double. Draeger joins the experienced Claudia Blasberg and the combination looks not only solid, but could challenge the world record time. In an event known for close finishes, Germany had a length over second placed crew, the Netherlands, by the 900-metre mark.

However, Kirsten van der Kolk and Marit van Eupen were not giving up. They made their move through the 1500 metre and edged up on the Germans. In third position three crews were neck and neck. Romania, China and France were not giving up.

At the line Germany finished in first and an awesome two seconds off the World Record, followed by the Netherlands in second and Romania stayed just ahead of China to take third.

Lightweight Men’s Double

The Italians are looking to break records. Elia Luini and Leonardo Pettinari have won the World Champs for the last two years and set the World Record in 2002. Today they opened their international season with another gold. The duo had open water over their opponents by the half way mark and were not stopping there.

Meanwhile Denmark’s 2002 bronze medal crew were having to contend with Tomas Varga stroking Hungary’s double. At the 1100-metre mark, Mads Rasmussen and Rasmus Hansen had a slight advantage over the Hungarians but there was barely half a second in it. Then Hungary made their move. With every stroke they pushed past the Danes opening up half a length at the 1500. But Denmark fought back.

In the closing 250 metres of the race, out in front Italy looked like they were going after their own World Record. Pettinari had the stroke rate at 42 and wasn’t looking back. At the line Italy finished with another gold and three seconds out of the record with Hungary in second and Denmark earns another bronze.

Lightweight Men’s Four

Upsets in the semi-finals opened up for an exciting final and it was Austria and Denmark battling for the lead at the start. But Italy’s 2002 silver medal winning crew was the crew in front with Denmark following them through the first 500 metres. The order remained the same with half the race gone.

However there was still a lot of water to cover and a slow starting United States crew were making the most of it. With a huge four second deficit to make up the U.S. challenged the Austrians and the Danes from their outside lane. This took them through the 1600 metre and into third place.

Meanwhile Denmark wanted first and were going after Italy. Another close finish ended with Italy maintaining first position, followed by Denmark and a very happy United States crew in third.

Women’s Quad

Ukraine took an early lead and looked ready to defend their three World Cup wins of 2002. However Germany has only lost one World Championship quad since 1985 and had a boat chocked full of experience. At the 1000 less than three seconds separated the top four boats with Belarus in second.

Germany had saved some power and started to press Belarus and go after Ukraine with 600 metres to go. Stroked by Kerstin El Qualqili, Germany was out stroking Ukraine and closing in on Belarus.

Ukraine had to hold on to their diminishing lead as they crossed the line just ahead of Germany followed by Belarus.

Men’s Quad

Italy put their Olympic gold medal crew back together for this World Cup. But they were not the only stars in the talented field. Poland won silver in 2002 and today they stamped their intentions on this event.

By the 1000 Poland had a slight lead over the Netherlands and continued to improve. Meanwhile the Italians were coming from behind. Stroked by Alessio Sartori they went after the Dutch and with 500 metres to go were improving their position with every stroke.

At the finish, commentator John Boultbee, described the masterful display by Poland as they held onto their gold medal position with Italy and the Netherlands requiring a photo finish to decide the silver to Italy and bronze to the Netherlands. ?We are making progress,? said an understated Adam Korol of Poland.

Women’s Eight

The United States are World Champions and, after yesterday’s race, it looks like they plan to keep it that way. Getting out to an early lead over China the U.S. crew that includes four new members from 2002, used an aggressive catch to remain in the lead throughout the race. They held off continual challenges from Romania who had rowed through China by the 1000-metre mark.

But China wasn’t submitting and held onto Romania ending in a photo finish for second, with the final result: United States gold, Romania sliver and China bronze. Mention must be made to Italy’s first ever women’s eight that raced today in a sport dominated by their male counterparts.

Men’s Eight

Host nation Italy took silver in the men’s eight

The day finished with the Italian men’s eight grabbing a lead over World Champions, Germany, in the first 250 metres of the race. But their lead was short-lived as the distinctive pink Empacher of the Germans stormed out to half a length lead by the 500-metre mark.

While Italy contended with Croatia, Germany made small advances in their lead. Then with 600 metres to go Croatia attacked pushing themselves into second spot. However, in front of their home crowd Italy wasn’t conceding and put in a final sprint to take them to second behind Germany with Croatia finishing in third.