Series conclusion shaping up to impress

In the 14 finals a spread of medals across nations is predicted as the Samsung World Rowing Cup series leaders Great Britain has proved not to be so dominant at this regatta. The Blue Ribband men's eight event looks likely to be a close race with Germany meeting the United States for the first time. The unbeaten Germans will be keeping a wary eye on the new-look United States boat.

In the women's eight the United States looks to be back on winning form after finishing first in a preliminary race today. The United States is also looking good in another Blue Ribband event, the women's single sculls. Eleanor Logan of the United States is a London 2012 Olympic Champion from the women's eight and this season she has made a smooth transition into the single. Logan, however, will be up against Australia's on-form Kim Crow. Both Logan and Crow won their respective semifinals today pushing Olympic Champion, Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic into an outer lane for the final.

The men's single sculls is likely to come down to a tactical race between the London Olympic silver and bronze medallists – Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic and Alan Campbell of Great Britain. But Marcel Hacker of Germany has been racing well over the last two days and if his form holds out he should be in the medals.

Germany and Croatia are both looking in winning form in the men's quadruple sculls. Croatia may have the upper edge after coming to Lucerne on the back of a gold medal at the Eton Dorney World Cup last month.

Denmark are determined to beat World Cup leaders, New Zealand in the lightweight men's four. The Danes recorded the faster qualifying time in today's semifinal. The Olympic Champions South Africa are also racing in the final and despite one change to their Olympic line up, their semifinal second place finish show that they still have top speed.
 
Today's racing also saw the finals of the International Events with the stand out performance going to Germany's lightweight men's quadruple sculls. The German boat got within three seconds of setting a new World Best Time with a new 2013 crew line up.
Pedro Fraga of Portugal completed an impressive World Cup season in the lightweight men's single sculls when he picked up his second World Cup gold medal. Fraga beat two impressive Swiss scullers to take the title.
 
Brazil's Fabiana Beltrame was a popular winner in the lightweight women's single sculls. The 2011 World Champion is currently Brazil's best rower.
 
Stay tuned to www.worldrowing.com for live race tracking.
 
Live video streaming will be available for the A-finals on Sunday 14 July starting at 10:22 (CET)