A new look in the men's four

World Rowing continues to review the boat classes that helped make 2013 a hot year in rowing and the men's four certainly had race goers taking a second look at their racing schedule followed by an oft puzzled expression. This year it became the event that was tough to predict.

For the new World Champions, the Netherlands, the  significance of 2013 was profound. The Dutch have regularly raced in this event but this year resulted in their first ever World Championship title. Yes, the nation had a handful of silver and bronze medals but the gold had always eluded them.

The Netherlands set about the season with the strategy of keeping three of the four members of their fifth-place crew from the London Olmpics together. Boaz Meylink, Kaj Hendriks and Mechiel Versluis were joined by Robert Lueken for the 2013.

At the season opener in March the Netherlands chose not to race with the World Rowing Cup in Sydney (AUS) turning into a battle of the Australians. Two impressive Australian crews entered including much of the Olympic silver medal rowers in one boat, Australia showed the home crowd their racing skills finishing one – two with New Zealand in third.

The Dutch then debuted their 2013 season on a positive note by winning at the European Championships in Seville (ESP) at the end of May. Romania led for most of the race only to be beaten when the Dutch released a devastating sprint. This was not the last time this sprint would shift finish line results.

Australia then arrived in Europe for the second World Rowing Cup in Eton Dorney (GBR) with a combination crew of their two Sydney boats. The crew of William Lockwood, Alexander Lloyd, Spencer Turrin and Joshua Dunkley-Smith beat Great Britain to the line proving that it wasn't just the home course advantage that gave them the first World Cup win. Romania finished third and the Netherlands chose training over racing so did not attend this regatta.

The third World Rowing Cup in Lucerne (SUI) really brought out the full gambit of nations and thus it looked to be a preview for how the World Rowing Championships may pan out. World Cup leaders, Australia faced the United States for the first time. The USA had finished third at the London Olympics and the word was that a lot of their men's sweep focus was on this four.

The United States crew of Grant James, Seth Weil, Michael Gennaro and sole representative from the 2012 Olympic boat Henrik Rummel, went stroke for stroke with Australia for the entire 2000m Rotsee regatta course. At the line the US had the edge over Australia who were in turn nearly overtaken by Italy. The Netherlands had left their expected sprint too late and ended a reasonable margin back in fourth.

This result left the door wide open for the World Rowing Championships six weeks later. And they remained wide open as boats raced through the initial rounds at Chunjgu. Coming through the semifinals a margin of a mere two seconds  separated the six finalists with Italy holding an ever-so-slight advantage with the fastest time.

In the final Australia took control at the start playing the game of 'catch me if you can'. Australia still had the lead coming into the last 500 with the United States, Italy and the Netherlands forming a virtual line. Then the Dutch unleashed the burn. The United States did their best to keep up, but at the line Meylink, Hendriks, Versluis and Luecken had done it.

Watch out for 2014. Will Great Britain find some hidden speed? Will the Dutch bow to the pressure of being the hunted? Can the United States find a fast opener?  Watch this space.